The first to fifth coaches will surprise many because they really performed better than people expected. Due to its popularity and wide audience and fan bases, EPL teams have no time or patience for managers at all, unlike other member leagues across Europe and around the world.
The 2022–2023 season has been pretty crazy for managers, as a whopping 14 have been sacked already. There are some coaches whose dismissal came as a surprise to many, while others were seen before coming. Have a look at the 34 ranked EPL coaches.
34. Frank Lampard: Lampard has moved from cult hero to cult zero. The lack of results since he took over at Chelsea has seen the team drop points and miss the top four. There was hope when he was appointed because he steered Chelsea with no proper signings to qualify for the top four last season before he was replaced by Tuchel.
The only win that came as a relief for the former Chelsea talisman was not even the nicest of wins, but that point proved crucial for the Blues and Lampard. His appointment was seen as a surprise by many Chelsea fans, as his first stint was somehow bittersweet for them. The trust Todd Boehly had for Lampard was strange, as he took Everton to their relegation grave before he was replaced with Dyke.
33. Nathan Jones:The former Luton Town coach's appointment was a big surprise to many, per the system and the philosophy of the Southampton team. He condemned the Saints to an early relegation battle as he lost six games out of the seven he managed.
The only achievement Southampton fans and EPL opposition supporters will be happy about is J knocking out EPL champions Manchester City in the Carabao Cup to halt their quadruple charge.
32. Steve Davies: Another shocking appointment in the EPL is the appointment of Davies by Wolves, as the team has been seen as a low-budget club that wants to buy cheap and sell them big or sign loan players.
At first, he was a short-term substitute when Bruno was sacked, but he lasted at his post until the World Cup break. The former Leyton Orient manager was relieved of his post when he started to send Wolves into the relegation zone.
31. Brendan Rogers:Rogers was seen as the perfect successor to the man who guided Leicester City to their first EPL title. His woes at the club came from poor recruitment and the favorable selection of his squad.
The appointment of the former Liverpool and Celtic coach was seen as a good omen for the development of the club, but things didn't go out as planned when he started to fight a relegation battle with the Foxes, who have gained the status of top-table contenders.
30. Dean Smith:Smith did a great job at Aston Villa by steering them to the EPL, but he was sacked as his managerial prowess started to decline. There was genuine hope among the Leicester fans because Dean knows how to get the best out of talented players.
He was blessed with talented players such as Harvey Barnes, Madison, Teliemans, etc but he couldn't improve any of these players as their form kept on dipping each and every match day. There was no improvement after his appointment because the Foxes are still relishing the relegation battle, as their only hope comes on the final match day.
29. Graham Potter: Porter will have a bit of regret in his coaching journey, for sure, because his Brighton side was doing well and cruising this season. He did a great job and started well for the club, which has seen them reach the Europa League places this campaign.
He boldly took the Chelsea job when the knock came, but Chelsea is not the kind of club that can afford Porter the time and patience. He could have been one of the best coaches this year if he had stayed at Brighton, but he chose to try a new adventure that didn't go well for him. His seven wins weren't enough for him to not be axed.
28. Steven Gerard: The former Liverpool captain was having a great career at Rangers until he accepted the Aston Villa job. There was a great sense of belief and hope when he was appointed by the villa management, but his poor run and lack of identity caused him.
His eleven games in charge of Villa saw them slip gradually into the relegation battle. He took the Villa job with the aspiration of coaching Liverpool in the future, but that didn't go as well as he envisaged, and he was replaced by Unai Emery, who has done well enough.
27. Scot Parker: He did a great job when he was in charge of Fulham by bringing them back to the EPL. The former Fulham player introduced a wide play system that saw Fulham brush every team aside to be promoted to the EPL, but he couldn't do the same to improve Bournemouth.
He was credited with bringing Bournemouth back to the EPL, but he failed miserably after a series of goals galore by Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool. The later thrashing of Bournemouth (9:0) saw Porter lose credibility among the management of Bournemouth.
