Premier League spotlight: Which clubs rely most on mid-season coach changes – and does it pay off?
IMAGO | Sean Dyche was dismissed by Everton FC in January 2025, just hours before an FA Cup tie against Peterborough United.
Mid-season coaching changes are common in the Premier League – but while performance often improves, actual gains like avoiding relegation or qualifying for Europe are less certain.
From 2013 to 2024, 70.8 per cent of mid-season coaching changes in the Premier League led to improved on-pitch metrics – more goals, more points, fewer conceded. But in 38.9 per cent of cases, there was no meaningful impact on season-defining outcomes.
Why it matters: Changing a head coach can alter a club’s trajectory – or cement its downfall. Understanding when and how to act is critical in a league where the financial and sporting stakes are sky-high.
The perspective: As football grows more data-driven and financially pressured, mid-season coaching changes may be evolving from emergency fixes to strategic moves. The line remains blurry, but clubs may be rethinking when to act.
25 April 2025 - 9:17 AM
In this analysis, we take a closer look at head coach changes (HCC) in the Premier League, covering all mid-season changes across 11 seasons from 2013 to 2024. The dataset includes 72 managerial changes and 2,736 matches. We use this data to assess sporting output and outcome before and after each coaching change within the same season.
On average, 32.7 per cent of Premier League clubs change their head coach during an ongoing season – amount
Get smarter in minutes. Straight to your inbox
21-day free trial
Activate instantly with the link we’ll send you.
