Ange Postecoglou lasted 39 days at Nottingham Forest. Mikel Arteta has been at Arsenal since December 2019, and his side now lead the Premier League title race. Those two extremes sum up Premier League managers’ records, and this season has widened the gap. Nine clubs started 2026-27 with a new man in charge.
Here’s what this guide covers. So we look at the longest reigns, the shortest ones and the record turnover of the summer. Then we check who is under pressure right now. All figures are correct as of 3 November 2026.
The longest-serving bosses in Premier League history
So, start with the giants. Sir Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United for more than 26 years, from 1986 to 2013. In that time he won 13 Premier League titles. Even so, no other manager has come close to that mark.
Arsène Wenger comes next on length. Meanwhile, he spent more than 21 years at Arsenal, from 1996 to 2018, and won three league titles. His 2003-04 side went unbeaten, and Arsenal’s 85-point title last season reminded fans of that era. So Wenger’s name still comes up whenever Arsenal win big.
Then there’s Pep Guardiola, of course. He left Manchester City this summer after a decade in charge. In that time, he won six Premier League titles. A ten-year reign at one club is rare in the modern game, which makes his exit a landmark.
Who is the longest-serving boss now?
On the current list, though, Arteta stands out. He took over at Arsenal in December 2019, and he’s the only big-six manager who didn’t change this summer. Because Arsenal won the 2025-26 title with 85 points, Arteta’s patience paid off. Reports also marked his 300th game in charge in October 2025.
Unai Emery at Aston Villa also looks like a long-term name. He arrived in late 2022, as far as we know. We couldn’t find a full tenure ranking for 2026-27, so treat this as a rough guide.
Meanwhile, the list of departures this summer is long. Guardiola left City, and Eddie Howe left Newcastle at the start of pre-season. Marco Silva left Fulham after five years, and Andoni Iraola left Bournemouth. In other words, several of the league’s most stable reigns ended in one summer.
The fastest sackings on record
Now for the other end of the scale. Postecoglou’s 39 days at Forest is the shortest permanent reign in Premier League history, according to reports. Because of results, Forest sacked him about 20 minutes after a 3-0 defeat by Chelsea in October 2025. That’s a brutal timeline.
Before that, Les Reed held the record at Charlton in 2006 with 41 days. Frank de Boer then lasted 77 days at Crystal Palace in 2017. Both stories became famous because they were so short.
More recent sackings were quicker than most fans expected:
- Liam Rosenior, Chelsea: 106 days in charge before he was sacked last season.
- Sean Dyche, Nottingham Forest: 114 days, ending on 12 February 2026.
- Ange Postecoglou, Nottingham Forest: 39 days, ending in October 2025.
- Vítor Pereira, Wolves: Sacked on 2 November 2025 after no wins in his first 10 league games.
Notice how often Forest appear in that list. That tells its own story.
A record summer of managerial change
Now, the 2026-27 season began with unusual churn. Nine clubs started with a new manager, according to several reports. One report said that ties a record last set in 1946-47.
So the new names are Marco Rose at Bournemouth, Xabi Alonso at Chelsea and Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace. Beyond that, Álvaro Arbeloa at Fulham, Andoni Iraola at Liverpool and Enzo Maresca at Manchester City. Matthias Jaissle joined Newcastle, Oliver Glasner went to Forest and Gary O’Neil arrived at Ipswich.
Because of that turnover, average tenure fell sharply. One analysis put the average at 474 days on opening day, the lowest in league history. A Guardian analysis, as reported elsewhere, found that 22 of the last 50 permanent managers lasted under 12 months. That’s close to a coin flip.
Contracts versus reality
Still, clubs have handed out long deals despite that risk. Alonso signed for four years at Chelsea, and Jaissle also got four at Newcastle. Maresca, Rose, Sage, Arbeloa and O’Neil each have three. Iraola’s deal at Liverpool runs for two. Of course, a long contract doesn’t guarantee a long stay.