26. Javi Garcia: Garcia was seen as a coach who distributed a lot of goals to the top guns to facilitate their points and superior goal difference. The former Al Sad coach's appointment was greeted with disbelief, and he proved that too.
Leeds were thrashed heavily by Liverpool, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth. Garcia replaced Jesse Marsche after he also saw Leeds fail to move upward after the departure of Bielsa.
25. Ruben Selles:His turn at saints was seen at first as a promising journey when he took the job. He managed some great results and important draws to cement the belief of the Southampton fans.
He managed to get some important wins against Chelsea and Leicester and draws against Arsenal and Manchester United. Those wins and draws were not enough to save them from relegation to the championship.
24. Sam Allardyce: Big Sam came in full of hope and zeal to do what he does best as a coach. He is noted for saving relegation-threatened teams, but that wasn't the case at Leeds. The Leeds team had already suffered a lot of heavy defeats and goal fests before his arrival, but the tightening at the back during the match between Manchester City and Liverpool brought a little hope.
His win against Tottenham was seen as a good sign, but the final game on Sunday will seal his fate and will also show why he was called upon by any team that is battling relegation.
23. Ryan Mason: He was taunted to be the one to permanently handle the Spurs job after the departure of Conte. He had the trust of the Tottenham board after he guided Tottenham to victory against Chelsea when Mourinho was sacked.
He condemned Spurs to miss the opportunity to contest any European competition after a series of poor runs. A run of one win in his first five matches dashed any hope of him lingering at his post, but he was assured to stay till the end of the season as Tottenham are busily looking for a new coach.
22. Bruno Lage:Bruno was brought in to emulate the feat of his compatriot, but it turned out to be a different story. He was seen as the kind of coach who can recruit young players and also do some loan signings that will help Wolves become a team no one wants to play with during the reign of Nuno Santos.
He acquired only one win in nine games that saw the Wolves drop gradually. The lack of goals was the main reason he was sacked in October.
21. Ralph Hussenhutl:He started brightly at Southampton and helped the Saints team play some nice and attacking football. His first season saw the Saints punish the big guns after defeating Manchester City and Liverpool.
He was even linked with several coaching jobs in the EPL, notably the Chelsea job. His job at the Saints cannot be termed a failure or a success, but somehow it was bad. What cost him his job dearly was the strategy of his recruitment, as most of the players he signed couldn't help him when he needed them most.
20. Jesse Marsche:He was the fans beloved coach when he guided the Elland Road club to avoid relegation last season, but that didn't happen when he was giving the nod to go on with the 22/23 campaign. He sold two of his best players to buy Luis Sinisterra, Marc Rocca, Wilfreid Gnoto, Brendan Aaronson, and Rasmus Kristensen.
He made impressive signings with the money he got from selling Raphinha and Kalvin Philips, but he couldn't get the best out of the squad he brought in. Though the players looked promising and talented, the damage was already done.
19. Cristian Stellini: Stellini's worst and last defeat came at the hands of the revitalized and revamped New Castle United after Spurs were thumped 6:1. He was appointed after the sacking of Conte, but he couldn't live up to expectations, as he was given the benefit of the doubt and had proved it.
He was the assistant to Conte, but he took over the affairs after his boss departed, knowing he could steer Spurs to the top four. The defeat Spurs suffered at the hands of New Castle was greeted with displeasure as some of the fans demanded the refund of their tickets.
18. Thomas Tuchel: Tuchel's appointment was greeted with excitement and belief from Chelsea fans, especially when he won the UCL for Chelsea. He was seen as a manager who would go on and stay at Chelsea because of his no-nonsense style of coaching.
He succeeded Frank Lampard and started the new season with some unconvincing defeats to Leeds and Southampton. Though the man who sacked him has admitted his mistake of sacking him so early when he should have waited, one strange thing is that the 10 points he accumulated for Chelsea have been points that have guided them from relegation.
17. Sean Dyche: The former Burley manager was seen as the man who would revamp Everton's squad with his aggressive and tough style of football. His time at Burley saw them become a stubborn team no one wants to mingle with.
