Graham Potter has become the latest casualty of the 2022-23 Premier League season, becoming the 13th managerial departure, extending the record for in-season changes.
Potter was sacked by Chelsea after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, just hours after Brendan Rodgers was let go by Leicester City.
The previous record of 10 in-season departures was surpassed by Antonio Conte’s exit from Tottenham last month.
The changes this season have been unprecedented, and the tally moved up to 11 when Leicester axed Rodgers.
The season has been marked by a timeline of trouble with several managers being shown the door. Scott Parker was axed by Bournemouth in August after a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel was sacked by Chelsea’s new owners in September, with Potter quickly lured from Brighton to replace him.
Wolves moved on from Bruno Lage in October, before Steven Gerrard was dismissed by Aston Villa.
In November, Southampton’s struggles saw Ralph Hasenhuttl sacked and replaced by Nathan Jones.
The departure of Frank Lampard from Everton in January was followed by Jesse Marsch being shown the door by Leeds and Nathan Jones becoming the second Saints casualty of the season.
Moreover, Crystal Palace sacked Patrick Vieira after a 12-match winless run in March, before Conte’s increasingly fractious relationship with Spurs came to an end.
Prior to this season, the record number of departures was 10, set on three previous occasions in the Premier League era.
The 2013-14 campaign was the first to hit double figures, with Fulham contributing two to that total. Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment by Tottenham that season took the final total to 13.
Also, there were a record 15 exits in 2017-18, with 10 coming during the season. Last season saw 10 managers jettisoned during the campaign, with an 11th departure at the end of the season.
The unprecedented number of managerial changes in the Premier League this season highlights the immense pressure on managers to produce results.
While some may argue that this trend is not healthy for the game, it is clear that clubs are increasingly impatient with underperforming managers.
It remains to be seen who will be next in the firing line as the season reaches its climax.
