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Predicting the great managerial merry-go-round in the Premier League's top six this summer
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Life as a Premier League manager is never the most secure of jobs, where week to week the status of your position with the fans, the media and the board seems to differ.
Even at some of the league's bigger clubs, gone are the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger and it seems you're just a bad run of form or trophyless season away from the scrutiny to hit your employment, or that cycles of styles and eras are ending much earlier than in previous years.
Those notions feel even more pertinent than ever ahead of the summer of 2026 and England's traditional 'big six' clubs.
Ahead of next season, it feels like Mikel Arteta is the only manager from Arsenal, Tottenham, the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool that you could say for sure will still be in the same job come the opening day of 2026-27.
Thanks to a combination of frustrations, fresh starts and familiar faces availabe there could be a massive changing of the guard come the end of the season, so DAZN News' Ash Rose has looked into his crystal ball and predicted who will be in charge of the big six next season.
Manchester United
Let's start with the most obvious one. Manchester United will be without a manager come the end of the season, when Michael Carrick's short-term ends and a decision needs to be made on who the next man through the door is.
Will that be Carrick? Well, he's done himself a massive favour with the start he's made as temporary boss. Unbeaten in his first five, beating Manchester City and Arsenal in the process and being nominated for Manager of the Month is pretty much the perfect start for the former United midfielder, but it will come down to sustaining that start.
He's introduced new training schedules and a more relaxed and open style to the team, and right now, everything feels like the club is getting back to being 'united'. However, it feels he'll need to get the club back into the Champions League and do it by hardly putting a foot wrong if he wants to get the job permanently.
@ManUtd
With the club not wanting to see a repeat of what happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjær and names such as Thomas Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Thomas Tuchel all set to be on the market come the summer, it will be a big call for the owners to stick with Carrick and the United DNA or start fresh and gamble once again.
Glasner ticks a lot of the boxes, but there would be questions over his temperament, while Tuchel seems ideal, but the timing may not work given his England obligations. Then there's Gareth Southgate, too, who fits the profile and is readily available.
Current boss: Michael Carrick
Boss at the start of next season: Oliver Glasner
Tottenham
Things didn't go exactly to plan for Thomas Frank, and this is now a harder one to call with the club already looking for a new manager following the Dane's sacking.
By his own admission, he and the club needed time for the marriage to work, but he wasn't afforded that time, with the dismal home form and a style that has frustrated a fan base who thrive on the nostalgia of Hoddle, Gascoigne and Bale seeing his reign come to an end with Spurs just outside the relegation places.
The romantics in North London would now love to see a Mauricio Pochettino return, but that comes with its own concerns of him not living up to past glories. The trouble is, the club have tried so many different approaches with managers, it's hard to call where they'd go next.
An established big name like Xabi Alonso or Luis Enrique? Or try again with the next steppers like Iraola or Marco Silva? Or, do they employ an interim boss and gauge the lay of the land this summer? Getty Images
Current boss: Vacent
Boss at the start of next season: Mauricio Pochettino
Manchester City
The rumbling is getting louder in Manchester that this could very well be Pep Guardiola's last season in charge of City.
Despite penning a new deal last year that runs to 2027, there is an increasing feeling that the Spanish boss may call it time this summer and bring an end to his all-conquering era.
If that's the case, then the City hierarchy have the difficult task of deciding who has the right credentials to follow such a legendary figure and continue its same dominance over English football.
Getty Images
It's a poisoned chalice where we saw both Manchester United and Arsenal fail when they replaced their iconic names, so who would be in the frame for such a mammoth task?
Enzo Maresca is still highly thought of at the club and is free and available, while there has been some reported interest in Xabi Alonso, another who could hit the ground running.
But are we all still talking a year too early?
Current boss: Pep Guardiola
Boss at the start of next season: Pep Guardiola
Liverpool
As Liverpool lifted the Premier League title last May, few would have thought we'd be talking about the future of Arne Slot's job less than a year later, but such has been the downward turn from the Reds this season.
The club's title defence went up in smoke in the early months of the season as they went winless in 12 games across all competitions and currently sit outside the top five in the Premier League.
The disappointing campaign has already seen calls from some sections of the fans for Slot to be thanked and shown the door, as harsh as that may be.
However, it feels like he will need to deliver Champions League football at a minimum, this season, or those calls could get louder.
With club legend Xabi Alonso readily available on the market and feeling like the perfect fit after his dalliance with the madness at Real Madrid, anything less from Slot and Alonso's return could very well become a reality.
Current boss: Arne Slot
Boss at the start of next season: Xabi Alonso
Chelsea
Who can ever predict what goes on at Chelsea and who's next through the revolving manager's door at Stamford Bridge?
Enzo Maresca's falling out was just the latest managerial drama the club has been through, and now it's the turn of Liam Rosenior - but has he got what it takes to be there for the long haul?
On paper, you wouldn't say so. The rookie boss is in his first Premier League job, and although highly-rated, there are fears among the fans that he's just a yes man to the owners BlueCo and not the type profile they want as gaffer.
Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Yet, Rosenior has started well and is a young English coach looking for an opportunity to show what he can do, and there aren't many of them floating around in the Premier League.
It feels like he'll be given a chance next season, but could be gone by November if things don't go to plan, and the club will again be stuck in the same cycle and looking where to turn next.
Don't rule out former Blues Filipe Luis or Cesc Fabregas making a return in the dugout as an option if Rosenoir doesn't last the pace.
Current boss: Liam Rosenior
Boss at the start of next season: Liam Rosenior
Arsenal
An open and shut case this one, whatever happens this season, it's hard to see Arteta not still in charge of the Gunners next season.
It would take a monumental collapse in the second half of the season to see the Spaniard come under pressure, and at this stage that seems unlikely.
Even ANOTHER trophyless campaign should still save Arteta from a North London exit just yet, but keep an eye on Cesc Fabregas' performances at Como, because he seems destined to be next in line.
Current boss: Mikel Arteta
Boss at the start of next season: Mikel Arteta
Arsenal
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