Firing Squad: Monaco's Ranieri and Bordeaux's Gillot Facing Likely Exits
Over the past few weeks, we’ve used this space to highlight managers facing uncertain summers at their current clubs.
Tim Sherwood’s position became rather more certain when he was removed as Tottenham Hotspur boss on Tuesday, and his exit means there will be a new No. 1 on this inauspicious list for the first time in over a month.
The next five slides will rank those managers in Europe’s top five leagues who could well be cleaning out their offices in the next few days and weeks.
5. Juan Antonio Pizzi, Valencia
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Juan Antonio Pizzi was only appointed Valencia manager on Boxing Day, replacing the ousted Miroslav Dukic at La Mestalla.
But despite a Cinderella run to the semi-finals of the Europa League, Los Che have continued to struggle under Pizzi and face the prospect of a season without European football next term.
With a single match remaining in La Liga, Valencia are 10th in the standings and can finish no higher than eighth.
4. Francis Gillot, Bordeaux
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Zinedine Zidane is anxious to get into club management (he’s currently an assistant at Real Madrid), and the first club he takes over could well be one he represented for four years as a player: Bordeaux.
Current Girondins manager Francis Gillot hasn’t exactly done a poor job at Stade Chaban-Delmas, although his side can finish no higher than seventh this season.
L'Equipe reported (via Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football) last week that Bordeaux were prepared to offer Zidane a two-year contract, which would spell the end for Gillot at the club.
3. Mirko Slomka, Hamburg
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Hamburg are currently in a battle for their Bundesliga lives, and on Thursday they could only draw Furth 0-0 in the first leg of their relegation play-off.
Win the tie or not, it’s conceivable manager Mirko Slomka could be let go by Hamburg at season’s end despite the fact that he only arrived at the club in January.
But it’s been a difficult campaign at Imtech Arena, and no matter which division they find themselves in for 2014-15, it’s likely Hamburg will want to make a fresh start with a new boss in the summer.
2. Claudio Ranieri, Monaco
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Claudio Ranieri has long been rumoured to be on the way out the door at AS Monaco, and earlier this week Four Four Two reported Sporting Lisbon manager Leonardo Jardim had already been lined up to replace the Italian.
If he were to exit the principality, it would be something of an injustice to Ranieri, who guided the club back into Ligue 1 before taking it into the Champions League ahead of next season.
1. Tata Martino, Barcelona
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Gerardo Martino could win La Liga in his first season at Barcelona and still leave Camp Nou before the end of the month.
Goal has reported Celta Vigo manager Luis Enrique has already met with Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and that a deal could be finalised sooner rather than later.
Enrique, who played eight seasons at the Catalan giants, has managed several Barcelona loanees during his time at Estadio Balaidos, including the highly rated Rafinha.
