The Managerial Merry-Go Round
The inevitable departure of Martin Jol after the defeat to relative unknowns Getafe, has reinforced the sense that football is becoming increasingly detached from reality. Jol became the second managerial casualty of the season after just 13 games with his team firmly anchored in the bottom three. Almost three years to the day that his predecessor Jacques Santini suffered the same fate, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy adjudged results did not meet the demands and substantial investment that had been ploughed into the club. The charismatic Dutchman was subsequently dismissed in unceremonious fashion and replaced by the much lauded former Seville manager Juande Ramos under a cloud of media controversy.
The circumstances regarding the axing of the former Tottenham boss and his successors long anticipated appointment has attracted much criticism from all-corners of the footballing world. Ever since the opening day defeat to Premiership newcomers Sunderland, Jol withstood an intolerable amount of pressure that eventually made his role at the club untenable. As larger amounts of money now flood football, success is now expected without delay and managers are seemingly viewed as expendable by impatient club directors and chairmen. Billionaire investment has now created a pressurised climate resulting in the loss of four managers already this season, the most high profile undoubtedly being Jose Mourinho. Despite the unparalleled success that ‘The Special One’ brought to Chelsea, even he was not immune from the sack once results took a turn for the worse. If the most successful domestic manager of recent times could not escape a trip to the job centre, is it any wonder then that Chris Hutchings and Sammy Lee experienced a similar fate?
Walter Smith, once again boss of Scottish giants Rangers, has lamented this trend by saying, “I feel managers are being sacked too quickly. I think circumstances placed upon directors in the financial sense means some are getting panicked into changing their managers too quickly. It means clubs never get the stability which I believe is so vital to them.”
If managers continue to be abruptly fired before they are given a fair opportunity to improve their respective club’s fortunes, it does not bode well for the future. As speculation still surrounds the jobs of several established Premiership bosses, an answer to the perennial instability that prematurely firing managers unquestionably causes, may lie towards the top of the Premiership table.
The reign of Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a shining example of the rewards that can be reaped from retaining a manager for a lengthy period of time. Approaching his 21st year in charge, Ferguson survived an early period of adversity before eventually triumphing and heralding a new trophy laden era for the Red Devils. However, this is so rarely the case at a time when supporters are becoming more and more disillusioned by a sport awash by money and saturated by greed. As expectations and ambition outweigh realism, the haste at which managers are dispensed with will continue to grow for the foreseeable future.
I am an aspiring journalist/writer currently studying Broadcast Media/Popular Culture & Media at Derby University. In my spare time (if I have any!) I enjoy being with my beautiful newborn son and amazing girlfriend
what is chelsea football clubs unlucky number?
Answer
At the moment, probably something over 100million
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