The Unseen Struggles of Managers Transitioning to Premier League's Big Six
Moving from a successful Premier League side to a 'big-six' club is often viewed as a natural progression for managers. The 'big six' includes Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham, who have largely dominated the league over the past 15 years. Andoni Iraola, currently at Bournemouth, is reportedly in verbal agreement with Liverpool after finishing sixth with the Cherries. However, data indicates that this transition can be one of the toughest in football, with managers experiencing short tenures, mixed results, and a lack of major trophies. Recent examples of struggles include: Thomas Frank and Graham Potter Nuno Espirito Santo, who lasted just 10 matches at Tottenham The trend shows that most managers fail to last two full seasons at big clubs. David Moyes's appointment at Manchester United in 2013 exemplifies this; he was dismissed just 10 months into a six-year contract after failing to secure Champions League qualification. Similarly, Roy Hodgson was let go by Liverpool within six months. Other notable cases include Potter at Chelsea, who lasted only 22 league matches, and Frank at Tottenham, who managed just 26 games. Even when given more time, success remains elusive. Managers like Mark Hughes and Brendan Rodgers experienced mixed results, with only Mauricio Pochettino achieving notable success at Tottenham, leading them to a Champions League final. Since the formation of the current 'big six' after Manchester City's 2008 takeover, no manager has moved from another Premier League side to one of these teams and won a major trophy. This complex reality highlights the challenges faced by managers stepping up to the highest level of English football.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-03