Being manager is ‘loneliest job in the world’

Many years ago, former England and Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson observed: “There are only two types of manager. Those who have been sacked and those who will be sacked in the future.”

Considering the recent merry-go-round of managers in the Premier League, his words ring truer than ever.

The departure of Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers from Chelsea and Leicester respectively last weekend means there are now only nine Premier League teams that have the same manager who started the season.

It is no coincidence that four of the clubs that have kept their managers happen to be in the top four places in the league — Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Manchester United.

Bucking the trend are fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who recently parted company with Antonio Conte.

The other five clubs that have remained faithful to their gaffer are Liverpool…