Premier League – Next Manager sacked betting odds: Who will be the first to leave their position in the 2024/25 season?

CHELSEA manager Enzo Maresca is favourite to be the first managerial casualty of the 2024-25 Premier League season.

That’s according to bookmakers William Hill, who’ve slashed the Blues boss from 9/1 to 9/2 to be the first person to leave his position following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.

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Last season bucked the trend for managerial departures.

Just three were given their marching orders, which was a huge reduction from the previous year which saw a record-breaking 14 sackings.

Paul Heckingbottom, Steve Cooper and Roy Hodgson were the unlucky trio last season, while Wolves’ Julen Lopetegui left by mutual consent before the campaign had even started.

Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi, Jurgen Klopp and David Moyes then departed at the end of the campaign.

It’s widely thought that Premier League chiefs were more confident of avoiding the drop with PSR punishments being dished out and a lack of quality in the three promoted sides.

But will this year be different?

William Hill believe Enzo Maresca is the most vulnerable at 9/2 after an underwhelming pre-season and Sunday’s opening 2-0 loss to champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian, 44, was given a five-year deal with the option of an extra year in June, but he’s already under the microscope.

He’s faced questions over his decision to name Enzo Fernandez captain, while Raheem Sterling’s representatives want “clarity” about the forward’s future at Chelsea after he was left out of the squad entirely.

Maresca has more than 40 senior players at his disposal after another spending spree this summer, and imprinting his style and possession-based philosophy on Chelsea’s bloated squad could take some time.

Leicester’s Steve Cooper is next at 5/1 with the Foxes expected to endure a difficult campaign.

Nottingham Forest’s Nuno Espirito Santo is priced at 8/1 following the weekend’s draw with Bournemouth, followed by Erik ten Hag and Eddie Howe – both of whom got off to a winning start.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Enzo Maresca was keen to praise his players after their 2-0 loss to Manchester City, but punters don’t seem so confident about his chances of leading Chelsea to success this season and the Italian is our early 9/2 favourite to be the first Premier League manager to be given the boot.

“Leicester are favourites for relegation and boss Steve Cooper (5/1) could come under pressure quickly, while other managers that may well be in the firing line are Nottingham Forest’s Nuno Espirito Santo (8/1) and Manchester United’s Erik ten Hag (9/1).”

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