Top 5 Premier League seasons with the most managerial changes

#3 1994-95: 9 changes

George Graham was dismissed by Arsenal under controversial circumstances in 1994-95

1994-95 is remembered as the Premier League’s ‘Season of Controversy’, and so it comes as no surprise to learn that the campaign saw 9 managerial changes. This was the first season that the so-called ‘managerial merry-go-round’ became a topic of discussion, as the previous two Premier League seasons had seen only a handful of switches.

The season’s most controversial change was easily George Graham’s firing by Arsenal. The Scottish boss had been highly successful at Highbury and while the club sat in a disappointing 12th position when he was dismissed, the reason for his sacking wasn’t due to on-pitch issues; Graham was fired after admitting to taking illegal “bungs” during the purchase of two players 3 years earlier.

Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham also made a managerial change early on; club legend Ossie Ardiles was sacked with Spurs sitting in 11th place, as it became clear that his kamikaze style of football – he would often start with 5 or 6 attacking players – wasn’t sustainable across a season. Gerry Francis was appointed as the new boss at White Hart Lane on November 15th – the same day that he resigned at QPR.

More controversy came at Leicester City, as boss Brian Little – who had led the Foxes into the Premier League during the previous season – resigned in November with the club in 20th place. Little cited exhaustion as his reasoning, but that proved to be questionable as just 3 days later he was installed as Aston Villa’s new boss, replacing the fired Ron Atkinson.

Atkinson – who was fired by Villa in early November – also didn’t have to wait long for a new job. He headed to Coventry City, who dispensed of Phil Neal in February after a run of poor results. Elsewhere, Everton sacked Mike Walker, and John Lyall and John Deehan resigned from their spots at Ipswich and Norwich respectively.