Top five shortest stints as managers in Premier League history

Ange Postecoglou became the latest coach to spend less time at a club as a PL manager.

Patience is a rare quality at the top level of football, and some coaches have had the shortest managerial stints at their clubs.

In the Premier League, the most-watched league in the world, with enormous amounts of money at stake, failure is simply not accepted. Managers are constantly under pressure to produce results immediately.

Regardless of your background or whether it’s fair, you could be fired before you ever realise it if you don’t meet expectations, don’t wow the board, or occasionally just don’t live up to the erratic standards established for you.

These five managers, who hold the record for the shortest tenures in Premier League history, experienced precisely that.

5. Rene Meulensteen (Fulham, 75 days)

Though his best work has been as an assistant, Rene Meulensteen has coached clubs for most of his career. He has so far had difficulty in the hot seat.

For six incredibly successful years between 2007 and 2013, the Dutchman was one of Sir Alex Ferguson‘s closest lieutenants at Manchester United. He left his position when the Scotsman retired.

Meulensteen quickly made his way back to the Premier League to work for Fulham under Martin Jol. Three weeks after Meulensteen joined, his countryman, Jol, left, and Meulensteen was eventually offered the full-time position.

The Dutchman only remained for 75 days before Fulham tragically hired Felix Magath.

4. Javi Gracia (Leeds United, 69 days)

Leeds United had a valiant battle for safety during the 2022–2023 Premier League season, losing three different managers and failing to escape relegation.

Javi Gracia, who was appointed in February, took Jesse Marsch’s position. It lasted for just 11 league games and 69 days. Although six losses were by no means a good record, Leeds changed course after a string of incredibly crushing defeats, giving up at least four goals in four of their previous seven games.

3. Les Reed (Charlton, 40 days)

As Alan Curbishley’s assistant at Charlton and at the Football Association (FA), Les Reed had established a solid reputation.

In 2006, he returned to Charlton as Iain Dowie’s assistant after working for several clubs for years as a consultant and director. Reed was elevated to head coach after Dowie was fired in November.

But his tenure as head was a disaster. Before Charlton appointed Alan Pardew, he managed seven Premier League games and suffered five defeats.

2. Ange Postecoglou (Nottingham Forest, 39 days)

In 2024–2025, Nottingham Forest enjoyed a successful season. They were unexpected candidates for a UEFA Champions League position under Nuno Espírito Santo. However, their seventh-place finish ultimately was a huge letdown, which said volumes about their play throughout the season.

Soon after, Ange Postecoglou, the former manager of Tottenham Hotspur, came in. The UEFA Europa League winner had high expectations, but they were quickly dashed. Postecoglou was given his walking orders after leading just eight games without winning any of them.

Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.The Club will make no further comment at this time.

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 18, 2025

1. Sam Allardyce (Leeds United, 30 days)

Sam Allardyce went on to become the manager with the shortest tenure in the Premier League. Leeds United, who were fighting relegation in May 2023, fired Javi Gracia and hired Allardyce in a last-ditch effort to avoid relegation.

The former England manager, who had a reputation for turning around faltering sides, was only given four games to save the team. Leeds were demoted following three losses and a draw, and Allardyce departed with a sizeable settlement.

It's just a 39-day reign at Nottingham Forest for Ange Postecoglou. pic.twitter.com/o5uKKD9WBi

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) October 18, 2025

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