The new year of 2026 has begun with characteristic turbulence in the Premier League's boardrooms, as depicted in the latest satirical cartoon from renowned illustrator David Squires. His work focuses on the dramatic, early-year exits of two high-profile managers from major club 'projects'.
A Sedate Start Turns Sour for Premier League Projects
With his signature wit, Squires illustrates what he terms a "typically sedate start" to the year 2026 at two of English football's most watched clubs. The calm, however, is entirely superficial. The cartoonist captures the moment managers Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca are metaphorically "thrown overboard" following intense internal power struggles. These departures highlight the relentless pressure and short-termism that often define the modern game's biggest experiments.
Managerial Casualties in the Boardroom Battles
Squires' artwork zeroes in on the human cost of these corporate clashes. While the specific clubs are not named in the provided context, the accompanying tags strongly indicate the cartoon references Manchester United and Chelsea. These clubs, known for their ambitious and often chaotic restructuring plans, have seen their latest managerial appointments—Amorim and Maresca—succumb to the volatile politics behind the scenes. The piece suggests their visions were ultimately overruled by other forces within the clubs' hierarchies.
Alongside this new commentary, Squires is promoting his retrospective collection, "David's favourite cartoons of 2025," which fans can purchase. He is also highlighting his latest published work, a book titled "Chaos in the Box." This ongoing output cements his role as a sharp chronicler of football's endless drama, both on and off the pitch.
The Enduring Lens of Satire on Football's Turmoil
The value of Squires' work lies in its ability to distill complex, often frustrating, club sagas into a single, impactful image. By framing these managerial sackings as figures being cast adrift, he underscores the precarious nature of top-flight management. The cartoon serves as a reminder that for all the talk of long-term 'projects' in the Premier League, the trigger finger on change remains exceptionally itchy. The power struggles he depicts are a permanent fixture, ensuring that the chaos he illustrates is unlikely to cease anytime soon.
