Premier League clubs have already sacked 5 managers this season. Why is it worth giving a coach the benefit of the doubt?

In the first 11 rounds, Premier League clubs have already managed to sack 5 managers. That’s one more than were sacked in the entire 20/21 season. What’s behind this trend and why is it worth giving a coach the benefit of the doubt?

Managers sacked in the Premier League this season:

Xisco Muñoz (Watford)

Steve Bruce (Newcastle United)

Nuno Espirito Santo (Tottenham)

Daniel Farke (Norwich City)

Dean Smith (Aston Villa)

What’s behind this trend?

Greater ambition from owners and less patience. Today, the English top-flight is no longer a competition where we see duels between Wenger and Ferguson, long-serving managers who have helped create a unique legacy for clubs.

The average length of a coach’s engagement in the Premier League today is just under 70 games coached. The league has ambitious owners from Egypt, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the US and China. Most have already pumped a lot of money into the club and so they will not just accept a relegation fight.

It’s not just the top teams. After all, only newcomer Norwich City could afford to acquire a player for €66 million over the summer transfer window. And certainly the owners of Aston Villa and Everton aren’t afraid to pour significant sums into the club either.

Why is it worth giving the coach the benefit of the doubt?

Let’s look at the current longest serving coach in the league, Sean Dyche, for example. The Burnley manager has been with the team since 2012. He led the team from the Championship to promotion, but was trusted in his first season in the Premier League.

In the 16/17 season, the team was back in the Premier League. A season later, Dyche even finished seventh with the team, qualifying for the Europa League.

The team from the city of 73,000 thus comfortably settled among the stable participants of the Premier League under his leadership. It cannot be overlooked that Dyche, in comparison to his colleagues, can make do with less quality but more established players.

Another case where it paid off to give the coach confidence can be the current situation from Arsenal. Many would have already sacked Mikel Arteta after the shameful 5-0 loss to Manchester City in August, but Arsenal’s management was patient.

Now the team from north London is in fifth place, maybe even ahead of Manchester United, which has been hailed as one of the favourites for the title.

Source: Transfermarkt, RunRepeat