To paraphrase the great Homer Simpson, it is not only easy to criticise, but fun, too. It is quite simple to sit and judge from this ivory tower, but hey, that's football after all, merely a game of opinions. Being a Premier League manager must be one of the loneliest gigs in the world, particularly when results are wayward and your job security is the subject of international speculation.

For those reasons, it should be easy to sympathise for these people, who still retain that humanity at the end of the day. Alas, somebody has to compile a list such as this.

Before we begin, we need to point out some important distinctions to making this hall of infamy. This is not simply ranking the gaffers with the worst win ratios, rather those who underperformed expectations to a staggering extent that it's almost impressive. For example, Kieran McKenna has the worst win percentage of any Premier League manager to take charge of a full 38-game season with 10.5%, but did anyone really expect an Ipswich Town side who had won back-to-back promotions to stay up?

Without further ado, here are GOAL's picks for the worst Premier League managerial tenures ever:

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  10Les Reed (Charlton Athletic)

  Football fans under the age of 25 will probably know of Les Reed from previous lists such as this. He has only ever been a manager once, and it turns out there's a pretty good reason as to why he never entered the profession again.

  Reed, who will turn 73 before the end of 2025, has enjoyed a successful career in a variety of backroom staff, developmental and consultancy roles, notably helping build the Southampton teams of the mid-2010s and more recently advising Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac at Wrexham. He's clearly a clever man, just one not suited to being a football manager.

  Charlton Athletic were an established top-flight side heading into the 2006-07 season, but following the departure of club legend Alan Curbishley, the only manager they had ever employed in the Premier League, they first turned to Iain Dowie, who was arguably awful enough to have made this list instead having won only two non-cup matches before his autumn dismissal. Reed, Dowie's assistant, was named as successor, but he proved out of his depth in the hot-seat and won merely one of his eight games at the helm, which came courtesy of a last-minute goal to beat Blackburn 1-0.

  Alan Pardew became the Addicks' third manager of the season and managed to take the survival race down to the penultimate week of the campaign, but it was too little and too late to save the south Londoners from relegation.

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  9Remi Garde (Aston Villa)

  Aston Villa's decline and eventual relegation from the Premier League in 2016 truly began with the appointment of Tim Sherwood a year earlier, but hey, he managed to steer them clear from the drop at the end of the 2014-15 season and led them to an unlikely FA Cup final. When ex-Arsenal star Remi Garde was brought in as his replacement, there was genuine hope and belief he could bring together a band of misfits.

  That Villa team included names such as Jack Grealish, Idrissa Gueye, Jordan Veretout and Jordan Amavi who would go on to have fine careers elsewhere, yet ultimately the team lacked enough quality around them, as Garde came to find out. Despite earning a credible 0-0 draw with title favourites Manchester City during his first match in the dugout, Garde emerged as the victor in only two of his 20 Premier League matches at the helm, with own goals being scored on both occasions to boost Villa's chances.

  It was a strange failure considering Garde had steered Lyon through their post-Ligue 1 titles patch of transition and only left the club in 2014 due to personal issues. This short stint in the West Midlands made him effectively unemployable in Europe again however, with his next – and to date, latest – job coming in MLS with the Montreal Impact from 2017 to 2019.

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  8David Moyes (Manchester United)

  Listen, is it harsh for David Moyes to make this list considering how woeful every Manchester United manager has been ever since his reign? Yes, but we also need to remember how his spell felt in the moment.

  The Red Devils were the reigning champions. It was no secret they had wanted other managers to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson instead – Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola were among the names floated at the time – and so Moyes walked into an unideal situation from the off. That also slightly reduced the weight of expectation on him, yet he still managed to limbo beneath that bar regardless.

  United's philosophy under Fergie was 'win at all costs'. It transcended formations and personnel. Under Moyes, they endeavoured to do the opposite and was the first in a long line of failures at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim may yet crack this list when all is said and done, while Erik ten Hag's final 18 months where the vibes went straight to hell are worthy of a place here, but the United nomination has to go to the man who started this run.

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  7Roy Hodgson (Watford)

  Roy Hodgson has earned a deserved reputation of steering teams to safety and making them competitive against top sides. You can see why Watford pivoted to him in January 2022 having already dismissed Xisco Munoz and Claudio Ranieri with the team teetering on the brink of the relegation zone.

  The blueprint seemed simple enough. Hodgson, at this stage breaking his own record for oldest manager in Premier League history, would bring steady principles to a side in need of stability and they would cobble enough points together to move away from the drop. It sounded great in theory, less so in reality.

