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Record February Firings: Premier League Sees Unprecedented Managerial Exodus
16 Feb
Summary
- Four Premier League managers were sacked by February 2026, setting a new record.
- Tottenham and Nottingham Forest contributed to the record-breaking sacking spree.
- Liverpool and Chelsea have most often been the opponent before a manager's dismissal.
The 2026 calendar year has seen an unprecedented start to managerial sackings in the Premier League, with four managers dismissed before the end of February.
Chelsea initiated the trend on New Year's Day by sacking Enzo Maresca, followed by Manchester United's dismissal of Ruben Amorim four days later. This week saw Tottenham Hotspur dismiss Thomas Frank, and Nottingham Forest followed suit less than 24 hours later.
Historically, Tottenham has accounted for the most mid-season sackings in the Premier League era with 14. Nottingham Forest, despite fewer seasons, boasts the highest dismissal rate, averaging a sacking every 56.3 matches.
Liverpool leads the list of clubs whose opponents most frequently face dismissal, with 13 managers losing their jobs after facing the Merseyside club. Chelsea also features prominently, having been the final opponent for three Fulham managers and three Crystal Palace managers.
Adjusted for games played, Wigan Athletic ranks highest, having ushered five Premier League managers to their exits. Bournemouth also features prominently in this metric. Over the past four years, losing to West Ham United has been a particularly strong predictor of managerial dismissal.
Job security for Premier League managers continues to diminish, with those sacked in the 2025-26 season lasting an average of 319 days, the shortest tenure on record for a single season's cohort.
