The Premier League’s Quickest Exits: Managers Sacked in Record Time

New seasons ignite fresh hope, a chance for clubs to shed past disappointments and embark on a new trajectory. Yet, the unforgiving nature of the Premier League often sees this optimism rapidly dissolve into pessimism, and for some managers, an unceremonious early exit. While many clubs strive to back their “project managers” in the mould of a Jürgen Klopp or Mikel Arteta, the pressure to perform at the highest level can lead to swift, brutal decisions. Some owners have proven cut-throat enough to pull the plug before a full spiral takes hold. Here, we delve into the earliest managerial sackings in Premier League history, based on games played at the start of a new season.

10. Javi Gracia (Watford, 2019-20) – 4 Games

Watford’s reputation for managerial merry-go-rounds is well-earned, but many believed Javi Gracia was different. The Spaniard had an exceptional start to the 2018-19 campaign, leading the Hornets to third in the table after four wins from four. They finished 11th after a late dip and suffered a crushing joint-biggest FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

The hangover from the previous season lingered, and after just one point from four games in 2019-20, Gracia was dismissed on September 4. Despite the abrupt end, his tenure was, by Watford standards, relatively long-lived.

9. Scott Parker (Bournemouth, 2022-23) – 4 Games

Scott Parker possesses the gravitas of a top-flight manager and has three Premier League promotions on his impressive CV. However, translating Championship success to the top tier has proven his Achilles’ heel. After guiding Bournemouth back to the Premier League in 2022, his reign was cut short on August 30 following a humiliating 9-0 defeat at Anfield – a result that matched the heaviest in Premier League history.

8. Sir Bobby Robson (Newcastle United, 2004-05) – 4 Games

The 2004-05 season was anticipated to be a swansong for the legendary Sir Bobby Robson at St. James’ Park. However, instead of a “Last Dance” akin to Phil Jackson, Robson’s hugely successful reign ended abruptly. He was dismissed just 16 days into the new season on August 30, amidst reports of player discontent. Former chairman Freddy Shepherd famously likened the sacking to “shooting Bambi.”

7. Peter Reid (Manchester City, 1993-94) – 4 Games

Player-manager Peter Reid’s tenure at Manchester City ended just 12 days into the 1993-94 campaign, though City incredibly squeezed four matches into that brief period. A shift in the club’s hierarchy, predating the seismic 2008 takeover, meant Reid was on borrowed time despite a respectable three-year stint. With just one point from their opening four games and rivals Manchester United flying high, City’s board acted decisively on August 26.

6. Nuno Espírito Santo (Nottingham Forest, 2025-26) – 4 Games

Only time will reveal the true wisdom of Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ decision to part ways with Nuno Espírito Santo. Nuno had, remarkably, brought European football back to the City Ground for the first time in nearly 30 years, guiding Forest to a seventh-place finish in 2024-25 with an efficient counter-attacking style. However, summer tensions, particularly following Marinakis’ appointment of Edu Gaspar as Global Head of Football, led to a breakdown in relations. Nuno’s hugely successful reign concluded prematurely on September 9, reportedly due to a fallout over transfer policy and a complete lack of communication between the manager and the new footballing hierarchy.

Forest subsequently appointed Ange Postecoglou, a manager whose tactical philosophy starkly contrasts Nuno’s, signaling a dramatic shift in direction.

5. Christian Gross (Tottenham Hotspur, 1998-99) – 3 Games

“And even Christian Gross…” The infamous phrase uttered by Lord Alan Sugar perfectly encapsulates the chaotic 90s era at Tottenham Hotspur. Gross, the Swiss manager, was not one of the 14 managers under Daniel Levy’s near-25-year tenure, but rather dismissed by Sugar, who would later achieve television fame for his ruthless firings. Having arrived in November 1997, Gross somehow earned a brief second season despite a dismal 1997-98 campaign. He was sacked on September 5, just three games into the 1998-99 season, as Tottenham’s purgatory continued.

4. Kevin Keegan (Newcastle United, 2008-09) – 3 Games

Kevin Keegan’s second stint at Newcastle United lacked the romanticism of his first. The “entertainers” of the 90s, while thrilling, ultimately lacked the defensive steel for silverware. Eleven years later, Keegan returned in January 2008 to reinvigorate a drifting side. After a woeful start, signs of life emerged in the spring, fostering hope for 2008-09. However, the former Ballon d’Or winner resigned just three games into the new season on September 4, following an irreconcilable dispute with the board over transfer policy.

3. Alan Curbishley (West Ham United, 2008-09) – 3 Games

Alan Curbishley narrowly beat Keegan to the dubious honour of the earliest departure in the 2008-09 season, leaving West Ham United for similar reasons. After 15 successful years at Charlton Athletic, guiding them to two promotions and Premier League stability, Curbishley took the West Ham job in 2006. He miraculously steered the Hammers to safety in 2006-07 and secured a top-ten finish the following season. A promising 2008-09 campaign was anticipated, but Curbishley resigned on September 3, citing a lack of control over transfer policy.

2. Kenny Dalglish (Newcastle United, 1998-99) – 2 Games

A Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, Kenny Dalglish took over from Kevin Keegan at Newcastle in January 1997. Hopes were high that the Scot would be the man to finally deliver silverware to Tyneside, but Dalglish’s reign proved largely disappointing. His final Premier League managerial stint until 2011 lasted just two games into the 1998-99 campaign, with his dismissal coming on August 27.

1. Paul Sturrock (Southampton, 2004-05) – 2 Games

Two games and nine days. Paul Sturrock’s record for the earliest Premier League departure stands as a stark reminder of the cut-throat nature of the sport. Success in Scotland and with Plymouth Argyle earned Sturrock his big break at Southampton in March 2004, replacing Gordon Strachan.

Remarkably, Sturrock’s brief tenure ended on a winning note, but Saints chairman Rupert Lowe remained convinced the club was stagnating under the Scot. Despite the swift exit on August 23, it did little to alter Southampton’s inevitable fate, as they were relegated that season even with Harry Redknapp taking over in December. Sturrock, meanwhile, never managed in the top-flight again.

For further insights into the history of Premier League managerial changes, explore The Earliest Premier League Sackings.