We are just over a month away from the new Premier League season getting underway. All 20 clubs are preparing for another vigorous campaign that looks to be as challenging as ever.
A bad start can be costly, especially for managers. If clubs don’t get points on the board early, the trigger can be pulled at any time. Here are the managers most likely to become the first managerial casualty of 2023-24 in the Premier League.
Julen Lopetegui
Lopetegui perhaps wasn’t given enough credit for his turnaround of Wolverhampton Wanderers last term. His side were bottom at Christmas and he guided them to a 13th-place finish, seven points clear of the bottom three. The Spaniard confirmed he would stay at the club despite their Financial Fair Play issues, but it looks as though another tough year lies ahead for the Old Gold. They’ve lost Ruben Neves, Conor Coady and Nathan Collins, and due to their FFP woes it will be difficult to bolster their ranks. A slow start next term could see Lopetegui go first.
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Paul Heckingbottom
Sheffield United are back in the Premier League and many are expecting them to be up against it once again. Heckingbottom has done an excellent job to rebuild the squad and get them back up so quickly, but it is clear that his side needs strengthening if they are to avoid the trap door on this occasion. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him become the first sacked head coach in 2023-24 if United get off to a rocky start
Steve Cooper
Cooper proved all the doubters wrong by guiding Nottingham Forest to Premier League safety last year but question marks still remain over whether the Tricky Trees can escape the drop this time around. They made a staggering number of signings last season to help consolidate their top-flight status and they will be eager to strengthen again this summer. If there are early signs that Cooper can't take Forest higher up the table then owner Evangelos Marinakis could make the decision that most of the fans would not want to see.
Marco Silva
It is difficult to understand why Silva is considered one of the favourites after he guided Fulham to a 10th-place finish last time out. The Cottagers were one of the relegation favourites but surprised everyone with just how quickly they readjusted to Premier League life. Their football was entertaining and at one point they were in the conversation for finishing in the European places.
Rob Edwards
Luton Town are expected to be the Premier League’s new whipping boys following their incredible rags to riches rise from non-league. Edwards filled the void left by Nathan Jones and kept the Hatters on the path to the play-offs and achieved what his predecessor could not. Luton will be out to upset most tipsters in 2023-24 but it might take some time for them to settle in to their new surroundings.
