Premier League sack race: Roy Hodgson & Mauricio Pochettino next to go
Published:
Roy Hodgson and Mauricio Pochettino are two of the favourites to leave their managerial positions next as the Premier League sack race heats up.
Compared with previous years, there’s actually been quite a low turnover of managerial positions in the Premier League this year, with Steve Cooper and Paul Heckingbottom being the only bosses to lose their jobs, getting sacked from Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United respectively.
However, managerial changes are still expected to take place between now and the end of the 2023/24 season, and Ladbrokes takes you through the top six candidates.
6. Vincent Kompany – 10/1
Going into the 2023/24 season, hopes were incredibly high for Vincent Kompany, who was seen by many as a future top manager, owing a lot to his Burnley side’s incredible performances in the Championship. The ex-City captain was seen as such a good prospect that, per reports, he was on Chelsea’s shortlist before Boehly appointed the aforementioned Pochettino.
However, Kompany’s attacking style of play wasn’t suitable for his side in the Premier League, and he’s had to change things up and become more pragmatic as the season has gone on, which has seen Burnley begin to pick up more points.
Despite that, Burnley are currently in 19th place, having picked up just 13 points from their opening 23 games. They’re in real danger of getting relegated this season, so the board could quite easily be forced into a managerial change if things don’t turn around before too long.
5. Erik ten Hag – 5/1
Man United are actually unbeaten in 2024, but fans of the Red Devils will still be pretty disappointed with that Erik ten Hag has been able to achieve this season.
The European giants find themselves in sixth, 13 points behind arch rivals Liverpool, who are the current league leaders. Ten Hag has only managed to pick up 38 points in 23 games, leaving them eight points behind fourth place Aston Villa, having played the same number of games.
With several high-profile managers potentially on the market, could Ten Hag be given his marches order in the same of a fresh start?
4. Chris Wilder
The aforementioned Chris Wilder was only appointed as manager of Sheffield United in December, but he’s currently the fourth-favourite to lose his job next, according to Ladbrokes.
Unforutnately for Wilder, who is beloved by fans of the Blades, time isn’t on his site. Sheffield United are currently bottom of the Premier League, having only picked up ten points so far this season. With a goal difference of -40, the Blades would still find themselves in the relegation zone even if had their points this season doubled…
Things aren’t looking great for the Blades, who are likely to be playing Championship football next season. Sacking Wilder and could with a fresh manager could be something the board opts to do as a last-ditch attempt to keep their Premier League status.
3. Eddie Howe – 10/1
Newcastle are a lot worse off than last season, currently finding themselves in ninth place, with 33 points after 23 games. Despite beating both Arsenal and United, and taking Man City and Liverpool close to the wire, it seems like the Magpies will be lucky to be playing any sort of European football next season, despite qualifying for the Champions League last season.
The Saudi board seems to support Howe fully, but should the club’s fortunes not turn around soon, then a change in the hot seat may take place.
2. Mauricio Pochettino – 11/4
When you consider how much Chelsea have spent over the last year, they really should be doing better than they are right now.
The Blues sit in 11th place in the table after 23 games, and are two points from being in the top half of the table, despite having bought two midfielders for over £100m in the last few windows.
Pochettino could be under pressure if he doesn’t turn things around, with Todd Boehly unlikely to want to see his side, that he’s invested so much into, struggling for too much longer.
1. Roy Hodgson – 1/3
Hodgson, the oldest manager in the Premier League, is the favourite in the Premier League sack race, with odds of 1/3.
The Crystal Palace boss has guided his side to 15th in the Premier League this season, after being brought in last campaign to ensure they didn’t get relegated, which he was successful in doing.
After losing 5-0 to Arsenal last month, the feeling around the Palace camp isn’t all that great, and many are of the belief that the former England boss could be out of a job before too long.
With Steve Cooper, as noted, losing his place as Nottingham Forest boss towards the end of 2023, the belief is if Hodgson doesn’t start winning games with Palace, he could be replaced by the former England youth team coach before the end of the season.
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.
