If you thought last summer’s managerial shuffle was chaotic, buckle up — because the 2025 off-season could break records.
It started with the news that Andoni Iraola was leaving Bournemouth. For the rest of the Premier League, it was just the first domino.
So who else could be on the move?
Crystal Palace are already confirmed to be losing Oliver Glasner at the end of the season, and Iraola was reportedly on their radar. With him likely heading back to Spain, attention turns to Thomas Frank — the former Brentford boss who was sacked by Spurs in February after a difficult eight months in charge. Sean Dyche has also been floated as a Palace option, which tells you something about where they’re at right now.
At Manchester United, the big question was whether Michael Carrick gets the job permanently and he has now. He’s done well since stepping in for Ruben Amorim — guiding the club into Champions League qualification spots.
Marco Silva has confirmed he is leaving Fulham after five years in charge, with his contract expiring at the end of this month. Silva is set to become the next Benfica manager, replacing the departing José Mourinho, who is widely expected to return to Real Madrid. In an open letter to supporters, Silva wrote: “Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage.” Owner Shahid Khan called Silva an “excellent fit” for five seasons and confirmed a replacement will be appointed in a “timely but deliberate manner.” Early names linked with the vacancy include Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna and former Brentford and Spurs head coach Thomas Frank.
What about the bigger clubs?
Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City appeared to be resolving itself as the season reached its climax — City hit form at exactly the right time, secured the Carabao Cup, and reached the FA Cup Final against Chelsea at Wembley. But the fairy-tale ending didn’t quite materialise. City lost the final, and with it went any remaining ambiguity about Guardiola’s future. Multiple reports now suggest he is ready to walk away from the Etihad after ten extraordinary years, with a final decision expected imminently. If confirmed, it would be the end of the most successful managerial era in the club’s history.
Liverpool’s story grew more complicated by the week — and it has now reached its conclusion. Arne Slot won the title in his debut season, which felt like the start of something special, but this year unravelled badly. A £450 million summer spending spree, a devastating start to the season with the death of Diogo Jota, a string of injuries, and the visible decline of Mohamed Salah all took their toll. The season ended without Champions League qualification, 25 points behind champions Arsenal — and Slot has now paid the price, sacked at the end of his second season in charge. The Liverpool situation has now reached its conclusion. Andoni Iraola has been confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach, signing a two-year contract at Anfield after negotiations with sporting director Richard Hughes moved swiftly following Arne Slot’s sacking. The two-year deal length was at Iraola’s own insistence — it is simply how he operates at every club he manages. Iraola arrives having just guided Bournemouth to sixth place and the club’s first European qualification in 127 years — a remarkable achievement that made him one of the most sought-after managers in the Premier League. There is also a neat connection: it was Liverpool’s own sporting director Richard Hughes who originally brought Iraola to English football at Bournemouth — making this a reunion built on an already established working relationship.
And then there’s Newcastle…
Eddie Howe guided Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 70 years last season (the Carabao Cup, beating Liverpool), and brought Champions League football back to Tyneside. But this season has been a rough one, and the summer decisions haven’t helped. Selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £125 million looked like a massive mistake in hindsight, and the replacements — Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa — haven’t hit the ground running. An 8-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona and a home derby loss to Sunderland have left fans frustrated. Newcastle are currently sitting 14th, and while the club says it’s “not looking to make a change at the moment,” that kind of language rarely ages well.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have already pulled the trigger.
Since the original version of this article was written, Liam Rosenior was sacked — dismissed after less than four months in charge, following a dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton that made it five consecutive league games without scoring, a record not seen at the club since 1912. Under-21 boss Calum McFarlane stepped in as interim for the remainder of the season, overseeing a run that included an FA Cup Final appearance against Manchester City at Wembley — a game Chelsea lost.
Chelsea have now confirmed Xabi Alonso as their new manager, agreeing a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge. He will begin his role on 1 July 2026. Alonso arrives having already experienced coaching at the highest level of European football, most notably leading Bayer Leverkusen to the first Bundesliga title in their history in an unbeaten season. Despite interest in Andoni Iraola and Fulham’s Marco Silva, the Chelsea hierarchy made Alonso their number one target, with Alonso seeking and receiving assurances over the club’s transfer strategy and his authority as head coach before agreeing to the role. It will be the fifth permanent managerial appointment made in four years since BlueCo took over the club — but it’s hard to argue with the quality of this one.