The Premier League managerial merry-go-round has suddenly gone into full swing just before the international break. Newcastle have finally hired their replacement for Steve Bruce, while Norwich and Aston Villa became the latest clubs to sack their bosses after disappointing starts to the season.
Meanwhile, the merry-go-round seems to be stuck in Manchester as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s job appears to be safe despite another disastrous defeat in the derby.
Read on below as SBOTOP catches you up on the latest news and speculation surrounding some Premier League coaching situations.
Eddie Howe named new Newcastle manager
Newcastle United have announced the hiring of former Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe as the club’s new manager.
Howe, 43, becomes the first managerial appointment of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, who took over the club last month.
Howe said: “It is a great honour to become head coach of a club with the stature and history of Newcastle United. It is a very proud day for me and my family.
“This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us and I am eager to get onto the training ground to start working with the players.
“I would like to thank the club’s owners for this opportunity and thank the club’s supporters for the incredible welcome they have already given me. I am very excited to begin our journey together.”
Howe replaces Steve Bruce, who left Newcastle by mutual consent shortly after the Saudi takeover.
Newcastle turned to Howe after Villarreal coach Unai Emery – who appeared set to take the job – had a sudden change of heart and decided to stay in Spain.
Howe takes over a struggling Newcastle side that is currently second-from-bottom in the table with five points from 11 games and is the only winless team left in the league.
Struggling Norwich, Aston Villa sack managers
Norwich and Aston Villa will have new coaches when they return from the international break after they fired Daniel Farke and Dean Smith, respectively, following their most recent games.
Farke was sacked after leading Norwich to a 2-1 win at Brentford, snapping the Canaries’ 20-match losing streak in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Villa sacked Dean Smith after a disastrous run of Premier League 2021 results which saw them lose five games in a row. Villa chief executive Christian Purslow says the club made the decision to part ways with Smith after failing to see “continuous improvements in results, performances and league position.”
Villa, who finished in 11th last season, are currently in 16th and are just two points outside the Premier League’s bottom three, while newly promoted Norwich remain bottom despite their win with just five points in 11 games.
A number of high-profile names – Rangers’ Steven Gerrard, Belgium’s Roberto Martinez, and Denmark’s Kasper Hjulmand – are already being linked with the Villa managerial vacancy.
As for Norwich, they have apparently narrowed down their list to two managers: former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard and Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen. It remains to be seen whether either can improve the Canaries’ Premier League 2021 odds of staying up this season.
Solskjaer job reportedly safe – for now
Manchester United missed out on Antonio Conte – who was keen on the Old Trafford job – to stick with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. And it appears the under-fire Norwegian will not be the next name to join the growing list of sacked Premier League managers any time soon.
According to a report by ESPN, it appears as if Solskjaer will still have his job after the international break. That is despite a disastrous run of form which has seen them lose in dispiriting fashion to two of their biggest rivals – Liverpool and Manchester City – in recent weeks.
There have been no indications that the sack is imminent after Solskjaer’s meeting with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward following the derby defeat to City. United have reportedly told Solskjaer to prepare for their next Premier League match against Watford on Nov. 20.
The report goes on to say the club would prefer to keep Solskjaer in the job until the end of the season, although that could change if it reaches the point where United’s place in the Champions League becomes under threat.
The Red Devils are sixth in the league table, nine points behind leaders Chelsea and five points off the top four.
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