Ranking Potential Managerial Openings in the Summer of 2026

Nobody is safe in football management.

Even winning major silverware the previous season might not protect you following a run of poor results. And if you fall out with the board over signings or strategy, don't expect to be sticking around for long.

So it has proved in the Premier League in 2025-26, with all but one of the managers of the division's "top six" clubs on the precipice at some point, if not fully pushed off the edge.

It's a similar case elsewhere, with one major managerial talent getting his marching orders in Spain this campaign. Meanwhile, a vacancy in France could soon open up if things don't improve in a hurry.

With temporary appointments adding a Band-Aid to a gaping wound, and some supposedly permanent hires appearing to be one scoreless draw away from the chop, plenty of big clubs will be in the market for a new manager or head coach in the summer.

Ahead, we've identified eight major sides from Europe's top leagues that might be putting up "Wanted" ads at the end of the season, and we've ranked them by the likelihood that they will be in the market for a new boss.

8. Chelsea

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Perhaps surprisingly, Chelsea isn't at the top of this list.

The Blues have had eight managers (including one who took the job twice) since the summer of 2019. While a couple of those were only temporary appointments holding the fort between permanent hires, that's still a remarkable turnover in six-and-a-half years.

Liam Rosenior is the latest to jump into the lions' den, and it wouldn't be at all surprising if he didn't survive long.

However, with Chelsea plucking him from the club's Strasbourg talent factory, the Englishman should be afforded at least a little patience and understanding.

This is Chelsea, though, so Rosenior shouldn't get too comfortable.

7. Paris Saint-Germain

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In the 2024-25 season, Paris Saint-Germain won a remarkable quadruple of trophies, including a long-awaited UEFA Champions League title.

Manager Luis Enrique did so without the big-ticket players the club has been accustomed to in the last decade or so—although that's not to say the Parisiens were completely devoid of expensive talent.

But the Spaniard's achievements were impressive, valuing the collective over relying on a handful of stars and reaping major rewards.

However, in 2025-26, PSG sit second in Ligue 1, behind Lens by only a point. Meanwhile, they are also out of the Coupe de France following a defeat to local rivals Paris FC. Enrique might be starting to sweat a little.

You would imagine PSG will turn things around in the league in short order, but what if they don't? Will the club back a manager who delivered a historic haul of trophies last season, or will it cut him loose before things get worse?

While not on Chelsea's level, the French club can be trigger-happy, with five permanent managers in the last 10 years. Of them, nobody lasted more than two seasons.

Enrique is approaching his third full year, putting him in rarified air. It's entirely likely he'll end the season with at least a Ligue 1 trophy, but anything less than that will put him back on the job market.

6. Liverpool

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Few predicted that Arne Slot's first season at Liverpool and in the Premier League would end with a league title.

It was suggested he'd need a bit of time to mold the squad to his sensibilities following nearly a decade under Jürgen Klopp.

However, he guided the Reds to a record-tying 20th English top-flight trophy, doing so with little opposition.

After a summer that brought several major incomings, many expected Slot to herald a new era of Liverpool dominance. It's safe to say, things haven't gone to plan.

The Reds are well off the pace, sitting fourth in the Premier League. They look uninspired in the final third, and there's an alarming lack of cohesion in the squad's setup.

Because of that, Slot's job has been brought into question, with the Dutchman lacking the kind of charisma his predecessor had to get the players and the fans on side.

But Liverpool is known to bide its time, both in terms of managerial patience and in the transfer market. If Slot can last the rest of the season, he will surely guide the Reds into the next one.

5. Newcastle United

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Of all Premier League managers still in a job, Eddie Howe is the fourth-longest serving.

The Englishman was brought to Newcastle United upon Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund taking ownership of the club, and he's been reasonably successful.

Howe delivered the Carabao Cup in 2024-25, the club's first major trophy in 70 years, and he's taken the Magpies to the Champions League twice.

However, with Newcastle down in eighth in the Premier League after 22 games, the board might be wondering if an upgrade is needed to consistently push for the top four.

The Magpies are due some sympathy after the drama surrounding Alexander Isak's departure in the summer, but PIF will be expecting more bang for its buck after nearly five years of Howe-ball.