  The veteran manager couldn't bring together a fractured dressing room and, if anything, made relations between the club and fanbase worse. Following their 1-0 defeat at his past (and future) club Crystal Palace, Hodgson applauded the Selhurst Park home crowd, but neglected the away end, claiming they were too far away for him to acknowledge.

  Remarkably, Hodgson, who failed to secure even a single home victory at Watford, lasted until the summer before being shown the door by the trigger-happy Pozzo family, seemingly heading into retirement before heading back to Palace for old time's sake.

For much of the season so far, Arsenal fans have had to watch Liverpool score last-minute winner after last-minute winner.

Watching your Premier League title rival survive scare after scare has to be a draining experience, but yesterday afternoon it was the Gunners’ turn to win it at the death.

Despite clearly being the better team for most of the game against Newcastle United, Mikel Arteta’s side found themselves 1-0 for much of the encounter and staring down the barrel of yet more dropped points.

Fortunately, the North Londoners found a way to claim all three and narrow the gap to the Reds at the top of the table to just two points.

There were stand-out performances for Arsenal all over the pitch, including one starter who is starting to win comparisons to Cesc Fàbregas.

Arsenal's stand-out stars vs Newcastle

Now, while he didn’t necessarily have the best of games, falling over nothing to allow the hosts a goal early on, Gabriel Magaelehged more than made his mark by full-time.

Minutes

98′

Goals

1

Clearances

11

Blocked Shots

2

Interceptions

3

Tackles

3

Dribbled Past

0

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (4)

Aerial Duels (Won)

11 (8)

Touches

82

Shots on Target

1

The Brazilian titan made 11 clearances, blocked two shots, made three interceptions, won 100% of his ground duels and made three tackles.

However, it should really go without saying that his most significant impact on the game was his 96th-minute headed winner that sent the travelling fans absolutely potty.

Mikel Merino also deserves a lot of credit for his battling display, as in the 28 minutes or so he spent on the pitch, the Spaniard scored an outrageous header to kickstart the comeback, won four out of five duels and just added another avenue of attack for his side.

It wasn’t just the goal scorers who impressed, though, as Eberechi Eze put in a performance that should see him keep his place in the starting line-up for some time to come.

The former Crystal Palace star came so close to opening the scoring early on in the first half, but saw his shot pushed round the post by Nick Pope, and then, towards the end of the half, saw a perfectly struck volley saved as well.

It wasn’t just his shots that made the 27-year-old a danger to the Toon, though, as he completed 100% of his dribbles, played a key pass and was taking up threatening positions on both sides of the pitch.

In all, there were plenty of Arsenal stars who put on excellent displays yesterday afternoon, including one who has now been compared to Fabregas.

Arsenal's Fabregas-esque star

You could probably make the argument that the likes of Martin Odegaard, Eze or even Ethan Nwaneri share some Fabregas-esque qualities.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, in this instance, Martin Zubimendi is the player in question, and the comparison comes from one analyst who described the former Real Sociedad star as a “Fabregas type” player.

Now, plenty of you may be scratching your heads as the 26-year-old generally plays in a deeper role than the former international ever did for Arsenal, Barcelona, or Chelsea.

However, the position he plays in has very little to do with the comparison itself; instead, what the analyst is getting at is the fact that the summer signing is capable of playing sensational passes into dangerous areas for his teammates.

In fact, while nothing came from it in the end, we saw this in yesterday’s game when he dinked the ball over the Newcastle defence only for Pope to make a great save to deny Jurrien Timber.

That wasn’t the only chance he created, though, as by the time the game ended, he had played two key passes, amassed an expected assists figure of 0.52, been accurate in 100% of his long balls and completed 54 of 60 passes.

Moreover, he’s also been accurate in 83% of his passes in the opposition’s half in the Premier League so far this season.

In other words, he is more than just a six; he is someone who can conduct play from slightly deeper, someone who can spray passes out wide to kickstart counters, or, as we saw yesterday, ping a ball into the penalty area and cause panic among opposition defenders.

Ultimately, there is still some way to go before he reaches his full potential. However, on top of his defensive attributes, Zubimendi is proving to be a dangerous Fabregas-esque passer from deep, and as respected analyst Ben Mattinson states, he’s been “near-perfect” for Arsenal so far this season.

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Manchester United are keen to strengthen at every given opportunity and may now find themselves ahead in the race to sign one of England’s rising stars.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim keen to steady ship

Ruben Amorim is under pressure at Old Trafford and needs to strike together a run of results in order to avoid further scrutiny from external sources, albeit speculation is continuing to mount over his future.

