April 23 – New research from the CIES Football Observatory has revealed a striking lack of managerial stability across world football, with exactly 75.3% of current top-flight head coaches having been in their role for less than a year.
The study, which spans 65 leagues worldwide, highlights that only one in four coaches have held their position for a full season or more, with some of the world’s most high-profile competitions mirroring the global trend of short-term managerial tenures.
In the Premier League, exactly half of current managers have been in place for under a year, while just 25% have passed the three-year mark.
Germany’s Bundesliga narrowly leads Europe’s top five leagues in terms of managerial trust, with 44.4% of coaches in the job for less than 12 months. The Bundesliga also boasts the longest average tenure among the big five, with coaches lasting an average of 797 days — thanks in part to Heidenheim boss Frank Schmidt, who has remarkably led the club for nearly 18 years.
At the other end of the scale, Serie A ranks lowest among Europe’s elite. Nineteen of its 20 clubs have appointed their current head coach within the past year, with Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi — in post since 2021 — the lone exception.
Outside of Europe, the situation is even more precarious. Costa Rica’s top division has the shortest average tenure at just 88 days, with 100% of clubs having appointed their current coach within the last year. Mexico’s Liga MX and Ecuador’s Liga Pro also share this 100% turnover rate.
In contrast, the Dutch Eredivisie stands out for its relative stability, with seven of its 18 head coaches in position for over a year – the highest figure across Europe’s top leagues.
The report offers a sobering snapshot of football’s increasingly disposable approach to coaching, where short-term results often outweigh long-term planning. As the commercial stakes grow and competition intensifies, clubs appear more willing than ever to hit the reset button.
To see the full ranking by league, click here.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1745437015labto1745437015ofdlr1745437015owedi1745437015sni@g1745437015niwe.1745437015yrrah1745437015