Premier League Sack Race 2025/26 Odds: Assessing the Favourites & Dark Horses

With the 2025/26 Premier League season fast approaching, we have analysed the early odds in the Premier League Sack Race.

Picking the first managerial casualty is never an easy task, and bookmakers don’t always get it right. Just look at the 2024/25 season when Eddie Howe and Nuno Espírito Santo were installed as the early favourites to be sacked. However, Howe led Newcastle to a League Cup victory and secured Champions League qualification, while Santo guided Nottingham Forest to a lengthy stint in the top four, eventually finishing seventh and securing a Conference League spot.

Read on as we break down the current market and give our thoughts on who might be on the hot seat.

Premier League Sack Race 2025/26 Odds: The Favourites

We've run through the top-5 contenders in the betting - plus the dark horses - according to the early odds.

Daniel Farke (Leeds): 5/1

Daniel Farke has been installed as the joint 5/1 favourite to be the first Premier League manager sacked.

Despite guiding Leeds to the Championship title in dramatic fashion on the final day, speculation earlier this summer suggested the club were considering a change at the top. While those rumours ultimately came to nothing, questions remain over Farke’s Premier League record.

The German has twice led Norwich to the Championship title, but his top-flight track record is very worrying: just six wins from 49 games, with 35 defeats to his name.

Keith Andrews (Brentford): 5/1

Keith Andrews, also priced at 5/1, is something of an unknown quantity as the only manager on this list yet to take charge of a single competitive match.

His task has already been made more difficult through the departures of Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard, while fans will hope Yoane Wissa doesn't follow.

Yet Brentford clearly see potential in Andrews. He already has strong relationships within the squad, and it’s worth remembering that the club struck gold the last time they promoted from within, with Thomas Frank himself.

Regis Le Bris (Sunderland): 8/1

Regis Le Bris is a hero at Sunderland after he led the Black Cats into the Premier League, via the play-offs, in his first season in charge.

It was a similar story at Southampton in 2023/24 when Russell Martin fired the Saints up via the play-offs only to be given the boot 16 league games into last season.

Bookmakers aren’t holding out much hope for Sunderland’s survival either, pricing them at 1/3 for relegation and 6/4 to finish bottom, while Le Bris is priced at 8/1 to come unstuck first.

Scott Parker (Burnley): 8/1

Scott Parker was the unfortunate 'winner' of the Premier League Sack Race in 2022/23, when he was shown the door by Bournemouth after a humiliating 9-0 defeat at Anfield.

A brief and unsuccessful stint at Club Brugge followed, but Parker has since rebuilt his reputation at Burnley, leading them to a third Premier League promotion of his managerial career.

Burnley were outstanding defensively last season, conceding just 16 goals in 46 games en route to a second-place finish. That same resilience will be vital if they’re to avoid a repeat of their 2023/24 top-flight struggles.

Graham Potter (West Ham): 12/1

Graham Potter hasn’t yet made the impact many hoped for at West Ham. His predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, lasted just 22 games - the shortest managerial reign in the club’s history - and Potter’s own 18-month contract suggests the board are keeping expectations measured.

If Potter's project is to gain long-term traction, he will need to give fans something to believe in, such as a clear identity, tangible progress, and results that spark real excitement - none of which have been evident so far.

He was initially priced at 16/1 when the Sack Race market opened up, odds which have since been trimmed to 12/1, while some bookmakers even have him at 8/1.

Dark Horses To Keep An Eye On

As for potential outsiders in the betting, here are some other managers to keep an eye on.

Ruben Amorim (Man Utd): 12/1

Ruben Amorim will be under immense pressure from the off with a daunting start that includes clashes against Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool in the opening eight fixtures.

Initially touted as the man to revitalise the club, Amorim's debut campaign fell far short of expectations - managing just seven wins from 27 Premier League matches, with 14 defeats, as United slumped to 15th, their worst finish since 1974/75.

Having been the first top-flight club to sack a manager last season - parting ways with Erik ten Hag in October - United could be quick to act again if the side continues where they left off last term; at an appealing 12/1, Amorim is sure to have his backers.

Enzo Maresca (Chelsea): 33/1

Chelsea’s 2024/25 campaign looked to be unravelling before a strong finish saw them secure Champions League football and lift the Conference League trophy. They've since gone on to claim a stunning triumph in the Club World Cup, with manager Enzo Maresca conjuring up a managerial masterclass over PSG's Luis Enrique.

As a result, Chelsea are brimming with confidence heading into the new season, and they've even had their Premier League title odds slashed to 9/1.

However, history shows that stability is rarely a luxury at Stamford Bridge. With Chelsea’s notoriously short managerial leash, Maresca at a hefty 33/1 could tempt those who are expecting potential turbulence at the start of the new campaign following a long summer.

Thomas Frank (Tottenham): 33/1

Thomas Frank, 33/1, spent a very successful seven years at Brentford. In the same time span, Spurs stormed through five permanent managers and a few caretakers.

The controversial Daniel Levy is never shy in wielding the axe, having done so on multiple elite managers, while Ange Postecoglou lost his job weeks after lifting the Europa League and Nuno Santo was given the boot just 10 league games into the 2021/22 season.

Meanwhile, Spurs have lost their skipper Son Heung-min, while James Maddison has suffered a new knee injury.

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): 66/1

It’s been five years since Arteta delivered Arsenal’s last major trophy - the FA Cup - but he’s since turned the Gunners into consistent title challengers. After pushing Man City close in 2023 and 2024, they fell well short of Liverpool last season, finishing runners-up for a third straight year.

Arteta’s job is safe for now, but the pressure could build early doors with Man Utd, Liverpool, Man City, and Newcastle to play before October.

Premier League Sack Race History

The table displays the first manager to leave in each of the last 10 Premier League seasons.

*Julen Lopetegui departed Wolves three days before the 2023/24 season.