Although the managerial merry-go-'round in the English game has slowed significantly over the past few months, followers of the Premier League have certainly seen quite the turnover at the head of their clubs during this season.
And then, of course, the axe still hovers over several other managers.
But just how many managers have actually been given the sack or left their positions since the end of last season?
And were their firings legitimate and supported by the majority of fans?
At the top of the table, Stamford Bridge headline—maker Jose Mourinho left the club by "mutual consent" in September.
A sub-par end to last season left Manchester City's Stuart Pearce out in the cold. Newcastle continued their quick-fire removal by axing Sam Allardyce in January.
And then there was Billy Davies at Derby, Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham, Paul Jewell at Wigan, Martin Jol at Tottenham, Steve Bruce at Birmingham, Sammy Lee at Bolton...
And then, there is the constant speculation over others. Will Rafa Benitez and Avram Grant start next season at their respective clubs?
How long will Gary Megson and Roy Hodgson last if they fail to save their clubs from relegation? (Tough job there, mates!)
What about Gareth Southgate—how long will the Middlesbrough board and supporters stand by as their club continue their slope down the table since Steve McClaren's exit?
Nine managers have turned over since the end of last season. And that isn't even including Sam Allardyce's exit from Bolton before the last game of last season.
What does this signal for the English game, and for world football itself?
Is this simply the fallout from the high expectations and huge risks that come with managing a Premiership side presently?
Is this something that will continue?
Weigh-in with your perspective!
Comments (8) Add a comment »
from about 1 month ago
In any occupation you want to be the top. Your boss wants to employ the top. For any Premiership board they know they are at the top. Every manager in Europe wants to manage in England. If you are not good enough you will be replaced. If I did not fulfil my bosses expectations of me I would expect to be sacked.
People say we should give them time. For what? They are at the top end of the occupational ladder, there is no higher to go. With this in mind they must be the best. If manager A's team are behind Manager B's team then A's bosses will want to know why.
If a player does not perform he is sold, so why does every1 moan when a manager gets sacked. No one is safe. Chelsea quite clearly proved that.
from about 1 month ago
Sir Alex would never have survived in the modern managerial climate in his first few years at Man Utd.....doesn't that say it all? It can take time.
from about 1 month ago
Andrew I agree. What I said was that the Premiership is now the top job. Back then the Italian league was, we could not attract massive foreign names.
For instance what made Ramos go from Seville, who were 3rd, to Spurs who were...well not. It was not money, but because winning a trophy in England is seen as a great achievement. He has since won the League cup, and proved that the best do not always need time.
I am also fully aware that Jol built that team, but Woodgate who scored the winner was a Ramos signing.
from about 1 month ago
Paul Jewell and Sam Allardyce left Wigan and Bolton respectively on their own terms. Wigan and Boltono wanted to keep them! Big Sam's exit from Bolton shouldn't be included in the article.
Jewell shouldn't be included at all...
from about 1 month ago
It was widely reported following Big Sam's exit from Bolton that it was very much a mutual issue - Big Sam wanted to win silverware and he felt it wasn't going to happen at Bolton, and Bolton wanted to win silverware and they felt they weren't ever going to progress further with Big Sam.
As for Jewell.....well, I think it's a situation which deserves to be looked at further. For a very long while, it seemed Jewell had a very solid relationship with Whelan, just to up and leave after the club were safe from relegation. Do I believe that there was some sort of conspiracy kept under-wraps here? No, not really. Do I believe it reflects the massive turnover that has happened since the end of last season? Yes, it's definitely a part of that.
Gareth Southgate is the interesting managerial concern for me - any Boro supporters on here? I can't understand why the board has stuck with him as long as they have, because I don't see anything particularly spectacular that he has done for the club. And looking at the turnover rate over the past year, you can only wonder what is making Boro stay consistent.
from about 1 month ago
I am not a 'Boro fan, but I think Southgate has done an ok job.
He took over a team that had got to the UEFA Cup final, but they also finished 14th in the league that season, Mclaren's last as manager 2005-2006.
Southgate finished 12th in his first season, not great, but not a disaster when they could have easily gone the other way after the 14th place finish. He did not spend big in his first summer before that season either. Only Robert Huth at 6m was a big signing, followed by Woodgate at the end of the campaign for 7m after a good loan spell. Woodgate has since left the club for 8m, so a 1m profit in a year is not bad for a player who only 'Boro wanted the first time round.
This summer he lost his front two strikers, Yakubu and Viduka, not through his choice but because they wanted out. Boro still find themselves in a relatively safe position of 14th, which when you have lost your best 2 strikers is respectable. Southgate has since splashed 12m on Alves, who will need to be judged next season.
Southgate's net spend is about zero, he has only spent what Boro have recouped in sales. So they are doing quite well really. Next season I expect they will splash some more cash in the summer, so Southgate will have higher ambitions. Only Mido of his big money signings has been a complete failure, but many managers have fallen in to the trap of buying the Egyptian wayward star.
Steve Gibson is just about the best Chairman in the Premier League, he recognises that managers need time to learn, and time to put their plans in place. I don't forsee Southgate getting sacked any time soon, and I find it quite strange that you have written an article bemoaning the managerial merry go round, only to question the judgement of the one Chairman who DOES show some restraint and sense.
from 29 days ago
Simon,
I'm bemoaning the merry-go-round, but my criticism of Southgate is mostly due to my belief that he wasn't the best choice to begin with. I'm not well enough aware of Boro's structure to comment fully, but I was confused about why they appointed him to begin with. And I believe his results prove that - just look at Boro in the seasons before the two you reference. The threat of relegation for them was there, but not as realistic as it has been under Southgate. Maybe I'm being to harsh on him, but again, it's my perspective. I seriously worry about Boro next year, because I don't think Southgate has the ability to hold onto players like Downing. And yes, it's not always about the money - a manager has to be able to provide the kind of leadership that lets him win over the dressing room.
In addition, I'm criticizing the constant change in managers in the game, but personally, I believe the flaw to be in the way managers are HIRED more than fired. I believe Southgate, Megson, Sammy Lee, and Roy Hodgson's appointments weren't particular good ones, and I bemoaned them when they were announced. As always, hindsight is 20-20, but my criticism is mostly for rushed-hiring....or hiring for the wrong reasons and with the wrong goals in mind
from about 1 month ago
While the trend in England is towards a higher turn over of managers, it is still nowhere near the turnover that exists in many other countries.
There has been a definite shift towards short-termism in the English game though. Just look at Gary Megson, booed by Bolton fans when he joined because they didn't want him, then after a bright start, they were all on his side again and thought they were on to a winner, now they looked doomed the speculation is that he will be sacked in the summer.
Fans think they know more about football than they actually do, and that is a big problem. The likes of Sky Sports news and the internet have worsened this trend, we think we know everything about our clubs and our players, so we think we could do a far better job.
Should I be a surgeon just because I read a few books and watch 'surgery live' on TV? The trouble is we think Football management is easy, and don't get me wrong, compared to a plethora of other life or death jobs it IS easy, but it is still an acquired skill that takes time to hone, and time to get right. We are all guilty of not giving our own managers time to develop their squads and their systems.
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