He was replaced after Lampard was sacked, and so far, so good. He is trying to help the Toffees avoid relegation. He has given Everton their identity back and forced the team to tighten up their leaking defense a little, but he will need serious reinforcements if he manages to avoid relegation in Sunday's final day games.
16. Patrick Vieira: The only black manager in the EPL was sacked miserably, he wasn't doing bad enough to attract that harsh sacking, but that is the EPL for you. His sacking came as a surprise to many Crystal Palace fans and his admirers as well.
Vieira brought an identity to the Crystal Palace team, which lacks flair, talent, and processive football. He also made some interesting signings that have gone a long way toward propelling them this season. To the Crystal Palace board, it was a different story.
15. Antonio Conte: His second stint in the EPL didn't go well for the Italian tactician. He guided Chelsea to claim the EPL in his first stint, but things began to take a similar shape as they did at Spurs. To the Spurs, he was the kind of coach who talks too much and can't keep his mouth shut.
Though Conte was in the hunt for a top four finish for Spurs before he was sacked to be replaced by his assistant coach, who also performed poorly to even let the fans demand their tickets.
14. David Moyes: The former Everton and Manchester United boss was seen as a coach who would take the Hammers job for a decade, just like he did at Everton. His strong approach to football made Everton a team to fear, and he did the same when he was appointed West Ham coach.
Though some poor runs of form during the halfway point of the season made the fans go crazy about him, at least he has guided them to their first final in years. He has European football to try and salvage some silverware in the Conference League to claim legendary status at West Ham.
13. Jurgen Klopp: The number thirteen spot will come as a surprise to many because of how Klopp has handled Liverpool's recruitment strategy and made them one of the most fearful teams in Europe. He was accused by Liverpool fans of draining the squad with his high-pressing style of play.
Though the season didn't go as well as planned for his team, at least he has managed to show the fans why he is still the right man for the club. What explains the dip in form is the lack of signings, especially a midfielder who will initiate the press, and the quadruple chase that failed to materialize. Should the right players arrive, the team will go on to challenge for titles next season.
12. Julen Lepoutegui: He was seen as a coach who could go on to compete with the top managers in the EPL if the right recruitment and players were signed for him. He was also seen as a coach who can win trophies if only he manages a team that is ready to splash cash on transfers.
At the moment, he is not happy at Spurs, and he could leave at the end of the season if things don't improve. He has done a good job since his arrival because he took charge of a team that was readying to battle for relegation, but he has steered the season around and guided them to avoid relegation.
11. Eric Ten Hag: Ten Hag's appointment brought a lot of good feelings and hope to Manchester United fans because he was compared to their legendary coach, Sir Alex Ferguson. He was also seen as a coach who could emulate what Ferguson did, but so far, so good.
He has seen United compete for some silverware and has already bagged one, the Carabao Cup, at the expense of Newcastle. He is also in another final and will face their fierce rival, Manchester City. They brought him to challenge for the elusive EPL title, but it seems he wanted to collect the smaller one before.
10. Roy Hodgson: The 75-year-old appointment was met with a divided opinion as some of the Crystal Palace fans and board members were not happy about the sacking of Vieira to replace him. During his turn, Palace handed heavy defeats to West Ham and Leeds to remind supporters that the 75-year-old has more to offer than his age.
His appointment has catalyzed some youngsters and players in the squad to step up. His turn has seen Ayew Jordan come back to his best, as well as Eze and Olise. Palace has only lost twice since he was appointed and has guided the team to a relegation-free season.
9. Steve Cooper: He won many admirers when he guided Nottingham Forest back to the EPL after many years out of top-flight football. Though he began to feel the pressure when his team started to make some impact after heavy and clever signings.
Forest were mad at him because he was given the backing to sign numerous players, both old and new. He also gave the Nottingham Forest fans hope after inflicting a painful defeat on Arsenal to give away the title to Manchester City. That win against Arsenal also ensures that they are safe for this season.
