Introduction
English football is entering its most dramatic period of managerial change in over a decade. In the space of a few weeks, five of the Premier League‘s biggest clubs have changed — or are changing — their manager. Here is a plain-English guide to who is coming in, who has gone, and what it all means.
Chelsea: Xabi Alonso Arrives
Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager on a four-year deal. He starts on 1 July 2026. He is Chelsea’s fifth permanent manager since their current owners (an American consortium led by Todd Boehly) took over in 2022.
Who is Xabi Alonso?
Xabi Alonso is one of the most respected footballers of his generation — a Spanish midfielder who won the World Cup and two European Championships with Spain, the Champions League with Liverpool and Real Madrid, and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. He is elegant, intelligent, calm under pressure.
As a manager, he won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen in unbeaten fashion — one of the most remarkable achievements in modern football history. He then had a short, difficult spell at Real Madrid before Chelsea came calling.
He is widely seen as one of the most exciting managerial appointments English football has had in years. Chelsea fans are cautiously optimistic — they have heard this story before. But the quality of Alonso’s CV is undeniable.
Chelsea spent the season in 10th place, the club’s worst league finish in years. Alonso takes over a squad with genuine talent but catastrophic inconsistency.
Manchester United: Michael Carrick Gets the Job
Manchester United confirmed Michael Carrick as their permanent manager on 22 May 2026. He had taken over in January as interim, replacing Ruben Amorim, and immediately transformed the club — winning 11 of 16 league games and guiding them to third place and Champions League qualification.
Who is Michael Carrick?
Carrick is one of the most underrated players in Premier League history. He spent 12 years at Manchester United as a player, winning five Premier League titles, the Champions League and much more. He was Sir Alex Ferguson’s quiet engine — the player who never got the headlines but was always central to how the team functioned.
As a manager he proved himself at Middlesbrough in the Championship before returning to United. He is calm, authoritative and deeply respected in the dressing room. Striker Matheus Cunha said: “The way he coaches the players is truly amazing. It seems like he has the same magic as the Alex Ferguson era.”
United have had 7 permanent managers since Ferguson retired in 2013. None of them have come close to what he achieved. Carrick is the first who genuinely feels like a United man in the manager’s chair.
Manchester City: The Post-Guardiola Era Begins
Pep Guardiola left Manchester City after 10 years and 20 trophies. His successor is Enzo Maresca — the Italian manager who previously had a difficult spell as Chelsea head coach.
Who is Enzo Maresca?
Maresca is 44, Italian, and was a journeyman midfielder during his playing career. He made his name as a coach under Guardiola himself at Manchester City‘s B team, before getting his first senior role at Leicester City (winning the Championship). Chelsea then appointed him — but after a mixed season, he was sacked. Now he steps into the most daunting job in football: replacing Guardiola at City.
City fans are understandably anxious. Guardiola is not just a successful manager — he is arguably the best football manager in history. Nobody is replacing that. The question is whether Maresca can build his own identity with a squad that is already ageing and transitioning.
Liverpool: Arne Slot Out, Andoni Iraola Expected In
Liverpool sacked Arne Slot on 30 May — a shocking decision. Slot had won the Premier League in his first season at Anfield, replacing the legendary Jurgen Klopp. His second season, however, was a disaster. Liverpool finished fifth and missed out on Champions League football.
The frontrunner to replace him is Andoni Iraola — the Basque Spanish manager who did outstanding work at Bournemouth, helping them finish sixth and qualify for the Europa League before leaving at the end of the season.
Who is Andoni Iraola?
Iraola played as a right-back for Athletic Bilbao for years and was known for his extraordinary fitness and energy. As a manager he has brought that same intensity to his teams — Bournemouth played some of the most exciting, pressing football in the Premier League last season. He is only 42 and is seen as one of the brightest managerial minds in European football.
Crystal Palace: Oliver Glasner Leaves
Oliver Glasner — the Austrian manager who delivered the FA Cup and the Conference League to Crystal Palace in consecutive seasons — has left the club. His replacement has not yet been announced. Glasner is one of the most sought-after managers in Europe after what he achieved at Palace, and several big clubs are interested.
