Chelsea and Man Utd prove era that defined Premier League is over as new strategy emerges

After a season of relative stability for Premier League managers, the merry-go-round is suddenly in full swing. But the problem for Brighton, Chelsea and, probably, Manchester United is that the market looks bare.

There were only three sackings during this season, having been 13 a year previous. That was down to a number of factors, not least the loyalty shown by the promoted teams, but points to a further shift in how clubs are structured.

More and more are leaning into having sporting directors who call the shots, reducing managers to mere head coaches and restricting their say around recruitment.

That was a key source of tension between Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea’s hierarchy, leading to his dismissal on Tuesday evening. And the list of contenders to replace him contains few with a big personality to rival those who have thrived at Stamford Bridge in the past 20 years.

Early favourite Kieran McKenna, a deep thinker not known for bombast, has done an exceptional job in guiding Ipswich from the third tier to top in two seasons. Except he is yet to take charge in the Premier League and it was not so long ago that United players were moaning about “uninspired” training sessions when he served as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s assistant. Dealing with the constant media attention and egos attached to a club like Chelsea or United is a whole new game.

Beyond McKenna there are either shots in the dark - Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness - or head coaches whose flaws have recently been spotlighted, such as Roberto de Zerbi.

Brighton have placed McKenna top of their list, too, while it is widely expected that United will be searching for their next head coach imminently - having already assembled a new