Tracking English Premier League managers sacked in 2022-23

In Sports/Soccer
2023-01-24 19:30:00Z
By NBC Sports Philadelphia

Tracking EPL managers sacked in 2022-23 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Becoming a manager in the English Premier League is already strenuous enough, but keeping the role is on another level.

The intensity and stakes of every game are immense and any spell of bad form could cost a manager their job and the team a spot in the feared relegation zone.

Through just 11 games, four managers had already been sacked following starts not aligning with preseason expectations before another one occurred before the World Cup break. Then at the halfway point, another joined the list.

Here's a look at who they are and who could be next:

Which EPL managers have been sacked in 2022-23?

Frank Lampard became the fifth and latest manager to get sacked on Jan. 23 after Everton's sluggish start. But he wasn't the first. Let's take a look at the EPL managers who have been let go thus far in 2022-23:

Scott Parker, Bournemouth

Bournemouth sacked Parker on Aug. 30, shortly after they had been drubbed 9-0 by Liverpool on the road. As one of the newly promoted teams from the EFL Championship into England's top flight, Parker had been adamant to have the board release more funds to sign more quality players to survive the league, but that didn't happen. Gary O'Neil is the current interim coach and the squad has picked up form, but only time will tell whether that's just a purple patch or a promising building block.

Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea

An educated guess would have led you to this result if you saw their preseason form. After guiding Chelsea to the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League title, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in one season, Tuchel got sacked on Sept. 7 after their 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in the UCL. After spending $310 million this past summer on transfers, Tuchel's tactics just didn't have the same effect. His midfield lacked control, his attackers couldn't break down low blocks and his defenders were leaky too often despite running three central defenders and two wingbacks. Chelsea hired Brighton & Hove Albion's Graham Potter as the full-time replacement, but backing a manager with that amount of funds only to move on within a week was an inauspicious decision at best.

Bruno Lage, Wolverhampton Wanderers

About a month later came Lage of Wolves, who was sacked on Oct. 2 after a 2-0 road loss to West Ham. Wolves were expected to be fighting for another top-10 spot in the table, but their lack of a quality ball-striking No. 9 and clinical wingers had - and still has - them battling to stay above the red zone. Julen Lopetegui, a former Sevilla and Real Madrid manager, came in to replace Lage.

Steven Gerrard, Aston Villa

Like Wolves, Aston Villa were expected to push for a top-10 finish following their recruitment in the last few transfer windows. However, Gerrard's uninspiring tactics, player positioning and captain decisions have seen a team comprising Philippe Coutinho, Emiliano Buendia, Boubacar Kamara, Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey and more also fighting to stay floating in the Prem. Next for the Villans is building under new head coach Unai Emery, who formerly managed Arsenal from 2018-2019.

Ralph Hasenhüttl, Southampton

Southampton parted ways with Hasenhüttl on Nov. 6 and appointed Nathan Jones a few days after. Hasenhüttl came into the job in 2018 but never finished higher than 11th, which occurred in the 2019-2020 campaign. The Saints are currently in the relegation zone with a 3-3-8 win-draw-loss record (12 points) after losing 4-1 at home to Newcastle on Sunday. Whichever manager comes in to replace the Austrian will take charge of the youngest average age starting XI in the league.

Frank Lampard, Everton: The Toffees started the season with solid defensive numbers and hovered around the middle of the park in the standings, but it eventually proved unsustainable. Everton lacked cohesiveness, chemistry and balance, and now the club is in a tough relegation fight for the second season running. After 20 games, Lampard's team mustered a 3-6-11 win-draw-loss record and are in 19th place after his sacking. Marcelo Bielsa, one of the sport's most revolutionary managers, reportedly has been in talks with the Everton owner for possibly taking over.

Which EPL managers could be sacked next in 2022-23?

These managers are facing a spell on the hot seat if results don't start heading in their favor:

Brendan Rodgers, Leicester City: Expected to compete for a spot in the top-six, Leicester has picked up just two wins in their first 11 games and are closer to relegation than fighting for a European competition spot at the halfway mark.

David Moyes, West Ham: Moyes and West Ham spent over $200 million on new signings over the summer but only managed three wins in 11 to show for it, and they are in a similar boat as Leicester at the halfway point. A non-top-six board splashing that much cash will be expecting results, not a bottom-10 finish, putting Moyes at risk.

Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool: Liverpool couldn't, could they? But that's also what we thought about Tuchel and Chelsea - until it happened. The Reds haven't looked their best all season and it's also Year 7 of the infamous "Klopp Curse" where Klopp's team largely struggles in his seventh season at the helm and ends up leaving. Liverpool are on par with 10th-place Chelsea with 29 points at the halfway mark, and losses like 3-0 away to Brighton don't offer much signs of hope.

Jesse Marsch, Leeds United: This one isn't for the faint of heart for American fans, but Marsch's Leeds United are also not where they hoped to be through 19 games. They have a 4-6-9 win-draw-loss record and haven't picked up a win in the league since Nov. 5. Maybe new $30 million center forward Georginio Rutter and $13 million center back Maximilian Wöber, along with other potential incomings, boost their performances, but Marsch needs wins beyond the transfer market.