4. Manchester City

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For the first time in his nearly 10 years as Manchester City boss—and perhaps for the first time in his managerial career—Pep Guardiola is at risk of getting the sack.

The Catalan endured his worst campaign ever in 2024-25, dragging the Citizens to third in the Premier League and lifting only the Community Shield.

In 2025-26, City are second after 22 games, but a huge seven points behind Arsenal in first.

Towards the end of the previous season, cracks were showing in his attitude and demeanor, and he is clearly having a hard time accepting the club's lack of success.

It's perhaps unthinkable, but one of the finest football managers in the history of the game could be given his marching orders if he concludes the season with a lack of silverware. 

Guardiola gets a little bit of leeway simply because of who he is, but if he didn't have that aura, he would likely be under more pressure. 

3. Manchester United 

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After the departure of Ruben Amorim in January, Manchester United have put former midfielder Michael Carrick in charge until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Englishman has experience in the United dugout, having taken temporary charge in 2021 following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure.

The 44-year-old has impressed in his brief managerial career, winning two of three games in charge of United in his first attempt and doing well with Middlesbrough in the Championship.

His second reign at Old Trafford has started brilliantly, with the Red Devils winning the Manchester derby 2-0.

Carrick will need to do a lot more than that to get the job on a full-time basis, though.

United will assess things at the end of the season. However, given how previous appointments have fared in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, giving a club legend who experienced success under the Scotsman a bit of time—relying on his Manchester United "DNA"—might be better than plumping for another high-profile boss with a "system" who will likely be ushered out the door after a season or two.

It worked to some extent under Solskjaer, but the Norwegian's tactical acumen wasn't particularly advanced beyond "everyone attack." Eventually, the board realized it couldn't return the club to its former dominance based solely on vibes.

Ultimately, it seems Carrick will be a stopgap, with another big-name being brought through the Old Trafford doors in time for next season.

After the FIFA World Cup, United will have a wider selection of options to choose from, and the managerial merry-go-round will start up again.

2. Tottenham Hotspur

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How do you solve a problem like Tottenham Hotspur?

It's not like the north London club lacks talent, and it has one of the best stadiums in Europe. Spurs should be primed for success.

Thomas Frank is teetering on the edge of the managerial abyss, though, with the Dane delivering just seven wins in 22 league games and falling at the first hurdle in the FA Cup. 

His tactics have been called into question, with the 52-year-old unable to create a spark in the final third and leaving the team far too open at the back.

Even during the most difficult months of Ange Postecoglou's tenure, Spurs opted to keep the Australian on board until the end of the season, which ultimately led to the club winning a (perhaps underserved) UEFA Europa League trophy—the Lilywhites' first silverware in nearly two decades.

As bad as things are, Tottenham should not be worried about relegation. With that in mind, it's likely they'll wait until the end of the season before making a big change. 

But the big change is coming, one way or another, and the possible availability of former manager Mauricio Pochettino following the World Cup will no doubt be tempting.

1. Real Madrid

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After 20 league games, Real Madrid are just a point behind rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Xabi Alonso was doing a good, if not great, job with Los Blancos, but patience isn't exactly the Spanish side's strong suit, and internal tensions with the club's top earners didn't help the 44-year-old to command the respect of the dressing room.

Alonso will bounce back somewhere else, as he still has plenty of credit for the wonders he performed with Bayer Leverkusen. 

The German side gave him time to impress his philosophy, and while that didn't deliver immediate success, it did bring a Bundesliga title in his second campaign—his first full season in charge.

It was foolish to assume he'd be given the same grace at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite his success as a player with the club. With high-earning stars peppering the Madrid roster, keeping them happy rather than the manager was clearly the board's priority.

Now, Alvaro Arbeloa is in charge. Surprisingly, the former Real Madrid B manager was given the job on a permanent basis rather than on an interim contract.

However, unless he performs miracles in the remaining months of the season, his reign will likely be short, too. 

With that, Los Blancos will go back to the managerial well. Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel will be sounded out following the World Cup, and a return for Carlo Ancelotti can't be ruled out entirely.