Despite claims that the Portuguese boss could change his formation for coming fixtures, Dean Jones has claimed Amorim may instead look to alter personnel in an attempt to improve performances at Old Trafford.

He said: “I have spoken to connections close to the club, and there seems to be an expectation that this time, something does change. Realistically, it probably will not be the system.

“Because they have worked so tirelessly on his formation, he will probably roll it out again – but one thing he can do this time is change the personnel. This is the area that people seem to feel is most likely to change.”

Steve Parish is working tirelessly to stop Oliver Glasner making a future move to Old Trafford. The Crystal Palace boss would likely be a key contender if the role became vacant, but Amorim is still the man charged with turning around their Premier League fortunes.

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Ultimately, the problems Manchester United have faced in recent years are far deeper than who is in the dugout, though the expectation on the manager is always a major talking point.

Either way, player recruitment is always on the agenda at the global giants and the Red Devils could have the advantage in the race for a player who could ignite their season.

Manchester United looking to win Hayden Hackney race

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United are ahead of Fulham in the race to sign Middlesbrough star Hayden Hackney, and they may look to formalise their interest in the England Under-21 international come 2026.

Tottenham Hotspur are also watching with intent and will have been impressed with what they’ve witnessed, given his return off a goal and two assists in nine appearances across all competitions.

Hayden Hackney in 2025/26 – Sky Bet Championship

Chances created

15

Successful passes

388

Successful crosses

4

Completed dribbles

9

Duels won

36

All statistics courtesy of Fotmob*

Labelled “outstanding” by pundit Neil Maddison, the Three Lions youth international is out of contract in the summer of 2027, and it remains to be seen if Boro are tempted to cash in come January or whether he will stay for their promotion push under Rob Edwards.

Manchester United made an approach for Carlos Baleba during the summer, illustrating their appetite to strengthen the engine room, and it appears that INEOS have their eyes fixed on some form of midfield reinforcement come the January window.

أعلن الدنماركي ييس توروب المدير الفني لفريق الأهلي، عن تشكيل لاعبيه أمام بتروجيت في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

وتقام المباراة بين الأهلي وبتروجيت على أرضية استاد الكلية الحربية، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الـ12 من الدوري المصري.

ويحتل الأهلي المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب الدوري، من الفوز بـ6 مباريات والتعادل 3 مرات بجانب هزيمة وحيدة حتى الآن خلال مشواره في الدوري المصري.

طالع | بدلاء الأهلي أمام بتروجيت في الدوري المصري 

ويحتل بتروجيت المركز الرابع عشر في جدول ترتيب الدوري، بعدما حصد 14 نقطة، من الفوز بـ3 لقاءات والتعادل في 5 مواجهات وتلقى هزيمتين. تشكيل الأهلي اليوم أمام بتروجيت في الدوري المصري

في حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.

في خط الدفاع: محمد هاني، ياسر إبراهيم، ياسين مرعي، محمد شكري.

في خط الوسط: آليو ديانج، محمد علي بن رمضان، محمود حسن تريزيجيه.

في خط الهجوم: طاهر محمد طاهر، أشرف بن شرقي، أحمد سيد زيزو.

Chelsea wanted to sign a new centre-back in the summer transfer window and were actively exploring options, following Levi Colwill’s disastrous ACL injury which is expected to keep him out for a large portion of 2025/2026.

Enzo Maresca even publicly asked the club to bring in a new central defender, and they were actively pursuing a deal for Dean Huijsen before the Spaniard ultimately opted for Real Madrid.

While the Italian later backtracked on this message, claiming an internal solution was the only option, it is crystal clear from Maresca’s statement there that he’s not happy with Chelsea’s current defensive options.

Colwill’s injury has left them light in that area, with Wesley Fofana also having struggled for consistent fitness since his £70 million move from Leicester City three years ago.

Joao Pedro

Noni Madueke

Jamie Gittens

João Félix

Jorrel Hato

Djordje Petrovic

Liam Delap

Lesley Ugochukwu

Dario Essugo

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Mamadou Sarr

Renato Veiga

Estevao

Armando Broja

Kendry Paez

Carney Chukwuemeka

Alejandro Garnacho

Mathis Amougou

Basir Humphreys

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Marcus Bettinelli

Christopher Nkunku

Nicolas Jackson (obligation to buy in 2026)

Alfie Gilchrist

Lucas Bergstrom

Ben Chilwell

Axel Disasi is part of the Chelsea ‘bomb squad’ with Raheem Sterling, and while Benoit Badiashile has returned to first-team training this week, it is unclear how ready he is to feature for Maresca.