8. Thomas Frank: The Danish tactician has gotten huge praise from the football fraternity for how he assembles his squads to torment teams. His style of play is always a worry for the top-half teams, and this has kept his team in the mid-table.
The combination of his two poaching strikers, Ivan Toney and Mbuemo, has sent some big guns scrambling. They have also had their fair share of challenges when meeting the big teams. They are now regarded as a team that is not pleasant to play with, if things go well, they can have a taste of European football, but it seems the season has come to an end too soon for them.
7. Marco Silva: His second stint at a top-flight team, this time in the EPL, has gone well for him. He has made Fulham play attractive football that is difficult to play with. His expansive and speedy style of play has seen Fulham brush a lot of teams aside this season.
The former Everton, Watford, and Hull City manager has now found his mojo in the EPL, and he is living his dream. He has managed to recruit some exciting players who have seen their charge to European football only to succumb to a bitter defeat last weekend.
6. Unai Emery: Emery has had his worst time in the EPL when he handled Arsenal, basically, he was the one who started the project that Arteta is benefiting from, but he wasn't given the time to continue the project he started. His time at Arsenal will go down to some fans as a failure, but not at Aston Villa.
The former Villarreal manager guided the Spanish team to the UCL quarterfinal before losing to Liverpool at Anfield. He took charge of Aston Villa when Gerard was sacked, and they were struggling to avoid relegation. The Spaniard has now made Aston Villa one of the teams in the EPL no one wants to play with, and if this great form continues, Villa will be a team to watch just like Brighton.
5. Eddie Howe: When Howe was in charge of Bournemouth when they were relegated, people gave him doubts about managing a team like Newcastle United, but he has proved his doubters wrong by making Newcastle a Champions League team this season after cementing third place in the table.
He was heavily backed by the new owners and made some prudent recruitment moves that have helped them secure a Champions League spot next season.
4. Mikel Arteta: He started slowly but has gradually given the Gunners an identity that has seen them charge this season only to slip after the defeat to Forest. He made Arsenal move from a mid-table team to title challengers, and hopefully good additions to their squad will make them a team to beat once again.
With Arteta, Arsenal has one of the youngest squads in the EPL, which will see them challenge for titles for years to come. At first, it seemed his job would be over at Arsenal because of the result, but as soon as they hit top gear, they sent teams crumbling and begging for mercy. It's been a while since Arsenal played in Europe, but for the first time since the departure of Wenger, they will be in Europe next season.
3. Roberto De Zerbi: His appointment came a bit late because he wasn't known in the English territory and he is not a popular coach as well, but he has managed to guide Brighton to European football for the first time. During Porter's era, they played beautifully, but the result wasn't coming as expected, but De Zerbi brought the result and the style back.
After Porter disappointed them by choosing the Chelsea job, people were wondering who would help the talented Brighton team keep their form, but it seems he has done even better than Graham Porter. The Italian have brought different styles of play and results to the team. He also guided them to reach the FA Cup final, only to lose on penalties to Manchester United.
2. Pep Guardiola: The master tactician should have been at number one, but where he is at number two is not strange at all. He has been backed extensively in all departments by the management of the club. Through Pep, they have become one of the most fearsome teams in Europe and are now challenging for a treble.
The Spaniard has won five league titles in the past six years. This unprecedented feat has seen him become one of the greatest coaches to grace the EPL. Now City are in for the elusive Champions League trophy for the first time, which will cement their status as one of the big teams in Europe.
1. Gary O'Neil: Gary deserves a lot of credit for how he has managed Bournemouth to become one of the most exciting teams in the EPL. After Parker complained bitterly of a lack of signings and better players, Gary took the job from nowhere and has now steered the team into the top half of the league. The signings he made also proved crucial to his game plan.
His appointment came as a surprise, given his pedigree and experience in managing in the EPL. He managed to lose four of his first 12 games, which made the management of Bournemouth have trust and hope for him, and so far, so good. He has gotten some wonderful results and has played some beautiful games with the players Parker criticized.
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