It had been 17 years since a Premier League manager was sacked in August, but on Tuesday morning, Bournemouth announced that they had parted ways with Scott Parker. After a 9-0 trashing against Liverpool and Parker publically criticising the board's transfer philosophy, he was sacked. With the news of Parker's dismissal, we have decided to put together a list of the 10 earliest Premier League sackings in history.
There had been a number of managers who could have been on the list if they were sacked and didn't resign, with the likes of Graeme Souness, Ruud Gullit, Kevin Keegan and Alan Curbishley all stepping down in the opening weeks of the season.
The 10 earliest Premier League sackings
10. Frank De Boer - Crystal Palace 2017/18 - 31 days
De Boer signed a three-year-deal as manager of Crystal Palace in June 2017, but it's safe to say things didn't work out for the former Inter Milan boss. After losing all four of Palace's first four games and scoring no goals, De Boer was sacked and replaced by Roy Hodgson.
9. Javi Gracia - Watford 2019/20 - 29 days
Watford have become known as a club that have no issue with sacking managers, regardless of how long they've been manager for. Gracia was appointed manager of the Hornets in January 2019 and guided the club to safety after Marco Silva's sacking. Gracia also led Watford to the final of the FA Cup. Sadly for the Spaniard, he was sacked less than a month into the 2019/20 season as the club were sitting bottom of the table with just one point.
READ HERE: Frank Lampard Warns Anthony Gordon Of Repercussions If He Demands Chelsea Move
8. Scott Parker - AFC Bournemouth 2022/23 - 25 days
After possibly the toughest set of fixtures that any newly promoted side could face in his opening four games, Scott Parker was sacked by Bournemouth. After beating Aston Villa on the opening day, Bournemouth fell to defeats at the hands of Arsenal and Manchester City as well as a 9-0 defeat away to Liverpool at the weekend.
7. Gianluca Vialli - Chelsea 2000/01 - 24 days
After Ruud Gullit was sacked as manager of Chelsea in February 1999, he was replaced by Gianluca Vialli who initally took the role as player/manager. Vialli led the side to a League Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup during his first season at Stamford Bridge.
The following year he won the Uefa Super Cup and led Chelsea to a third place finish in the league. The start of the 2000/01 season started brightly with Chelsea winning the Community Shield, but just 24 days and five games into the Premier League season, the Italian was sacked after rumours of a falling out with the dressing room.
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6. Howard Wilkinson - Leeds United 1996/97 - 23 days
Wilkinson had an extremely successful period at Leeds United during his first few years at Elland Road, leading them to a First Division title in 1992, a year before the English top flight was rebranded as the Premier League. After a 4-0 home defeat to rivals Manchester United and just five games into the 1996/97 season, Wilkinson was sacked.
5. Christian Gross - Tottenham 1998/99 - 21 days
Former Spurs manager Christian Gross has a new job. He's taken over as head coach of Egyptian giants Zamalek.
More: https://t.co/eXIg7pmiB1 pic.twitter.com/Tesp1pLskl— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 22, 2018
Gross was hired as Spurs' manager in November 1997. After surviving relegation in his debut season, a poor start to the 1998/99 season which included two defeats in their opening three games, Spurs' chairman Alan Sugar sacked the Swedish manager.
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4. Bobby Robson - Newcastle 2004/05 - 16 days
After Ruud Gullit's resignation in 1999, Bobby Robson was appointed the new manager of Newcastle United. In Robson's five seasons in charge, he guided the club to top five finishes in three of those years. Robson and Newcastle had a poor start to the 2004/05 season and he was sacked.
3. Kenny Dalglish - Newcastle United 1998/99 - 12 days
In January 1997, Dalglish replaced Kevin Keegan as manager of the Magpies. He guided them to a fourth place finish in his first season, securing Champions League football. The following season saw them fall down to a 13th place finish, but he did lead them to an FA Cup final and a memorable win over Barcelona.
After drawing his first two games of the 1998/99 season, Dalglish was sacked and replaced by Ruud Gullit.
2. Peter Reid -Manchester City 1993/94 - 12 days
Reid spent three years in charge of Manchester City. After finishing in fifth place during his first campaign, City eventually started slipping down the table. After a poor start to the 1993/94 season, Reid was sacked by Manchester City, just months after signing a new contract at the club.
1. Paul Sturrock - Southampton 2004/05 - 9 days
Paul Sturrock on:
•His deterioration with Parkinson’s
•Pain as @dundeeunitedfc manager
•Success in England
•‘Jim McLean’s secret’
•’As a player there were 2 Paul Sturrocks’
•The thrilling 1980s
•Walter Smith
My interview in The Times tomorrow
@thetimesscot pic.twitter.com/fldZ949zgX— Graham Spiers (@GrahamSpiers) January 10, 2020
Scottish manager Paul Sturrock remains as the manager who had the shortest season before being sacked. Just 9 days after the start of the 2004/05 season, rumours of unrest with the board began to circulate and Sturrock was sacked. Sturrock had only been hired as manager five months prior to his sacking after taking over from Gordon Strachan at St. Mary's.
SEE ALSO: Shay Given Says He's "Shocked" After Scott Parker's Dismissal