Summer signing Jorrel Hato can play centre-back but is primarily viewed as a left-back and alternative to Marc Cucurella, leaving little wonder why Maresca was so keen on another option to bolster the heart of his defence.

With the UK window closing on September 1, this could still be on the agenda for 2026, with journalist Graeme Bailey reporting that they’re big fans of Club Brugge starlet Joel Ordonez.

Chelsea send officials on midweek mission with Joel Ordonez set to leave Brugge

Speaking to TBR Football, Bailey states that Chelsea scouts were sent to run the rule over Ordonez during Ecuador’s 1-0 win over Argentina on Wednesday.

Enner Valencia scored the only game of the game as both Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Otamendi were sent off during a tense affair, but Ordonez managed to help Ecuador keep a clean sheet against the world champions.

The 21-year-old, according to reports, is valued at around £40 million by Brugge, and Bailey says that Ordonez is “almost certain” to leave in 2026 amid interest from Chelsea.

Tottenham have also been credited with an interest in the “huge talent”, with his mooted summer move to Marseille falling through. It could only be a matter of time before he’s plying his trade in the Premier League, and Ordonez ticks nearly every box.

Former Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison has urged Liverpool boss Arne Slot to drop summer signing Jeremie Frimpong, claiming the Dutchman’s performances have been far below the club’s standards. Hutchison believes Conor Bradley should now be given the chance to start at right-back, arguing that Frimpong’s form and confidence have dipped alarmingly since his arrival at Anfield.

Frimpong's poor start

Frimpong’s start to life at Liverpool has been far from smooth, with the high-profile summer signing struggling to replicate the form that made him a standout at Bayer Leverkusen. Having joined in a €35 million move to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, expectations were high that Frimpong’s explosive pace and attacking flair would translate seamlessly into Slot’s system.

However, the Dutch full-back has struggled to find rhythm, managing just 79 minutes across three Premier League appearances and failing to record a single goal or assist. His limited impact, coupled with growing defensive concerns, has led to mounting scrutiny over his role in Liverpool’s starting XI. Hutchison has now joined the critics, suggesting Frimpong should be benched until he regains both composure and consistency on the ball.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBradley to step in?

Hutchison made his feelings clear when analysing Liverpool’s defensive setup, insisting that Frimpong should make way for Conor Bradley. The former Everton and Sunderland midfielder didn’t hold back in his assessment, saying: “I’d have Bradley starting in the team now, absolutely. I don’t think Frimpong’s current standard gets him anywhere near the first XI for Liverpool. I’ve watched every Liverpool match I could so far this season, and in some matches like the Southampton game, he just kept giving the ball away. Simple passes were going stray, and his confidence is just starting to erode.

“He played right wing against Galatasaray, and I think that was Arne Slot experimenting for who steps in for Salah when he’s off at the Africa Cup of Nations. But he struggled then, too. I just think you’re looking at a young player who is struggling for form.

“When I watch Liverpool now, I see a team that is so out of sorts that they have to go back to basics. It needs to be Bradley at right-back. On the left, it’s harder to say. I still rate Andy Robertson but seeing him with his hands on his knees at Chelsea as Eestevao scored, I’d think he was a League Two player. I’d love to know what he was thinking when he was taking a breather then. On the left, toss a coin between Kerkez and Robertson, but Bradley has to be starting on the right.”

Frimpong's adjustment period

Frimpong’s rocky transition has been compounded by the tactical and physical demands of English football. Unlike his time in the Bundesliga, where Leverkusen’s system allowed him to operate as an attacking wing-back, Slot’s Liverpool side requires far more defensive discipline and positional awareness. The shift has exposed areas of his game that need refinement, with analysts pointing out lapses in tracking back, positioning during transitions, and misjudged passes under pressure.

In contrast, Bradley — who impressed during Liverpool’s injury-hit campaign last year — has shown a more balanced mix of defensive resilience and attacking intelligence, strengthening Hutchison’s argument.

Meanwhile, Frimpong’s struggles also come at a time when Liverpool’s overall form has been inconsistent; the team has failed to find a settled rhythm in either domestic or European competition. Frimpong’s case appears to be part of a wider pattern of adjustment issues within Slot’s squad.

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AFPWhat comes next?

