The Premier League's 10 Most Underqualified Managers of All Time

As anyone who has ever entered the job market knows, the quality of your CV often doesn't make the slightest bit of difference—it's about who you know rather than what you know.

When hiring and firing, club owners often like the idea of taking a punt on an unproven manager or promoting an assistant boss from within.

This article will list the 10 most underqualified managers in Premier League history.

Unsurprisingly, most of the managers on this list didn't fare too well in the hot seat.

Terry Connor

Previous experience: Wolves Assistant Manager (2008-12)

Poor old Terry Connor, if it weren't for Mick McCarthy's untimely sacking early last year, we may not associate him with Wolves' horrible winless 13-game stint last term.

The English-born coach may be suited to the rigours of working as the fiery McCarthy's No. 2, but as the top dog, he was unfortunately born to fail.

The two are reunited at Ipswich now, though if McCarthy were to get the sack again, you can bet your life Connor won't be asked to step in.

Les Reed

Previous experience: England National Team Technical Director (2002-04)

When Steven Gerrard, who played in the England team while Les Reed was the head of Technical Development for the FA, recalls the man, it is not with fondness.

In his autobiography, Gerrard states "To this day, I have no respect for Reed. They made me feel like s***. My homesickness worsened whenever I was forced to be in their company" (h/t The Guardian).

Having only served in technical roles the majority of his career, Reed was asked to take charge of Charlton Athletic in 2006.

He managed to win just one game at the club while getting knocked out of the League Cup by lowly Wycombe Wanderers.

Alan Shearer

Previous experience: None

It's a pity that Alan Shearer completely failed during his spell as manager of Newcastle United.

The former striker was, and still is, a club legend—perhaps the reason for the completely novice boss getting hired in the first place.

Shearer could have done with a couple years making his bones at a lower-league side rather than jumping straight into one of the top jobs in the country.

He has now turned to punditry to make a living, where he has fared little better.

Gianluca Vialli

Previous experience: None

Gianluca Vialli is a bit of an exception to the rule that this article proposes—the completely inexperienced player fared quite well when suddenly handed the reins of Chelsea Football Club in 1998.

The Italian player-manager won both the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup that year, as well as leading his team to a fourth-place Premier League finish.

At 33, he proved that age should be no barrier to success. Like Shearer, Vialli has become a television pundit, though a little livelier in comparison.

Steve Kean

Previous experience: Blackburn Rovers First-Team Coach (2009-10)

It wasn't Steve Kean's fault he remained manager of Blackburn Rovers for so long and was so wholly unsuccessful—Venky's should have had the good sense to relinquish him of his responsibilities not long after he was hired in the first place.

While at Blackburn, Kean oversaw the club getting relegated from the Premier League and a subsequent run of mediocrity in the Championship.

His is another classic case of a man given a job he was never right for in the first place.

Kevin Ball

Previous experience: None

Before stepping in to serve as Sunderland's caretaker manager in 2006, Kevin Ball's experience in coaching roles was limited to say the least.

As a player he was a hard-hitting midfielder and former captain of the club—a legend, in fact. As a manager, he was pretty abysmal.

His record at Sunderland stands at one win from 10 games. His regular column for the Daily Mail is fairly entertaining, though.

Gareth Southgate

Previous experience: None

I happen to quite like Gareth Southgate. He is calm, intelligent and knows of what he speaks. Too bad he made for a pretty mediocre manager.

The former central defender was hired by Middlesbrough the same year he retired as a player (2006) without him even having completed the required coaching certificates (via BBC).

Sir Alex Ferguson criticized his appointment at the time, stating: "If you want the quality of the game to improve, it has to be done through the coaches" (via Daily Mail). Ouch.

Attilio Lombardo and Tomas Brolin

Previous experience: None

Here's an idea—when your club is suddenly without manager, don't just hire the team's best player and his mate to take control.

But that's exactly what Crystal Palace did in 1998, gifting the reins to Attilio Lombardo and Tomas Brolin halfway through the season.

Lombardo says of the time: "I came home last night and received a phone call and was summoned by the chairman-to-be and I was proposed the job there and then. I had half-an-hour to make a decision, and it felt like being run over by a lorry" (via The Telegraph).

Paul Ince

Previous experience: Milton Keynes Dons Manager (2007-08)

Unlike the other entries on this list, Paul Ince actually had some experience as a manager before taking charge of a Premier League club.

The reason he's included? That club was the Milton Keynes Dons—hardly the bastion of footballing history.

As manager of Blackburn Rovers, Ince lasted just six months. He is now in charge of Blackpool, the team his son plays for. Nepotism much?

Jimmy Gabriel

Previous experience: Seattle Storm Manager (1985-88)

Few reading this will remember Jimmy Gabriel, and why should you? The former Everton caretaker manager only coached seven games at the highest level during the 1993/94 season.

His most notable achievement is being the Premier League's most statistically unsuccessful manager of all time, drawing one and losing six while at the Merseyside club (via Yahoo).

Gabriel now lives in the USA where he no doubt imparts his infinite wisdom to the lucky locals.

Who else could be worthy of inclusion on this list?

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