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Erin Slott isn’t really in danger, is he? Probably. That’s what these five elite managers thought when they won the title too…
with the Liverpool in crisis In the midst of a four-game losing streak, After some strange tactical decisions the spotlight is on the slot After a huge summer of spending.
You think winning the Premier League title buys you time, especially in your first season. But, no, it doesn’t. As these big names will testify.
From fair to tough, here’s how we’ve ranked the five managers who sacked the season after being crowned champions…
5) Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)
Chelsea’s capital was so bad in 2015/16, there could have been few complaints when Jose was let go by mutual consent in mid-December, even if he had made them Premier League champions while winning the League Cup.
His third-season syndrome was never more evident than when, after his last game in charge—a 2-1 defeat at surprise leaders Leicester—he declared that his job had been “betrayed” by his players, who had grown sick of life under this particular regime.
Ahead of the start of Chelsea’s title defence, Mourinho signed a new four-year contract and was then sacked from day one of the season (Sabteja Jomper, Jbass clashed with Fizzy and Carneiro), from whom the Nigerian team emerged victorious.
After matchday three, Chelsea have never seen the top half of the table under Mourinho. Leicester’s defeat made it four wins from 16 matches, making it an easy decision for Roman Abramovich. With Jos gone, Chelsea players were suddenly ready for Guus Huddink and immediately. He started an unbeaten run of 15 matches.
4) Antonio Conte (Chelsea)
Conte was sacked in July 2018, actually a week into pre-season before what would have been his third campaign. But the Italian had been burning his bridges for months despite winning the double in his first season in English football.
Given the record of the Chelsea hierarchy, Conte was lucky not to be shown the door earlier this summer, with the Blues failing to qualify for the Champions League shortly after a fifth-placed finish.
When the ax fell, some of the electricity corridors in Stamford Bridge were damaged. The relationship between the manager and the board had almost completely broken down. In fact, the only topic of discussion between the two sides was that summer.
Chelsea only acted decisively when they realized they had grounds to make Conte pay $9 million over a text message sent to Diego Costa. They were wrong. Conte took the club to a tribunal which awarded him full pay.
3) Roberto Mancini (Manchester City)
Like Mourinho and Conte, everything is sweet with Mancini as long as everything is going well. If it isn’t, then the Italian’s brush inevitably rubs off on those around him.
City’s title defense in 2012/13 was no disaster. He finished second. But handing the Premier League to United and allowing them to win Fergie’s last title in a relative canter will never be tolerated by the City bosses.
Nor was losing the FA Cup final to an already established Wagon. This proved to be the last straw. Amid persistent rumors of interest in Málaga boss Manuel Pellegrini, Mancini was sacked two days after Wembley, leaving two dead Rovers.
City fans didn’t hold it against Mancini though. They took out a full-page ad in the Gazzetta dello Sport to thank the ousted boss for taking revenge in the Manchester Evening News.
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2) Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City)
Gary Lineker condemned Leicester’s decision to sack Ranieri as “inexcusable, inexcusable and gut-wrenchingly sad”. It was definitely one of those things.
Intolerable? Not really. F***ed by Hungover, Leicester had moved one place above the relegation zone with two-thirds of their title defence, and appeared in real danger of becoming the first champions since 1938.
Of course, those bare facts ignore the perspective Rainieri gained as Leicester boss. It won them the title. Which is still completely mental.
He should have had the job of a lifetime at the then age of 65 but, football. “The change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the club’s best interests,” Fox said. And, depressingly, they were probably right.
1) Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea)
Like Mancini, the second was a failure for Anselotti, who was sent off immediately after Chelsea’s final game of the 2010/11 season. The latter was chained to the corridor at Goodison Park.
Chelsea’s statement at the end of their first season without silverware in three years said: ‘This season’s performances have fallen short of expectations and the club feels the time is right to make this change ahead of preparations for next season.’
They began the campaign as double winners and finished nine points behind champions Manchester United and ahead of third-placed Manchester City on goal difference.
They were at the top in November, at which point they decided to fire Ray Wilkins, the all-round good egg and assistant to Anselotti, by refusing to renew his contract. Almost certainly, it was no coincidence that despite the $50 million purchase of Fernando Torres in January, the Blues’ season went from there.
