The Premier League Sack Race: Who’s Safe, Who’s Squeaking, and Who’s One Bad Week from the Boot
New season, same old carousel. The Premier League’s managerial merry-go-round never sleeps, and while a few dugouts look locked down, plenty of chairs are wobbling at the first hint of a poor run. From title hunters to survival scrappers, here’s my read on who’s sleeping easy and who’s checking over their shoulder every Monday morning.
Fancy weighing up the odds on the next boss to go? Have a gander at the best betting sites and shop around for proper value on the sack race before you part with your cash.
How I’m ranking them
Boardroom patience, recent form, summer upheaval, injuries to key men, and the ever-louder drumbeat of supporter sentiment — all of it goes in the blender. It’s not just results; it’s trajectory, politics, and who’s got the credit in the bank.
20) Mikel Arteta, Arsenal — Sitting pretty
Arsenal finished runners-up again, but the picture’s not as gloomy as rivals would like you to believe. Yes, injuries to Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz bit hard, yet Declan Rice drove standards like a future captain. A Champions League semi-final run ended at the hands of eventual winners PSG, and the Gunners have watched others lift silverware, but the football’s trending right. Arteta’s project still screams stability — he’s about as sackable as a traffic warden at a parking convention.
19) Pep Guardiola, Manchester City — Bulletproof (and on a mission)
A rare wobble last term after Rodri’s ACL rupture saw City lose their iron grip on the title and finish third. Any talk of a split was parked when Guardiola signed on through 2027. With Kevin De Bruyne waving goodbye and sporting director Hugo Viana ushering in Tijani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Aït-Nouri, this looks like a controlled refresh. Pep’s not under threat; if anything, he’s re-energised to prove last season was a blip.
18) Régis Le Bris, Sunderland — Earned his leash
Promotion via Wembley glory buys you time, and Le Bris has used it wisely. He’s blended nous with youth — Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham look right at home — and handing the armband to the seasoned Granit Xhaka feels a masterstroke. Among the promoted sides, Sunderland look the best equipped to stick. Early signs say: cool head, clear plan, no panic.
17) Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace — From plucky to potent
FA Cup winners and a new swagger in SE25. Glasner didn’t just tweak Palace; he’s turbocharged them. He even called out Pep’s system after a heavy defeat and then marched his lot to Wembley to make his point. Doing it without Eberechi Eze running the show only sharpens the kudos. A 19-game unbeaten streak before a stumble at Everton tells you all you need to know. Safe as houses.
16) Unai Emery, Aston Villa — Standards reset
Emery’s turned Villa into a serious European outfit, with Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and new arrival Evan Guessand giving defenders headaches. The Champions League workload stretched the squad and missing the top five on the final day stung, but since a September reset — alongside Monchi’s departure — Villa have looked purposeful again. The board wanted a contender, and Emery’s delivered one. No hot seat here.
15) Enzo Maresca, Chelsea — Trophy tailwind, politics headwind
The revolving door at Stamford Bridge never truly stops, but Maresca has put medals on the table: a Conference League triumph and, remarkably, a FIFA Club World Cup, outgunning PSG in the final. That should buy time — and it ought to. Still, this boardroom has form, and recruitment debates can turn toxic quickly. Performance is trending up, but the leash at Chelsea is always shorter than advertised.
14) Keith Andrews, Brentford — The apprentice in charge
Replacing Thomas Frank was always going to be a headache. Promoting set-piece specialist Keith Andrews raised eyebrows, yet here we are: scalps of Liverpool (3-2), Manchester United (3-1) and Newcastle (3-1) suggest the players are buying in. He’s doing it after losing Bryan Mbeumo to United and skipper Christian Nørgaard to Arsenal. Early marks are promising, but the sample is small — steady mid-table and he’s golden.
13) Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth — Wanted man, not a wanted poster
Some questioned his appointment two summers back; they’ve gone very quiet. Iraola has Bournemouth punching above their weight, from a 3-0 masterclass at Old Trafford to doing the double over Arsenal. He’s absorbed heavyweight departures — Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, Ilya Zabarnyi to PSG — and still got Antoine Semenyo firing. If anything, the risk is he’s poached, not sacked.
12) David Moyes, Everton — Back to basics, and it’s working
Through points deductions and turbulence, Moyes has restored an Everton identity: organised, obstinate, and awkward to play against. A 13th-place platform under new owners The Friedkin Group gives the Toffees something to build on, and a loan swoop for Jack Grealish adds stardust. Europe isn’t a fantasy; it’s a stretch goal. Sack talk? Not unless the wheels truly come off.
11) Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton — The wunderkind with growing pains
The youngest permanent gaffer in Premier League history has shown exactly why Brighton bet on him. Eighth place in year one is tremendous, and bouncing back from a 7-0 horror show at Nottingham Forest spoke to the team’s character and his composure. The next step is a cup run to match rivals Palace. There’ll be the odd sharp learning curve, but he looks a keeper — and Brighton’s model protects him.
The state of play
From Arteta and Guardiola, who might as well be carved in marble, to bright sparks like Iraola and Hürzeler, the top half of this list looks secure. There’s always a club ready to blink at the first wobble, but for now, these ten are mostly in the green. The real jeopardy? That kicks in as we move further down the pecking order.
