Record number of new managers for Premier League season like no other

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that the 2026-27 Premier League is set to begin with an unprecedented wave of managerial change, with nine clubs expected to start the season under new permanent bosses. That is the highest number on record for an opening weekend in England’s top flight, surpassing the previous mark of eight in 2016-17. The clubs mentioned include Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Ipswich Town and, potentially, Newcastle United.

According to the article, the shake-up has come through a mix of sackings, resignations, contract expiries and departures. BBC Sport says Liverpool have appointed Andoni Iraola, Manchester City have turned to Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have brought in Xabi Alonso, and other clubs have made similar changes across the league. The piece also notes that the season will begin without several defining figures from recent Premier League history, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, all of whom helped shape the modern era.

The report places the turnover in a wider context of shorter managerial tenures and repeated mid-season changes. It says the average top-flight boss now lasts about 20 months, and that the previous season featured 11 managerial changes. While a new coach can sometimes produce an immediate lift, BBC Sport says recent history suggests there is no guarantee of success, with spending and squad quality still seen as major factors.

The article argues that this concentration of change could make the opening weeks particularly unpredictable, including several early fixtures between teams with new managers. It presents the 2026-27 campaign as the start of a new Premier League chapter after more than three decades dominated by a small group of long-serving, title-winning coaches.