Premier League breaks record with nine new managers

The Premier League will open the 2026/27 season with a record nine clubs under new managers, the highest number of fresh appointments on the opening weekend in the competition’s history.

Record turnover before a ball is kicked

Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle are among the sides to change head coaches, alongside Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Ipswich. That beats the previous record of eight managerial changes at the start of 2016/17.

The scale of the shake-up gives the opening round extra weight, with several of the league’s biggest names starting new projects at the same time.

Opening weekend brings three all-new meetings

Three fixtures in the first round will pit clubs led by new managers against each other: Fulham v Chelsea, Manchester City v Bournemouth and Newcastle v Liverpool.

Liverpool’s schedule stands out most. Arne Slot’s replacement, Andoni Iraola, faces six straight league games against clubs also beginning the campaign with a new manager: Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, Fulham, Bournemouth and Manchester City.

Nine clubs are turning the page together before the season has even begun.