It wasn’t until December that we saw our first manager sacking of the 2023/24 Premier League season as Sheffield United parted ways with Paul Heckingbottom.
By this time last season, five managers had been sacked in the Premier League, including the likes of Steven Gerrard, Ralph Hasenhuttl and Thomas Tuchel, while six coaches had lost their jobs before December in the 2021/22 campaign.
So far this term, Premier League clubs have shown great restraint in comparison to past seasons, although there is likely to be a few more dismissals before the end of the campaign.
Here are the ten earliest managerial departures in Premier League history.
Having won the League Cup in 2001/02 with Blackburn Rovers, Graeme Souness had enjoyed some good moments at Ewood Park.
However, he burnt a few bridges upon his departure, leaving Rovers just 23 days into the 2004/05 season to take the job at Newcastle United.
Souness has admitted he regrets leaving Blackburn, especially after enduring a difficult period at Newcastle.
Howard Wilkinson’s eight-year tenure at Elland Road came to an abrupt end at the beginning of the 1996/97 season. The Leeds United manager had achieved two fifth-place finishes in the Premier League between 1993 and 1995, but still couldn’t avoid the axe.
After finishing an underwhelming 13th the campaign prior, Wilkinson’s time was up after a 4-0 demolition at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester United just 23 days into the new term.
Former Leeds forward Eric Cantona popped up with a late goal and assist just to rub salt in the wounds.
Having only been appointed the Newcastle boss the previous August, Gullit was sacked at St James’ Park just 21 days into the new campaign.
Despite reaching the FA Cup final the season before, there was ultimately no love lost between Newcastle and Dutch midfielder, especially after some high-profile rifts in the dressing room.
Gullit couldn’t win over the supporters and a 2-1 defeat to local rivals Sunderland early in the 1999/00 season saw the former Chelsea and Milan player resign. However, he likely jumped before being pushed.
The Swiss manager arrived at Tottenham in November 1997 with the Lilywhites seriously struggling in the…
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