Why patience is shrinking
Today, clubs face more pressure than ever. Money, fan anger and European places all raise the stakes, so patience wears thin. As a result, owners act faster, and managers get less time to build a team.
In fact, Liverpool show the trend well. They won the league in 2024-25, and then they spent about £450 million before 2025-26. Even so, they finished fifth on 60 points, and Slot was sacked. So Iraola now inherits a squad with huge expectations and little room for error.
At the same time, some clubs still reward calm. Arsenal stuck with Arteta through years of near misses. Because of that, they won their first title since 2003-04 last season. That story may be the strongest argument for patience in the whole league.
Last season’s sack race
First, Forest set the tone. They used four managers in 2025-26, starting with Nuno Espírito Santo, who left on 8 September 2025 after three league games. Then Postecoglou followed, and Dyche came after. Pereira arrived later and kept Forest up, but the club sacked him in June, just before a contract clause was due to take effect.
Elsewhere, Chelsea lost two managers last season. Enzo Maresca left mid-season, and Rosenior was sacked after 106 days. Calum McFarlane finished the campaign as interim boss. Liverpool also parted ways with Arne Slot after their title defence failed. In short, even champions-in-waiting aren’t safe.
Tottenham sacked Postecoglou and Igor Tudor before settling on Roberto De Zerbi late in 2025-26. Spurs then survived on the final day. So their path shows how fine the line is between a sacking and a rescue.
Who is under pressure right now?
As of early November, none of the 20 opening-day managers had been dismissed, according to the reports we found. Even so, that could change quickly. Sky Sports analysis found clubs far more likely to sack managers mid-season than in the summer, with November and December the busiest months.
Michael Carrick is the name most often mentioned, and the pressure keeps growing. Manchester United are winless in eight games in all competitions and sit 17th. He kept his job after a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on 25 October. Our look at the relegation battle covers that story in more detail.
Meanwhile, others in the conversation include Arbeloa at Fulham, Sage at Palace, Lampard at Coventry and De Zerbi at Tottenham. Yet Lampard has led Coventry back to the top flight after winning the Championship. Even so, the early pressure has been real for him.
Managers also shape the players around them. Our mid-season XI shows how new bosses at Chelsea and City already have stars in form. Stability helps, but it isn’t everything.
Premier League managers’ records to watch this season
Several storylines could produce new entries in the record books. First, Carrick’s run at United is worth tracking, since his side have won one of nine league games. Second, Maresca is chasing the league in his first season at City, which would be a rare feat. Even so, his side have already lost twice.
Third, the first sacking of 2026-27 is still to come. If it happens before December, it will fit the usual pattern. Meanwhile, nobody expects Postecoglou’s 39 days to be beaten soon. Still, football has a way of surprising people.
Key takeaways
- Longest reign: Sir Alex Ferguson managed United for more than 26 years.
- Shortest permanent reign: Ange Postecoglou lasted 39 days at Forest.
- Record turnover: Nine clubs began 2026-27 with a new manager.
- Longest-serving big-six boss: Mikel Arteta has been at Arsenal since December 2019.
- Pressure points: No manager had been sacked by early November, but several face scrutiny.
FAQs
Who is the longest-serving manager in Premier League history?
Sir Alex Ferguson managed Manchester United for more than 26 years.
Who had the shortest reign in Premier League history?
Ange Postecoglou lasted 39 days at Nottingham Forest in 2025.
Who is Arsenal’s manager?
Mikel Arteta has managed Arsenal since December 2019.
Why did Pep Guardiola leave Manchester City?
He left this summer after a decade, and Enzo Maresca replaced him.
Has a Premier League manager been sacked this season?
None of the opening-day managers had been dismissed as of early November, according to reports.
Conclusion
Premier League managers’ records tell two stories at once. Ferguson, Wenger and Guardiola show what patience can build, while Postecoglou and Dyche show how fast it can vanish. With record turnover this summer and pressure on Carrick, the next sacking may not be far away. Stability, as ever, remains the rarest prize in Premier League managers’ records.
