The managerial merry-go-round hitting the Premier League this summer

The Premier League season has only just finished, but the managerial landscape has already shifted dramatically.

Several clubs have confirmed major changes in the dugout, others are still waiting for the final pieces to fall into place, and the summer of 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing managerial merry-go-rounds in recent memory.

With football odds and accas in the online football market ramping up into a busy summer, here is a look at the clubs facing a new era when the new season kicks off.

Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace have moved quickly following Oliver Glasner’s departure, appointing Pierre Sage as their new manager on a three-year contract.

Glasner left Selhurst Park after a memorable spell that included European success and a clear tactical identity, but Palace have now turned to Sage as the man to build on that progress.

The French coach arrives with a growing reputation after impressing in Ligue 1, and his appointment gives Palace a fresh direction rather than a drawn-out summer search.

Andoni Iraola had been strongly linked with the Palace job at one stage, but that move never materialised and he has since gone to Liverpool.

Instead, Palace have opted for Sage, a coach viewed as a tactically intelligent appointment who should suit the club’s desire to keep developing without completely ripping up what Glasner built.

For Palace, the challenge is obvious: avoid taking a step backwards after a strong end to the Glasner era.

With European football and domestic consistency both on the agenda, Sage will need to settle quickly.

Bournemouth

Bournemouth are another club entering a new chapter, although their planning has looked far more orderly than most.

Andoni Iraola’s departure could have been a major blow given the excellent work he did on the south coast, but Bournemouth acted decisively by confirming Marco Rose as their new head coach on a three-year contract.

Rose arrives with extensive experience in European football, having managed clubs including Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.

His reputation is built around high-energy, aggressive football, which should make him a natural fit for a Bournemouth side that had already become one of the Premier League’s most intense and entertaining teams under Iraola.

The key question is whether Rose can maintain Bournemouth’s upward curve. Iraola raised expectations significantly, so this is not a simple “steady the ship” appointment.

Bournemouth will want to prove that their progress was structural, not just the product of one outstanding coach.

Chelsea

Chelsea have once again pressed the reset button, with Xabi Alonso now set to take charge at Stamford Bridge from 1 July.

Liam Rosenior’s short spell in charge came to an end after a poor run of results, and Chelsea have moved for one of the most high-profile coaches available.

Alonso had been linked with several elite jobs, so his arrival represents a statement appointment for a club still trying to find stability after years of managerial churn.

Unlike some previous Chelsea appointments, Alonso appears to have been brought in with a broader remit.

The club reportedly see him not just as a head coach, but as a manager who can influence recruitment, squad planning, performance standards and culture.

That matters, because Chelsea’s issue has rarely been a lack of talent. The bigger problem has been coherence.

Alonso’s task is to turn a talented but inconsistent squad into something more controlled, balanced and reliable.

There is still plenty of pressure, of course. Chelsea supporters have seen too many false dawns in recent years to assume this one will automatically work. But on paper, Alonso’s arrival gives the club a clearer identity than it has had for some time.

Manchester United

Manchester United’s situation has also been clarified, with Michael Carrick now continuing as head coach after an impressive interim spell.

Carrick returned to Old Trafford after Ruben Amorim’s exit in January and quickly steadied a season that could have unravelled. Strong results, improved performances and Champions League qualification made it difficult for United to look elsewhere.

There had been some caution about handing the job permanently to an interim appointment, which is understandable given United’s recent managerial history.

However, Carrick’s impact was significant enough to earn the club’s trust.

The appeal is obvious. He knows Manchester United, understands the expectations around the club, and appears to have restored a degree of calm after a difficult period.

The next test is whether he can turn that short-term momentum into a full-season challenge.

United have had plenty of “new eras” since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Carrick will now be judged on whether this one feels more sustainable than the last few.

Manchester City

Manchester City are preparing for the biggest managerial change of all, with Pep Guardiola’s extraordinary reign now at an end.

Guardiola’s decade at the Etihad reshaped not only City, but the Premier League as a whole. His departure leaves a huge vacancy, and replacing him is arguably the most difficult job in English football.

Enzo Maresca has been widely reported as City’s preferred successor and is expected to take over, although the situation has involved talks and compensation issues connected to his previous Chelsea contract.

As things stand, City are moving into the post-Guardiola era with Maresca the leading figure in the frame.

The logic is clear. Maresca knows the City environment, worked under Guardiola during the treble-winning period, and shares many of the same positional-play principles.

