The rate at which English football managers get sacked is quite staggering. Currently, only seven managers are working in the top four divisions in England who have been in the job since the 2010s, with one of those – Jurgen Klopp – set to depart in just a few weeks.
The seven names are Simon Weaver, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Mark Robins, Thomas Frank, Mikel Arteta and David Moyes. And of those seven, five work in the Premier League.
Lower league successes
The two working outside the Premier League are Simon Weaver of Harrogate Town and Mark Robins at Coventry City. Weaver has been in charge at Harrogate since May 2009. An extraordinarily long time. He has operated outside of the EFL for 11 of those years, but it’s still a great achievement.
Mark Robins has been at Coventry City since March 2017. The Sky Blues are in the Championship, but they are one of the teams given a chance of promotion by the bookmakers. They are sixth favourites to be promoted at 17/2 in the latest EFL championship odds, putting them behind Leicester City at 1/20, Leeds at 1/12, Ipswich at 4/6, Southampton at 5/6, and West Brom at 10/3.
When Mark Robins returned as Coventry manager in 2017, they were bottom of League One and 13 points adrift of safety.
He’s since won promotion to the Championship, taken them to a playoff final and has now led them to an FA Cup semi final. ????????????????????????????????#WOLCOV • #FACup pic.twitter.com/vfF4Ldd2eB
— The Coaches’ Voice (@CoachesVoice) March 16, 2024
Premier League legends
Looking at the statistics, it’s clear to see that the Premier League managers are the ones with the most longevity. There are 20 clubs in the English top flight, and five of them have stuck by their managers for a decent period.
Okay, two of them are obvious. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola can name their departure days. Klopp already has informed Liverpool he’ll be leaving at the end of the season.
Jürgen Klopp has announced his decision to step down as #LFC manager at the end of the season, having informed the club’s ownership of his wish to leave his position in the summer.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 26, 2024
The German has been at Anfield since October 2015. Guardiola has been at the Etihad since July 2016.
Brentford stability
The next longest-serving boss behind two of the most successful managers in the history of the Premier League is Thomas Frank of Brentford.
The Dane has been in charge of the west London club since October 2018. He has taken the club from the Championship and established the Bees in the EPL. Again, there is little reason why the club would want to sack him.
His Brentford team have struggled this season, hit by injuries and suspensions. But they don’t look in any real danger of relegation, and Frank will likely be there for the 2024/25 season.
Arteta gamble paying off
Mikel Arteta is the next longest-serving. He has been at the Emirates Stadium since December 2019. The Spaniard was under incredible pressure a couple of seasons ago and was rumoured to be on the verge of the sack.
The Arsenal board held firm and stuck with their man and have now been handsomely rewarded, with Arsenal in with a real chance of winning the Premier League in 2024.
What more can Moyes do?
Finally, David Moyes has been at West Ham since December 2019. He started his role just eight days after Arteta at Arsenal.
David Moyes has had a far more rocky road than any of the above-listed managers. Many times he has been on the verge of the sack, even this season. And this despite his West Ham side being in the top eight and going well in the Europa League.
Moyes led the Hammers to success in the 2022/23 season, winning the UEFA Europa Conference League for the club on a memorable night in Prague. But even that hasn’t been enough to secure his job, as he has come under tremendous pressure from elements of the club’s fans this season.
Stability is key
A manager’s job isn’t easy. But history generally shows that success goes to those who have stability. The above listed can all be used as good examples of that theory.
