How Managerial Changes Have Affected Distance Covered by Premier League Teams This Season
This season in the Premier League we have seen six managers leave their posts in favour of fresh ideas, with some yielding more noticeable successes than others.
The six to face the sack (or leave by mutual consent) is still dwarfed by the ten which we saw in 2017/18.
Much is spoken about the difference a new manager makes when he arrives at a football club - the New Manager Bounce. The new man's arrival (whoever it is) is often thought to lift the players, add an injection of energy or even spark a totally different mentality among the group.
In light of the changes made this season, our friends at Opta have provided us with the statistics for distance covered by each team in both the final three matches of a manager's reign, as well as the first three under the new appointee (excluding the odd game overseen by a caretaker manager).
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Here we take a look at whether the distances covered changed for the better or for worse during that time, and whether the change in management got the desired effect.
Huddersfield Town
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Previous Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (last three matches) | Difference |
David Wagner | 109.1 | |
New Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (first three matches) | |
Jan Siewert | 113.1 | + 3.2 |
Wagner left his post in west Yorkshire after seeing his side collect just one point in three matches against fellow strugglers Fulham, Cardiff and Burnley. The results were disappointing enough that the ex-Borussia Dortmund coach was replaced by fellow countryman Siewert shortly after.
The new man in charge wasn't appointed in time for the club's 3-0 drubbing at home to Manchester City that followed. However, he drastically improved the work rate and performance in his first three games at the helm.
Two narrow defeats against Everton and Arsenal at least gave supporters some encouragement towards a brighter future. However, the job was always mission impossible, and the club's relegation was confirmed with six games left to play.
Fulham
First Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (last three matches) | Difference |
Slavisa Jokanovic | 111.7 | |
Previous Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (first three matches) | |
Claudio Ranieri | 113.9 | + 2.2 |
Distance in km covered per 90 min (last three matches) | ||
107.9 | - 6.0 | |
New Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (first three matches) | |
Scott Parker | 110 | + 2.2 |
Fulham got off to the worst possible start in the Premier League, registering just five points from their opening 12 matches, prompting Ranieri to take over in the hopes of another Italian miracle. The 'Tinkerman' improved the running stats at the club, something that came into effect from the off as he won his opening match in charge against struggling Southampton.
Unfortunately, even for Ranieri the challenge at hand proved too difficult even for him, and their performances dipped massively, resulting in the Cottagers' second managerial casualty of the season. The appointment of a man closely connected to the club had the desired effect in regards to effort asserted. However, Parker was also unable to steer Fulham clear of the bottom three and they were sent packing to the Championship with five games left to play.
Southampton
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Previous Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (last three matches) | Difference |
Mark Hughes | 109.2 | |
New Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (first three matches) | |
Ralph Hasenhuttl | 110.0 | + 0.8 |
Hughes was destined for the sack at the Saints after guiding them to a measly two wins from the club's opening 14 Premier League matches. The players' lack of faith in their manager and growing discontent from the fanbase over the style of football Hughes implemented resulted in him being relieved of his duties in favour of former RB Leipzig boss Hasenhuttl in early December.
His first match was a disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Cardiff, after having only two training sessions with the squad, while his home bow saw them end Arsenal's 22-match unbeaten run with a 3-2 success. The distances covered didn't change dramatically, with the Austrian more inclined to see his player's use their energy sparingly and at the right times, in a more narrow box-like midfield. Since the switch, the Saints have won 24 points from a possible 17 games.
Manchester United
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Previous Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (last three matches) | Difference |
Jose Mourinho | 109.6 | |
New Manager | Distance in KM covered per 90 min (first three matches) | |
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer | 107.5 | - 2.1 |
Arguably the biggest change, at least in terms of performances and points accrued, has come from the red half of Manchester, since Mourinho was removed from his post at United in favour of club legend Solskjaer.
The surprising statistic from the change at the helm is that, under Mourinho, United players ran an average of 2.1 kilometers more in his final three games in charge, potentially dispelling rumours the players weren't running for him. However, it needs to be taken into account that two of those fixtures were heavyweight clashes against Arsenal and Liverpool.
Under Solskjaer results have improved dramatically since, leading the club back into the top four mix and losing just twice in the league since. Despite an obvious drop in distances covered in the first three matches, it is worth mentioning that those fixtures were against Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth respectively, games they won at a canter.
Leicester City
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Previous Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (last three matches) | Difference |
Claude Puel | 111.6 | |
New Manager | Distance in km covered per 90 min (first three matches) | |
Brendan Rodgers | 109.2 | - 2.4 |
The biggest margin in running statistics comes at the hands of the Foxe', who sacked Puel due to growing discontent among supporters over the Frenchman's style of play.
His possession-based approach was in stark contrast to that of Leicester's title winning side and he was removed from his post in favour of former Celtic boss Rodgers in February. The fact that the Foxes have run on average 2.4 kilometers less in the three matches that followed after the previous gaffer highlights their differing philosophies, with Rodgers' men winning two of his first three games.
The stats reveal how no one style can breed definitive success, with one of the continuing allures of the Premier League being its ability see games won in different manners. Like not running as much, for instance.
