Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been sacked after Sunderland 's 2 - 1 defeat by Arsenal . Steve Bruce has become the first English Premier League managerial casualty of the season after being sacked by Sunderland on Monday following a poor run of recent results . That defeat left Sunderland 16th in the Premier League , just two points above the drop zone . Bruce is the first manager to lose his job in the English Premier League this season .
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been sacked after Sunderland 's 2 - 1 defeat by Arsenal . That defeat left Sunderland 16th in the Premier League , just two points above the drop zone . Bruce is the first manager to lose his job in the English Premier League this season .