Firing Squad: Sherwood, Hughton Among Europe's Most Under-Fire Managers

Stuttgart’s disappointing draw at last-placed Eintracht Braunschweig proved to be Thomas Schneider’s last stand.

The 41-year-old was sacked on Sunday—less than 24 hours after the result—and replaced by Huub Stevens.

Four of the bottom five in the Bundesliga have now changed managers over the course of the current campaign, so it’s no surprise that the one that hasn’t features prominently in this instalment of Firing Squad.

With that being said, there are under-pressure managers in England and Spain as well.

Over the next five slides, we’ll examine those most likely to follow Schneider out the door.

5. Paco Jemez, Rayo Vallecano

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Don’t look now, but Paco Jemez—La Liga’s Teflon Man—could be about to save his job.

Back-to-back wins over Valencia and Real Sociedad have made things much less uncomfortable at Rayo Vallecano for the popular 43-year-old, who has struggled to reprise last season’s eighth-place finish at the Madrid club.

Still, Jemez’s side are second from bottom in La Liga with only 11 matches remaining, and upcoming encounters against relegation rivals Almeria and Real Valladolid will no doubt have a lot to do with whether he returns for another season or even sees out the current one. 

4. Davide Ballardini, Bologna

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Could Bologna make a managerial change for the second time this season?

It’s not as ridiculous as it sounds.

Already in 2013-14, both Catania and Livorno have twice sacked their men in charge. Therefore, with Bologna just two points clear of the relegation places (Catania and Livorno are second and third from bottom, respectively), it’s conceivable that they could be next to pull the trigger for a second time.

Davide Ballardini’s January appointment following the ousting of Stefano Pioli has hardly made a difference at the Serie A club. In fact, the Rossoblu have won only one of their nine matches since he was hired.

Sunday’s match away to Livorno will be absolutely crucial for Ballardini, as will subsequent encounters with struggling duo Cagliari and Chievo. 

3. Christian Streich, Freiburg

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The three sides directly above Freiburg in the Bundesliga table have already sacked their manager this season, as has the one—the only one—below them.

None of this will come as welcome news to Christian Streich, who has guided the relegation-threatened club to just a single win in 2014.

Last term, Freiburg finished fifth in the German top flight and were among the more watchable sides in the division.

However, this instalment can barely find the back of the net.

Unless Streich can pick up points in his next three matches against fellow strugglers Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen and Hamburg, it’s likely he’ll be the next Bundesliga manager to walk the plank. 

2. Tim Sherwood, Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood ripped his players following Saturday’s 4-0 loss to Chelsea, saying they lacked “guts” and “pride” in a rant-infused post-match press conference, per Ben Rumsby of the Telegraph.

His side lacked character, he said, adding that too many of his players were “too nice to each other.”

The defeat left Spurs four points back of fourth-placed Manchester City despite having played three additional matches.

The White Hart Lane outfit has now won only one of its last three matches, and another heavy defeat to archrivals Arsenal in Sunday’s North London derby would surely make Sherwood’s position all but untenable. 

1. Chris Hughton, Norwich City

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Norwich City manager Chris Hughton has been under immense pressure all season and has thus far survived it.

However, last weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Stoke was particularly disappointing, especially as it came on the heels of an embarrassing 4-1 defeat away to Aston Villa.

With nine matches remaining, the Canaries are 15th in the Premier League—four points clear of the relegation places.

On Saturday, Hughton will take his side to St. Mary’s to face Southampton, after which they’ll host Sunderland in an absolutely vital relegation derby.

Failure to take at least four points from the two matches may well see the end of Hughton at Carrow Road.