That continuity could be valuable at a club where the entire football structure has been built around a specific style.

Even so, this is a massive step. Guardiola’s standards were almost impossible to match, and City’s next manager will be compared to him from day one.

The question is not just whether City can keep winning trophies, but whether they can retain the same aura without the defining figure of their modern era.

Fulham

Fulham are another club facing uncertainty after Marco Silva’s departure.

Silva had been in charge at Craven Cottage since 2021 and did an excellent job, taking Fulham back to the Premier League and establishing them as a competitive top-flight side.

His exit leaves a significant gap, especially because he had built a clear structure and identity over several seasons.

Fulham had offered Silva a new deal, but he has now moved on, taking the Benfica job. That leaves Fulham looking for a successor at a crucial point in their development.

Álvaro Arbeloa has been linked with the vacancy, but Fulham’s next appointment had not yet been fully confirmed at the time of writing.

Whoever comes in will inherit a club that has made real progress, but also one that needs careful handling.

Fulham are no longer simply happy to survive, yet they are still operating in a competitive middle section of the Premier League where one poor appointment can quickly drag a club into trouble.

The next manager must preserve the stability Silva created while adding enough freshness to prevent the team from drifting.

Liverpool

Liverpool are also entering a new phase, with Andoni Iraola now taking over at Anfield.

That means Arne Slot’s time at Liverpool has come to an end after a difficult title defence. Slot had delivered success, but the following campaign brought enough frustration for the club to make a change.

Iraola’s appointment is one of the most fascinating moves of the summer.

His work at Bournemouth earned widespread praise, with his pressing style, tactical clarity and ability to improve players making him one of the most admired coaches in the league.

At Liverpool, though, the scale of the job is very different. Bournemouth gave Iraola room to build. Liverpool will expect results immediately.

The upside is clear: Iraola’s football should suit Anfield if implemented properly. High intensity, aggressive pressing and quick transitions are all qualities Liverpool supporters have historically embraced.

The challenge will be managing expectation, refreshing the squad and ensuring that the move from overachieving underdog to elite-club pressure does not blunt what made him so successful in the first place.

Newcastle United

For all the change elsewhere, Newcastle United appear set to continue with Eddie Howe.

That in itself is notable. Newcastle’s season fell below expectations in some respects, and there were moments when pressure built around Howe’s position.

However, the club look ready to keep faith with the manager who has overseen much of their recent progress.

In a summer when several clubs are gambling on new ideas, Newcastle’s decision offers continuity. Howe knows the squad, understands the demands of the ownership, and has already shown he can push the club towards the top end of the Premier League.

That said, patience will not be unlimited. With so many rivals changing direction, Newcastle may see this as an opportunity to benefit from stability. But if results do not improve quickly, the same questions could return.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham are another club with a new direction, with Roberto De Zerbi now in charge.

De Zerbi’s arrival gives Spurs a clear stylistic identity. He is associated with bold, possession-based football, structured build-up play and a willingness to take risks. For Tottenham, that should mean a very different feel heading into the new season.

The appointment is exciting, but not without risk. De Zerbi’s football requires technical quality, patience and buy-in from the squad. When it clicks, it can be thrilling. When it does not, it can leave teams exposed.

For Spurs supporters, the hope will be that De Zerbi provides the attacking ambition they want while also delivering the consistency that has so often been missing.

A Premier League Summer of Change

The overall picture is clear: the Premier League is heading into 2026/27 with a very different managerial look.

Crystal Palace have turned to Pierre Sage. Bournemouth have replaced Iraola with Marco Rose. Chelsea have landed Xabi Alonso. Manchester United have committed to Michael Carrick. Liverpool have moved for Iraola. Manchester City are preparing for life after Guardiola, with Enzo Maresca expected to lead the next phase. Fulham, meanwhile, are searching for the right successor to Marco Silva.

That level of change makes the new season especially difficult to predict. Some clubs will benefit from fresh energy and tactical ideas. Others may discover that replacing a successful manager is easier in theory than in practice.

For punters, it also adds another layer of uncertainty. Managerial changes can shift a club’s style, transfer priorities, defensive reliability and attacking output almost overnight.

That matters for everything from outright markets and top-four odds to goals betting, relegation prices and weekly accas.

One thing is certain: when the new Premier League season begins, the touchline will look very different.