Churn and upheaval dominated the Premier League’s management circles through last season. There have never been more sackings in one top-flight campaign than in 2022/23.
Within two weeks of the end of the season and the final confirmation of which 20 clubs will contest next year’s race, there is a calm already descending over the managerial situation. Tottenham Hotspur have finally ended their prolonged search with the agreement of Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou.
That appointment removes the last of the big vacancies in England hanging out there for the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter. Chelsea finally announced Mauricio Pochettino last week, leaving Crystal Palace with the one club facing uncertainty.
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The Eagles were transformed under 75-year-old Roy Hodgson. Palace would lose just two of their final 10 games with the former England boss and there is a clamour in some quarters for him to get another go next season at Selhurst Park.
Hodgson is the favourite with the bookmakers, while Potter and Rodgers are second and third in the odds for some. Despite taking West Ham United to the Europa Conference League final, there have been some reports about David Moyes’s future.
Julen Lopetegui has also reportedly baulked at the finances which will be made available to him this summer. The Hammers and Wolverhampton Wanderers stand as the only two other clubs which could yet need a new boss this summer.
Palace, though, is the one with the most realistic chance of impacting Leeds United’s summer search. The ownership wrangling at the top of the club is not making anything about this close season easy.
Until Andrea Radrizzani or 49ers Enterprises have decided who will be the majority shareholder going into next season, no decisions can be made. A recruitment chief and playing squad need to be sorted too.
The identity of the owner will also directly inform who the club can approach to be head coach. There will be different budgets and different visions to sell to prospective new bosses.
The seemingly settled nature of the top-flight merry-go-round should help Leeds, especially if Palace stick with Hodgson. If the likes of Potter and Rodgers want to return to domestic coaching this summer, a job like Leeds in the second tier is virtually as good as they are going to get.
They could, of course, stick it out and wait to inevitably be at the top of most Premier League clubs’ wish lists when sacking season starts in the autumn. It remains to be seen how keen they are to get back on the horse with a full pre-season to work to, but the way could at least be paved for Leeds to make their pitch and sell their vision.
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