The start of every Premier League season signals hope and optimism as each club aims to have a successful season, whether lifting a trophy or surviving relegation. However, with a new campaign comes the debate as to who is going to be the first manager to lose their job too.
Will a team in the lower half of the league crack after a few bad results and sack their manager in fear of dropping down a division? Or will a team expected to challenge at the top end of the table relieve their manager of his duties after a poor start? Let’s look at who could be the first manager to face to chop this season.
Slaven Bilic, West Ham
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After a disappointing first season at the London Stadium, the pressure will surely be on Slaven Bilic to perform. The Hammers managed to attain their primary targets in the transfer window, sealing deals for goalkeeper Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Hernandez, and Marko Arnautovic. These high-profile signings mean Bilic has to hit the ground running, or he could be the first to go.
Mark Hughes, Stoke
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There’s a feeling around Stoke that Mark Hughes has taken the Potters as far as he can and it’s time for a new manager to take the reigns. If Hughes doesn’t get off to a good start with Stoke, there’s every chance that he might get the sack. Fans are already agitated after the sale of Marko Arnautovic and the lack of high-profile signings other than Darren Fletcher and Kurt Zouma on loan.
Rafa Benitez, Newcastle
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Rafa Benitez is one of the best coaches Newcastle have ever had but a slow start to the transfer market along with rumoured tensions with owner Mike Ashley has seen the Spanish manager installed as the favourite to get his P45 with Oddschecker. When it’s a fight between manager and Mike Ashley, there’s only ever one winner.
Craig Shakespeare, Leicester
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The Leicester board showed last season that they’re not afraid to make big decisions if the team isn’t performing. They gave Claudio Ranieri his marching orders despite the Italian bringing the Foxes a historic Premier League title the previous season. If Craig Shakespeare struggles to get points on the board, he could find himself out of a job too.
Antonio Conte, Chelsea
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It may seem crazy that a manager who just won the league is already one of the favourites to lose his job, but there have been issues boiling over behind the scenes between Antonio Conte and Roman Abramovich for a while now. The Italian was left frustrated after he didn’t get his main transfer targets and, while the signings of Alvaro Morata and Tiemoue Bakayoko have appeased him, a poor start to the season could see the Italian out of the door at Chelsea.