LONDON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- With less than three weeks to go before the start of the new Premier League season, the campaign looks set to be one of the most unpredictable in years, not only because of the clubs' summer signings but also because of widespread changes in the dugouts.
No fewer than nine top-flight sides are currently adapting to a new coach, making predictions particularly difficult, with three of the league's biggest clubs among those to have changed the man in charge.
Former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca faces the daunting task of replacing Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Maresca previously coached City's Elite Development Squad and worked as Guardiola's assistant before taking charge of Leicester City and Chelsea. His style is expected to represent an evolution rather than a revolution from Guardiola's approach, with early indications suggesting that the players have responded positively to the change.
Andoni Iraola has joined Liverpool after three successful seasons with Bournemouth, marking the latest step in his steady rise through the coaching ranks.
On paper, the 44-year-old Basque's high-pressing, attacking style should suit Liverpool. His methods have proved successful at Bournemouth, Rayo Vallecano and Mirandes, although Bournemouth's players needed several months to fully adapt when he first arrived.
Iraola's first task will be to strengthen a defense that conceded too many goals last season, and new signings may be required.
There has been no shortage of arrivals at Chelsea, where Xabi Alonso is looking to rebuild his reputation after a short and difficult spell at Real Madrid, during which he struggled to manage several strong personalities in the dressing room.
Alonso appears to have taken that experience into account, with veterans Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson among 10 summer signings that also include England midfielder Morgan Rogers.
Welbeck and Henderson should provide valuable leadership, although Alonso's immediate challenge will be to establish a settled side at a club that has experienced an exceptionally high turnover of players.
Marco Rose faces the difficult task of replacing Iraola at Bournemouth. His main challenge will be to continue his predecessor's success in rebuilding the squad after key players, including Antoine Semenyo, were sold for substantial fees.
Pierre Sage has replaced Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace, with Glasner joining Nottingham Forest after winning the FA Cup and Conference League with the south London club.
Sage arrives at Palace after an impressive season with Lens in Ligue 1, but Glasner will be a difficult act to follow.
Glasner's decision to join Nottingham Forest carries considerable risk. Forest has become a difficult environment for coaches under owner Evangelos Marinakis, with four managers hired and dismissed last year. Simply retaining his position for an extended period would represent an achievement.
Alvaro Arbeloa is another coach looking to recover from a difficult experience at Real Madrid. He will work close to Alonso after replacing Marco Silva at Fulham.
Silva joined Benfica this summer after six years at Craven Cottage, during which he established Fulham as a stable Premier League club. Arbeloa's task will be to preserve that stability and avoid being drawn into a relegation battle.
Gary O'Neil is likely to face a fight for survival after replacing the popular Kieran McKenna, who stepped down after guiding Ipswich Town to promotion.
O'Neil joins Ipswich following a brief spell at Strasbourg, a difficult period at Wolverhampton Wanderers and a somewhat harsh dismissal by Bournemouth, where he was replaced by Iraola. This may be his final opportunity to establish himself as a Premier League coach.
Finally, Eddie Howe's resignation has left Newcastle United still searching for a replacement, with Matthias Jaissle considered the leading candidate.
Jaissle won two Austrian league titles with Red Bull Salzburg and two AFC Champions League crowns with Al-Ahli, but he will need a strong start to win over skeptical supporters at St James' Park. ■