Four Candidates to Be First Manager Fired in the 2026-27 Premier League
The cut-throat nature of the Premier League means it's only a matter of time before the first manager is marched to the metaphorical guillotine. There were 11 managers fired during a tumultuous 2025-26 campaign in England's top flight, two of which had already been dismissed by the time October rolled around.
While no manager has yet been canned this campaign, the vultures are already circling above Premier League touchlines up and down the country. The opening weeks of the new season have been arduous for a number of the division's tacticians, who remain under pressure after a lackluster return to club soccer following the September-October international break.
With that in mind, here are the four Premier League managers most at risk of being fired first. Michael Carrick Man Utd have made a historically poor start.
But the beginning of his first full season in charge has served as a reality check. United have regressed during the opening months, with thumping home wins over Ipswich Town and Sabah FK hardly glossing over some truly dire displays in defeats to Hull City, Manchester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Atlético Madrid.
A3-0 loss at home to Bournemouthseemed to set the stage for Carrick's exit, withcandidates to replace himnow being strongly evaluated. Carrick hasn't been aided by the club's recruitment department, who neglected to bolster the defense or attack when reinventing a tired midfield-a fact Lisandro Martínez highlighted in anexplosive rantfollowing the team's defeat at the Metropolitano.
United fans proved they recognized that fact as they chanted Carrick's name after the Bournemouth loss, only to immediately turn to boos as soon as the manager retreated to the tunnel. Pierre Sage Pierre Sage has made an unspectacular start in England.
The Austrian's subsequent decision to join Nottingham Forest-rather than one of Europe's bigger clubs-only added to the confusion and frustration among the Selhurst Park faithful. No matter the manner of Glasner's exit, though, he's set an incredibly high bar-one that new manager Pierre Sage will struggle to reach or surpass.
The Frenchman worked miracles during his year with Lens in his homeland, winning them their first-ever Coupe de France title and guiding them through a title race with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. But those achievements will mean very little to his Palace prospects if results and performances don't improve from the opening weeks of his reign in south London.
Wins against Fulham and Forest remain the only Premier League victories thus far, and the Eagles have conceded the second-most goals (19) in the league after eight games. Palace's presence in the Europa League will only stretch a threadbare squad further as the season progresses.