10 managers with the lowest win rates in the Premier League era
Not every manager has the desired impact when taking charge of a Premier League team.
For every Pep Guardiola there is a Slavista Jokanovic, for every Sir Alex Ferguson, a Jan Siewert. This season, some sides have appointed new or interim managers with disastrous results.
Cristian Stellini led Spurs to a 6-1 thrashing at St.James’ Park, before being replaced by Ryan Mason. Frank Lampard has lost every single game in his return to Stamford Bridge and Javi Gracia has seen Leeds set a new record for the most goals conceded in a single month in Premier League history.
With all that in mind, we’ve taken a look at the managers to take charge of 10 or more games in a single spell at a club with the worst win percentages in the Premier League era. Despite losing every single game in 2017, Frank de Boer hasn’t been included after being sacked after just four games in charge, but hands up if you remember these guys:
10. Slavisa Jokanovic
Club: Fulham
Season: 2018/19
Win percentage: 8.3%
This season was supposed to be one of hope for a Fulham side that had impressed so many en-route to their Championship playoff win last season.
However, a summer of over-investment has completely disrupted the rhythm of the Cottagers and their relegation was sealed with a 4-1 defeat to Watford.
Slavisa Jokanovic was charge for their first 12 games this season after guiding them to the top flight but with just one win and a host of crippling defensive problems, was dismissed in November. The Serbian returned to England 2021 with Championship side Sheffield United, but was relieved of his duties after just seven months, winning just six of his 19 matches in charge.
9. Chris Hutchings
Club: Bradford City
Season: 2000/01
Win percentage: 8.3%
After Paul Jewell left the club to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday, Hutchings took charge as Bradford’s manager for the start of the 2000/01 campaign. Things didn’t go to plan for the former assistant manager, picking just one win in his 12 games in charge before being sacked in November.
8. Slaven Bilic
Club: West Brom
Season: 2019/20
Win percentage: 7.7%
After leading the Baggies to promotion in his first season in charge, Slaven Billic and his West Brom side struggled to adapt to life back in the Premier League and the Croatian was sacked in December after just 13 games in charge. 19th in the table and with just one win all season, it was time for his spell in the Midlands to come to an end, despite all he had done for them in the previous campaign.
7. Billy Davies
Club: Derby County
Season: 2007/08
Win percentage: 7.1%
After a wonderful first season at Derby that saw Billy Davies manage the club to a play-off victory, the Rams would return to the Premier League after a five-year absence. But the club – who barely made any new transfers – largely struggled in the top flight, and despite being such a popular figure he left by mutual consent in November 2007.
After just one win in 14 games, Davies left the Rams at the foot of the Premier League table after falling out with the board. Derby would go on to be relegated with just 11 points at the end of the campaign.
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6. Steve Wigley
Club: Southampton
Season: 2004/05
Win percentage: 7.1%
Steve Wigley was handed just 14 games before being sacked by Southampton in 2004, proving many critics right who’d stated that he wasn’t yet ready to step into a head coach role. Following Paul Sturrock’s departure at the very beginning of the 2004-05 season, the former Portsmouth winger was handed the top role but only managed one win in 14.
He was dismissed in December, with his only win coming against arch-rivals Portsmouth. He returned to coach Southampton’s youth players, but left the club entirely at the end of the season.
5. Jan Siewert
Club: Huddersfield
Season: 2019/20
Win percentage: 6.7%
In 2019, Jan Siewert became the third Dortmund II manager in a row to leave the club to take a job in England after David Wagner and Daniel Farke. His time at the club turned out to be a disaster, becoming just the third side in Premier League history to be relegated with six or more games remaining, having picked up just one win and suffering 12 defeats in his 15 games in charge.
4. Alan Pardew
Club: West Brom
Season: 2017/18
Win percentage: 5.6%
Replacing Tony Pulis in 2017, Pardew was confident he could turn things round at West Brom, but it wasn’t to be. He left the club in April 2018, bottom of the league on a run of eight straight defeats and without a win in 10.
3. Mick McCarthy
Club: Sunderland
Season: 2005/06
Win percentage: 5.4%
Mick McCarthy endured a terrible Premier League run during his time at Sunderland. He won just two of his 37 games in charge and lost 31. After taking over from Howard Wilkinson in 2003, he struggled to keep the already failing side in the Premier League and they were relegated, but he was retained as manager.
He successfully managed the Black Cats to the play-offs the following year, but his side were beaten by Crystal Palace. In 2005 Sunderland returned to the Premier League after a very impressive Championship campaign saw them earn an impressive 94 points.
Unfortunately the English top flight is a different proposition all together, as a combination of poor performances and lack of resources led to his dismissal in March 2006.
2. Terry Connor
Club: Wolves
Season: 2011/12
Win percentage: 0%
Ok, now we’ve moved on to the winless managers. Terry Connor’s hapless time at Wolves was painful to watch, but proved that some coaches are better suited to an assistant role. Connor moved to Wolverhampton in 1999, and was handed the first-team role after Mick McCarthy’s dismissal in February 2012.
He didn’t win a single game of his 13 in charge and gained only four points from a possible 39.
1. Paul Jewell
Club: Derby County
Season: 2007/08
Win percentage: 0%
Statistically the worst-ever Premier League manager is Paul Jewell. In 24 games as boss of Derby County during the 2007-08 season, he didn’t manage to win a single game and gained just five points, meaning the Rams were relegated with a final tally of 11 (the other six being won by Billy Davies prior to Jewell’s appointment).
It turns out signing Robbie Savage and Roy Carroll doesn’t keep you up, and the former Bradford City striker was sacked the following season with Derby sitting 18th in the Championship.
10 managers with the worst total win %
- 0% – Terry Connor
- 6.3% – Steve Wigley
- 6.7% – Jan Siewert
- 7.1% – Billy Davies
- 8.3% – Kevin Ball
- 8.3% – Slavista Jokanovic
- 9.1% – Roy McFarland
- 9.1% – Sammy Lee
- 9.1% – Sammy Agnew
- 9.5% – Remi Garde
10 managers with the highest total loss %
- 80% – Jan Siewert
- 77.8% – Brian Laws
- 75% – Kevin Ball
- 75% – Slavista Jokanovic
- 72.7% – RoyMcFarland
- 71.4% – Billy Davies
- 71.4% – Daniel Farke
- 70% – Paul Heckingbottom
- 69.2% – Terry Connor
- 69.2% – Rene Meulensteen
10 managers with the highest loss % in a single spell at a club
- 83.8% – Mick McCarthy (Sunderland)
- 80% – Jan Siewert (Huddersfield Town)
- 79.2% – Paul Jewell (Derby County)
- 77.8% – Brian Laws (Burnley)
- 76.9% – Claudio Ranieri (Watford)
- 75% – Slavista Jokanovic (Fulham)
- 72.7% – Roy McFarland (Bolton)
- 72.2% – Roy Hodgson (Watford)
- 71.4% – Bill Davies (Derby County)
- 71.4% – Daniel Farke (Norwich)
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