January Transfer Window: 13 Coaches Under Serious Pressure to Make Changes

To quote the indie rock band Death Cab For Cutie, it's all different names for the same thing.

Here in America, we call it the hot seat. That's where a coach goes if his team is performing badly or below expectations.

And if the performances don't improve, the manager is likely to be fired.

In English football, all the concepts are the same—except the managers get sacked.

Like I said: different names for the same thing.

Anyway, with the January transfer window approaching, now seemed like a good time to look at some world football managers who are under pressure. Not all of them are in danger of losing their jobs, but they all share something in common.

They're all feeling significant pressure—whether it's internal or external—to sign new players.

Let's get right to the list.

1. Andre Villas-Boas

Club: Chelsea (ENG)

Forget what Andre Villas-Boas says about having the confidence of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. This is still Roman Abramovich we're talking about.

Abramovich is still the guy who couldn't get along with Jose Mourinho.

For Abramovich's American sports equivalent, you'd have to go all the way back to Jerry Jones and his dumping of two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson in the mid-90s.

Villas-Boas hasn't won anything yet, and in fact, his team is currently in fourth place in the Premier League table. That doesn't sound so bad, but remember this: All the money Manchester City is spending right now? That was Chelsea a few years ago.

Translation: Roman Abramovich expects a lot. And if he doesn't get it, AVB will be gone—and fast.

No surprise, then, that AVB has already started the process of overhauling his squad. It'll continue in January.

2. Sir Alex Ferguson

Club: Manchester United (ENG)

Yes, this is Fergie we're talking about.

Let's be as clear as possible here: Alex Ferguson is in no danger of losing his job. Ever. Manchester United would probably give his corpse the job for a few years to avoid hiring a successor.

But if we know anything about Fergie, it's this: He has always put immense pressure on himself to win. You'd better believe that's the case now, too.

Wednesday was a disastrous day for Manchester United. First, they crashed out of the Champions League with a disappointing loss at Basel in Switzerland. Then, they learned central defender Nemanja Vidic will miss the rest of the season through injury.

All this after United's high-flying start, which included an 8-2 win over Arsenal in August. That's all gone now, but Ferguson's drive to win is not.

Manchester United still sit second in the Premier League table, but you can believe Ferguson will want to add a few players to his squad in January.

3. Martin O'Neill

Club: Sunderland (ENG)

Martin O'Neill is the new manager of Sunderland. He took over after Steve Bruce's sacking on Nov. 30.

If you'll remember, Sunderland made a string of signings back in the summer, bringing in big names like John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Nicklas Bendtner and Sebastian Larsson.

With those signings, Sunderland were expected to compete in the top half of the table. At this writing, though, the Black Cats have just 11 points from 14 matches and are one point above the relegation zone.

That's why earned Bruce the sack.

Now O'Neill will be charged with turning around the club's fortunes. Will that mean bringing in new players in January?

We think it's possible.

4. Juan Carlos Garrido

Club: Villarreal (ESP)

The Yellow Submarine is sinking.

And manager Juan Carlos Garrido is feeling the pressure.

Garrido, who has been associated with the club since 2002, led Villarreal to fourth place last season, his first full year in charge of the first team. This year, however, they're languishing in 15th place with just 14 points through 14 La Liga matches.

That's not good enough for a club that participated in this season's Champions League.

Look for Villarreal to make some changes this January, whether it's in on-field personnel or in management.

Claudio Ranieri

Club: Inter Milan (ITA)

Gian Piero Gasperini didn't last long as Inter's coach.

Now, it's Claudio Ranieri's turn. And he has his work cut out for him.

The Nerazzurri are currently a miserable 16th out of 20 teams in the Serie A table, a mere four points above the relegation zone.

Relegation would be unthinkable for Inter. That's why Ranieri will be given money to spend on new players in January.

6. Robin Dutt

Club: Bayer Leverkusen (GER)

Bayer Leverkusen finished a surprising second last season in the German Bundesliga. That meant qualification for the group stages of this year's Champions League.

Robin Dutt's team qualified for the knockout stages as Group E runner-up, so that counts as a success.

But in the league, Bayer are only sixth. That's good enough for a spot in the Europa League, but after tasting the Champions League, Bayer won't want to miss out.

Look for them to spend some money in January.

7. Frank De Boer

Club: Ajax (NED)

Ajax crashed out of the Champions League earlier this week and will miss out on the knockout stages.

In the league, Frank De Boer's squad is only fourth, eight points off the pace being set by AZ Alkmaar.

For Holland's most successful club of all time, that combination is inexcusable.

But the club will have to open up the coffers to change it.

8. Leonardo Jardim

Club: SC Braga (POR)

Braga made their Champions League debut last season. They even gave Arsenal a scare in the group stage before bowing out.

Last season, though, Braga finished fourth in the Portuguese league and missed out on Champions League qualification. This year, they're in fifth.

If they want to experience Champions League football again, Braga will have to spend money on some new players this January.

9. Roberto Carlos

Club: Anzhi Makhachkala (RUS)

Andrei Gordeyev is the caretaker manager of Anzhi Makhachkala, a Russian club that has suddenly found itself with a billionaire owner. He took over recently from Roberto Carlos, who had served as a player-manager.

The club has spent heavily of late, bringing in most notably Samuel Eto'o, but could only manage a seventh-place finish in the Russian Premier League.

The RPL schedule will be a bit crazy in 2012, but you can be sure Anzhi will be spending more money.

10. Remi Garde

Club: Olympique Lyonnais

Lyon won seven straight Ligue 1 titles from 2002-08, but now they're fourth in the table, seven points off the pace.

Perhaps another title run is out of reach, but Lyon can still challenge for a Champions League spot.

But they'll need to bring in some fresh faces.

11-13. The English Three

Clubs: Blackburn Rovers (Steve Kean-pictured), Bolton Wanderers (Owen Coyle), Wigan Athletic (Roberto Martinez)

Sunderland might be disappointing some, but these three clubs are disappointing everyone.

To say Blackburn (10 points), Bolton (nine points) and Wigan (nine points) are languishing at the foot of the Premier League table would be a gross understatement.

These teams are almost hopeless. Their only hope is bringing in new players.

But who would want to play for any of them?