'Green with envy': Football managers far more likely to be sacked than FTSE 100 bosses
The bosses of FTSE 100 companies have far superior survival rates than football managers, new research has shown.
AJ Bell’s figures show 46 out of 92 league clubs changed their managers in 2025, compared to just 14 CE) changes at FTSE 100 firms.
The average tenure of a FTSE 100 chief executive is 5.9 years compared to just 1.8 years for football managers. Only three managers – Harrogate Town’s Simon Weaver, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta - have been in their current post longer than the 5.9 year FTSE average.
The research comes after Manchester United joined Chelsea in sacking their boss in recent days.
AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: “Shareholders are not necessarily famous for their patience, but they seem to possess more of it than football boardrooms or supporters. Events at Manchester United suggest as much, and there were, once more, fewer changes in FTSE 100 CEOs than English league football managers in 2025.
“The total of fourteen changes in CEO among FTSE 100 firms was only a fraction above the long-term average of 13 that prevails since 2000. The average FTSE 100 leader’s tenure must make football managers green with envy.