Premier League looks ahead to the 2026-27 season: Top clubs are competing to change managers

The Premier League season has just wrapped up, yet all eyes are on the coaching shake-ups among many top sides in the Big Six. Could this wave of changes make the upcoming Premier League campaign more thrilling?

If we need to pinpoint the most recent summer when top clubs underwent a mass managerial change, we have to rewind to the summer of 2013. That was when Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement after leading Manchester United to the Premier League title in 2012-13. That moment shook the Premier League, and coincidentally, it triggered a flurry of managerial replacements.

Guardiola creates an effect similar to Sir Alex in 2013

Without Sir Alex, Manchester United began their decline under successor David Moyes. Manchester City and Chelsea also changed managers that summer. Manuel Pellegrini replaced Roberto Mancini at the Etihad, while Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea for a second stint after Rafael Benitez completed his interim role. The results of those changes: Pellegrini led City to the 2013-14 Premier League title, and the following season, Mourinho guided Chelsea to the championship.

Pep Guardiola's decision to leave Manchester City after a decade has created a similar managerial shift effect as Sir Alex's retirement. Of course, City had shown signs of decline in the last two Premier League seasons, losing the title to Liverpool and Arsenal respectively. But Guardiola will clearly leave a gap on the stage for other managers to step up.

Two top clubs have kept their managers after this season ended: Arsenal and Manchester United. This season's Premier League title rewarded Arsenal's consistency with Mikel Arteta. Arteta will become the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, with over six years at the Emirates. His reputation is further strengthened after ending Arsenal's 22-year Premier League drought. Manchester United's case is different. Michael Carrick has officially shed his interim status, becoming Ruben Amorim's successor with a two-year contract. He becomes United's seventh permanent manager in the post-Sir Alex era.

Three top clubs, three changes

The spotlight will focus on three managerial changes at Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool. The earliest among these clubs to change managers was Chelsea. They announced the appointment of Xabi Alonso just 24 hours after losing the FA Cup final to City. The former Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss will begin work at Stamford Bridge on July 1. The 44-year-old manager just had a brief six-month stint at the Bernabeu, full of ups and downs. However, this doesn't diminish Alonso's value, having earned Europe's admiration by leading Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023-24. He will inherit a Chelsea squad full of talent but lacking a skilled manager to elevate them into a trophy-winning team.

So who will fill the void left by Guardiola at the Etihad? Enzo Maresca, who served as Guardiola's assistant in 2022-23. The Italian boss will receive full support from the club's owners to make an immediate impact as Manchester City's manager on a three-year deal. After a year and a half at Chelsea, Maresca now faces the biggest challenge of his managerial career.

Most recently, Andoni Iraola will take the hot seat at Liverpool. Liverpool's board sacking Arne Slot has sparked mixed opinions. The Dutch manager had helped Liverpool win the Premier League in 2024-25. One reason for Slot's departure was this season's disappointing fifth-place finish. Additionally, Liverpool's leadership was influenced by the managerial shifts at other top clubs, not wanting to be left behind. Iraola emerged after guiding Bournemouth to a Europa League spot. The 43-year-old's energetic style of football is expected to restore Liverpool's glory from the Jurgen Klopp era. The biggest challenge is that Iraola only received a two-year contract, a short timeframe to build a dynasty.

The positive side of many top clubs changing managers is that the competition for next season's Premier League title promises to be even fiercer. Arsenal, this season's Premier League champions, understand the challenges ahead as rivals like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea will be revitalized by fresh coaching leadership.