As Liverpool prepare for a crucial stretch of fixtures across the Premier League and Champions League, the question now turns to whether Slot will heed Hutchison’s advice. With Bradley pushing for more minutes and fans calling for a return to defensive basics, Frimpong could find himself temporarily sidelined as he regains form and confidence. Slot’s emphasis on tactical structure and discipline means performances will dictate selection, not reputation — a stance that could work both as a challenge and a motivator for the Dutchman.

Frimpong’s attacking instincts remain a valuable asset, but consistency will be the deciding factor in whether he cements his place long-term. With the Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon and Mohamed Salah expected to miss matches, the coming weeks could be defining for both Liverpool’s right flank and Frimpong’s future role in the team.

Tottenham Hotspur have come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, as seen by some of the achievements on the field under various managers.

Ange Postecoglou may have been handed his marching orders over the summer window, but he managed to achieve something which various managers have failed to do in North London.

The Aussie claimed the Europa League title with a victory over fellow Premier League side Manchester United in Bilbao, subsequently ending the 17-year trophy drought.

However, it wasn’t enough to keep his job, with the 60-year-old replaced by Thomas Frank, with the Dane tasked with the responsibility of taking the Lilywhites to the next level.

Their ability to win the Europa League has allowed the club to feature in the Champions League, whilst also recruiting some top-level talent in the process.

How Spurs struck gold in Daniel Levy's final window

During the recent summer window, Frank made a beeline to improve his forward line, subsequently making a move to land Mohammed Kudus from rivals West Ham United.

The Ghanaian cost a reported £55m during the off-season, but he’s already shown glimpses of being a shrewd addition for the Lilywhites in 2025/26 and beyond.

He’s registered five assists in his first ten outings in North London, as per Transfermarkt, with the forward also getting off the mark during the recent 2-1 win over Leeds United, lashing home from just outside the box.

Kudus wasn’t the only big-money addition during the off-season, with the hierarchy also forking out £52m for the signature of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig.

A new number ten was on the agenda all summer long, subsequently landing the Dutchman after missing out on the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White prior to his arrival.

The 22-year-old has so far made seven outings across all competitions, but unlike Kudus, he’s failed to find the net and has also only registered one assist in the process.

Despite the aforementioned additions, one other player in the first-team is rapidly becoming a better signing than the pair after establishing himself in Frank’s plans.

The Spurs star who’s becoming a better signing than Kudus & Simons

Over the last couple of years, Spurs haven’t been afraid to splash the cash to help them achieve their goals on the pitch, with the hierarchy spending well over £400m in the last three years.

Numerous areas of the pitch have been subject to investment, as seen by the additions within the final third, but the defensive unit has also been bolstered in recent years.

The partnership of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the heart of the backline has already contributed to Frank’s side keeping five clean sheets in 2025/26 to date.

However, the middle of the park is arguably one of the most important, with Lucas Bergvall already making huge strides after the Dane took the reins during the off-season.

The Swede was an unknown quantity to many a little over 12 months ago, when the hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £8.5m for his services from Djurgarden.

Yet, swiftly said to possess “a first touch like Modric” by the Athletic’s JJ Bull, at the age of just 18 when he moved to England, the midfielder made an immediate impact during his debut campaign – racking up 45 appearances across all competitions.

Whilst he’s primarily a deep-lying option, he managed to net his first goal for the club in the Carabao Cup semi-final over Liverpool – but it was unable to catapult the side to the final.

The 2025/26 campaign has seen the youngster go from strength to strength, already featuring in ten outings under Frank and leading to Squawka describing him as “incredible”.

Bergvall has already added to his goalscoring tally, netting his first English top-flight effort in the recent 3-0 triumph over West Ham at the London Stadium.

Lucas Bergvall – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

6

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

84%

Dribble success

70%

Tackles won

2.2

Duels won

5.2

Recoveries made

3.9

Shots taken

1.5

Stats via FotMob

His underlying stats this season are just as impressive, making 2.2 tackles per 90 and winning 5.2 duels per 90 – subsequently showcasing his excellent ability to regain possession for the side, before transferring the ball into attacking areas for the likes of Kudus and Simons.

The Swede has also achieved an 84% pass completion rate, whilst also completing 70% of the dribbles he’s attempted – arguably being the perfect box-to-box option at the heart of the team.

At just 19, it’s scary to think about how impressive Bergvall can become in the years ahead, especially if he continues on the trajectory he’s put himself on in recent months.

There’s no disputing that Kudus and Simons will be excellent additions in the near future, but the move for Bergvall was a bargain and one that could go down as one of the best in their history if he reaches his full potential.

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