Manager Countdown: Who won’t survive the season?

Crystal Palace manager Frank de Boer was the first casualty of the Premier League season, sacked after just 77 days in the job. But he definitely won’t be the last.

According to our survey of Premier League team supporters, West Ham fans are most pessimistic about the chances of their manager lasting the season: 41% predict Slaven Bilic will lose his job.

Our survey of 2,000 Premier League fans asked what they think will happen to last year’s top six managers (Jurgen Klopp, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, and Arsene Wenger) and what chances they reckon their own team’s manager has of surviving the 2017-18 season.

What does the future hold for The Big 6?

Jurgen Klopp – Odds to be in charge for last game of the season: 1/10 Yes, 5/1 No

Since taking the reins at Liverpool in 2015, Jurgen Klopp has endeared himself to supporters and neutrals alike, thanks to his ‘gegenpressing’ approach to football and quips to the media.

After securing a respectable top-four finish in the ultra-competitive 2016-17 season, most Liverpool fans feel positive about their manager – 70% of Reds supporters we spoke to said they think Liverpool has the potential to perform well under Klopp this season.

So, what do other teams’ fans think about his chances of staying put? 27% think Jurgen Klopp will be gone by the end of the season: 11% sacked, 16% walk out.

Antonio Conte – Odds to be in charge for last game of the season: 4/7 Yes, 5/4 No

Animated Italian Antonio Conte injected some fire into the Premier League last season after stepping into the head honcho position at Chelsea. His expressive facial contortions and flailing arm movements on the sidelines paid off – the Blues finished seven points clear at the top of the table.

Unsurprisingly, 49% of Chelsea fans believe their team was at peak performance last season. However, while the majority reckon the boss can pull it off again, 36% think they’d perform well with a different manager this year!

The fans also had their say on Conte’s chances of staying: 34% think he’ll be gone by the end of the season: 12% sacked, 22% walk out.

Mauricio Pochettino – Odds to be in charge for last game of the season: 1/16 Yes, 7/1 No

The Argentine supremo wasn’t even part of the Battle of the Managers conversation last season, and yet Mauricio Pochettino quickly led Tottenham up the ranks to an incredible second-place finish, eight points ahead of Manchester City. They also scored more goals than any other Premier League team.

These stats were enough to win supporters over – 61% of Spurs fans said they don’t think their team could’ve performed any better last season, and 81% agree Pochettino can deliver similar successes in 2017-18.

But what does the footballing world think about his chances of keeping his job? 23% think he’ll be gone by the end of the season: 9% sacked, 14% walk out.

Pep Guardiola – Odds to be in charge for last game of the season: 1/50 Yes, 10/1 No

As one of the most successful managers in world football, there were high expectations when Guardiola took control at Manchester City. But the 2016-17 season was an injury-plagued, anti-climactic disappointment. The Citizens fell short of Champions League success, lost in the FA Cup semi-finals to Arsenal, and just barely clambered ahead of Liverpool for a third-place finish.

It’s no surprise City fans have mixed opinions about Guardiola’s potential. While the majority think he can take the team far this season, 37% say they’d do well with someone different at the helm.

So, what do Premier League fans think about the likelihood of Guardiola staying at the Etihad? 23% think he’ll be gone by the end of the season: 10% sacked, 13% walk out.

Jose Mourinho – Odds to be in charge for last game of the season: 1/16 Yes, 7/1 No

There’s always drama wherever The Special One goes, and the 2016-17 season at Manchester United was no exception. From record-breaking transfer deals to seeing Champions League qualification almost slip through his fingers, it was a rollercoaster for Mourinho. While United tasted League Cup and Europa League success, their league season ended with the team in a disappointing sixth place.

But the fans are ready for another ride: while 75% agreed the Red Devils should have done better, the same proportion thinks Mourinho can coax a good performance out of the Red Devils this season.

According to Premier League fans, 20% think the Portuguese will be gone by the end of the season: 6% sacked, 14% walk out.

Arsène Wenger – Odds to be in charge for last game of the season: 1/3 Yes, 2/1 No

Should he stay or should he go? It’s the question that always seems to surround Gunners gaffer, Arsène Wenger. And after two decades of leading the club through highs and lows, 2016-17 was especially tense.

For the first time since 1996, Arsenal didn’t finish in the top four, and they failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in almost 20 years. However, Arsenal’s 13^th FA Cup victory meant Wenger became the most successful manager in the competition’s history.

Understandably, opinions at the Emirates are split. 35% of fans think Wenger can lead the Gunners through a successful 2017-18, but 38% say they need a different boss to perform well.

What’s the consensus in the wider football world about Wenger’s chances of remaining with the Gunners for at least one more stint? 40% think he’ll be gone by the end of the season: 20% sacked, 20% walk out.

The 9 managers most likely to be sacked

We asked each team’s fans if they thought their team’s boss would get the boot. According to their own fans, these managers should be looking over their shoulder the most.

Will your team’s manager be sacked this season?

1. 1. Slaven Bilic – West Ham – 1/6 not to last the season – 41% yes
3. 2. Rafael Benítez – Newcastle United – 13/8 not to last the season – 18% yes
5. 3. Arsène Wenger – Arsenal – 2/1 not to last the season – 18% yes
7. 4. Chris Hughton – Brighton and Hove Albion – 2/1 not to last the season – 17% yes
9. 5. Marco Silva – Watford – 7/4 not to last the season – 17% yes
11. 6. Pep Guardiola – Manchester City – 10/1 not to last the season – 16% yes
13. 7. Antonio Conte – Chelsea – 5/4 not to last the season – 11% yes
15. 8. David Wagner – Huddersfield Town – 13/8 not to last the season – 9% yes
17. 9. Eddie Howe – Bournemouth – 5/6 not to last the season – 9% yes

The 9 managers least likely to be sacked

On the flip side, our Premier League fans reckoned some gaffers were relatively safe when we asked if they thought their man would be shown the door. According to their own fans, these nine remaining managers are the least likely to be fired this season.

Will your team’s manager be sacked this season?

1. 1. Mauricio Pochettino – Tottenham Hotspur – 1/16 to last the season – 81% no
3. 2. Ronald Koeman – Everton – 7/2 to last the season – 80% no
5. 3. Jose Mourinho – Manchester United – 1/16 to last the season – 74% no
7. 4. Jurgen Klopp – Liverpool – 1/10 to last the season – 72% no
9. 5. Mark Hughes – Stoke City – 8/15 to last the season – 71% no
11. 6. Tony Pulis – West Brom – 2/5 to last the season – 70% no
13. 7. Mauricio Pellegrino – Southampton – 8/11 to last the season – 65% no
15. 8. Sean Dyche – Burnley – 1/3 to last the season – 64% no
17. 9. Paul Clement – Swansea City – 8/11 to last the season – 63% no
19. Roy Hodgson – Crystal Palace – 5/6 to last the season (this survey was conducted before Roy Hodgson was appointed).

All Odds and Markets are correct as of 19/10/2017