Moving from a successful Premier League side to a 'big-six' club is traditionally viewed as the natural progression for managers, but data reveals this transition is fraught with difficulty. Andoni Iraola's upcoming move from Bournemouth to Liverpool exemplifies this challenge, joining a list of managers who have struggled with the step up. Since the current big-six format emerged post-2008 City takeover, no manager has won a major trophy after making this transition.

Recent examples illustrate the pattern of brief tenures and limited success. Thomas Frank lasted just 26 games at Tottenham after impressing at Brentford, while Graham Potter managed only 22 league matches at Chelsea. David Moyes was dismissed after 10 months at Manchester United, and Roy Hodgson lasted barely a year at Liverpool. Even managers with strong reputations like Brendan Rodgers and Mauricio Pochettino eventually struggled amid heightened expectations despite initial promise.

The data shows points-per-game improvements are often modest and inconsistent. While some managers like Harry Redknapp elevated Tottenham's results, others saw performance decline. The fundamental issue lies in shifted expectations - from exceeding targets to meeting minimum requirements of winning consistently. More matches, including European competition, and less preparation time compound the pressure, making tolerance for poor form virtually nonexistent.

No manager has won a major trophy after stepping up to a big-six club from another Premier League side, with near-misses being the exception rather than the rule. Iraola's move represents another high-risk appointment given this track record of short spells and unmet expectations.