Four Candidates to Be First Manager Fired in the 2026

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 few months of the new season have been arduous for a number of the division’s tacticians, who remain under pressure as we approach the November international break.

With that in mind, here are the four Premier League managers most at risk of being fired first.

Michael Carrick

After masterminding Manchester United’s resurgence as interim manager last season, Michael Carrick earned himself a permanent position in the hot seat, and deservedly secured an abundance of good-will from the club’s decision-makers, players and, perhaps most crucially, supporters.

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, Atlético Madrid and Como.

The 3–0 loss at home to Bournemouth pushed Carrick closer to the chop, with candidates to replace him now being strongly evaluated. The recent defeat to Chelsea has only exacerbated things further.

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 an explosive rant following 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

Despite guiding Crystal Palace to FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League titles, Oliver Glasner’s departure at the end of last season left a sour taste. 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 swiftly.

Wins against Fulham and Forest remain the only Premier League victories thus far, and the Eagles have been alarmingly porous during the opening nine rounds. Palace’s presence in the Europa League will only stretch a threadbare squad further as the season progresses.

Off the field, there have already been reports of a dressing room fallout, as well as rising tensions between Sage and the board following an unremarkable summer transfer window.

Álvaro Arbeloa

Álvaro Arbeloa was an unorthodox replacement for Marco Silva at Fulham. The now Benfica manager had regularly over-performed in west London, ensuring stability and the odd scalp despite the club’s lack of genuine ambition. Turning to Arbeloa marked a seismic risk—one that seemed set to backfire in the early weeks of the season.

The Spaniard’s temporary, strange and ultimately unsuccessful five months as Real Madrid manager hardly inspired confidence in the decision, even if he’s been able to lean on his connections in Spain’s capital to improve Fulham’s roster.

Three Premier League defeats on the spin immediately raised alarm bells, with some comical defending culpable for two of those losses at the hands of Chelsea and Crystal Palace. He clawed back some faith from Fulham fans following draws with Liverpool and Manchester United, but his position once again became precarious after a late collapse against Ipswich Town.

Consecutive victories over Hull City and Coventry are not the sort of results that will set the world on fire, but they were much-needed results, and Arbeloa will hope to use them as a platform to steer further away from the drop zone.

Régis Le Bris

After last season’s astonishing over-performance in the Sunderland dugout, it’s almost unbelievable that Régis Le Bris could be the first Premier League manager to be removed from his post. After all, the Black Cats finished a remarkable seventh in the standings during their first campaign back in the top flight, qualifying for the Europa League in the process.

Le Bris was integral to Sunderland’s ascent, alongside a significant revamp of his playing squad, but the club could prove a victim of its own success.

The Wearsiders have already struggled to juggle European and domestic duties, especially with a run to the Carabao Cup quarterfinals chucked into the mix. An increased workload has affected their Premier League performances, with Sunderland currently rock bottom of the table.

Just five points have been collected from their opening nine matches, and the recent 3–1 defeat to newly promoted Coventry City has raised the pressure on Le Bris ahead of the busy winter period. Sunderland simply can’t afford to be cut adrift from those above them, with the club’s owners set to be forced into an awkward decision if results don’t improve in the near future.

Add us as a preferred source on Google