Managerial sackings have been part of the long history of football, and in the modern era, they are particularly commonplace, especially at the highest level.
The fear factor of relegation prompts nervous owners into the change in the hope of sparking a revival in their side’s season. Sometimes, it can be effective, but it can also lead to further problems down the road and another potential firing.
A dismal run of results can leave chairmen with no alternative but to sack their manager. However, there are times when the decision is harsh or baffling in the context of the team. We’ll now break down some of the toughest calls that have occurred.
Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City)
Ranieri was appointed as Foxes manager in the summer of 2015 on a three-year contract. His predecessor Nigel Pearson had guided the club to a miraculous run to safety the previous season, winning seven out of their last nine matches to beat the drop.
However, an off-the-field incident led to his departure, paving the way for Ranieri’s return to the Premier League. The Italian was considered one of the favourites to be the first manager sacked due to Leicester’s struggles in the previous campaign.
However, the Foxes and Ranieri defied their critics to produce the most memorable season in Premier League history. Leicester stunned the footballing world with an incredible run to the title, securing the club’s first English top-flight crown.
Leicester finished ahead of Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool, who boasted far larger budgets.
The team spirit created by the Italian, along with simple tactics, were able to accomplish the feat through the goals of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez and solid defensive strategy led by N’Golo Kante.
The season following the feat was always going to be a difficult proposition, with Kante leaving the club, along with additional matches in the Champions League.
The extra matches put stress on a small Leicester squad, whose new additions failed to adjust to life in England. Although they finished top of their Champions League group, the Foxes’ Premier League form proved to be too much of a concern for the club’s owners.
A run of five-straight defeats ended Ranieri's tenure in February 2017, even though Leicester were outside of the relegation zone. Leicester avoided relegation under Craig Shakespeare, but have failed to conjure the magic on the field since Ranieri’s exit.
Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea and Real Madrid)
The Italian is one of the finest managers to grace the modern game, although his attributes have not been fully appreciated at least two of his former employers.
Ancelotti arrived at Chelsea in 2009 to replace Avram Grant, who was harshly cast aside after the Blues’ defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League final.
Ancelotti used the experience of his squad to great effect in his first campaign in England. His team were dominant, utilising Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda to great effect in the final third.
Chelsea scored 103 goals in their 38 matches and were able to edge out an equally talented Manchester United team to the Premier League title by a point, beating Wigan Athletic 8-0 on the final day.
The Italian secured a double when his team defeated Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final thanks to a Drogba strike, ending a truly successful first term.
The following campaign, Chelsea endured a mid-season slump after a bright start to the campaign. It knocked them off the pace of Manchester United, resulting in a second-place finish behind the Red Devils.
Being runners-up and being knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League was enough to end Ancelotti's reign after just two years at Stamford Bridge.
Ancelotti took the reins at Real Madrid in 2013. He inherited a team from Jose Mourinho that finished second in La Liga behind Barcelona and were knocked out of the semi-finals of the Champions League by Borussia Dortmund.
Ancelotti was not able to turn around their form domestically, but he was able to lead them to their first Champions League crown in 12 years by defeating Atletico Madrid in the final.
Sergio Ramos’ equaliser in stoppage time kept the game alive before strikes from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and five-time Ballon d'or winner Cristiano Ronaldo secured the victory.
Madrid fought tooth and nail for the La Liga crown in the following season with Barca, but their form on the road against their rivals would cost them the title, losing out by two points.
Ancelotti was sacked despite winning the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup, along with reaching the UCL semi-finals. Rafael Benitez, Ancelotti's replacement also struggled before Zinedine Zidane enjoyed his imperious run in the Champions League.
Sam Allardyce (Blackburn Rovers)
The previous two managers were harshly sacked by their clubs, although the long-term ramifications have not been costly. In terms of Allardyce and Rovers, his dismissal sent the Lancashire-based outfit on a downward spiral towards League One.
Allardyce arrived at Ewood Park in 2008 with Rovers in deep trouble in the relegation zone after Paul Ince’s disastrous tenure.
Big Sam, as proven in his spells with other clubs in the top flight since, saved Blackburn from relegation before stabilising them in his second season at the club with the security of mid-table on a modest budget.
His eye for a bargain brought Steven N’Zonzi to Lancashire for £500,000, among other savvy veterans. Rovers were then bought out in the summer of 2010 by Venky’s.
Blackburn were in a steady position of 13th under Allardyce after a good run of form in November 2010. However, an away defeat to Bolton Wanderers saw the axe brought down on Allardyce, with Steve Kean thrust into the role as his replacement.
Although relegation was avoided in the term, Kean took Rovers down the following season and they have not returned to the Premier League since.
Roberto Mancini (Inter Milan)
Roberto Mancini was appointed as Inter boss in 2004, tasked with winning the Serie A title for the Nerazzurri. The club had not won the title for 15 years, highlighting the challenge at hand given the dominance of their city rivals AC Milan and Juventus.
In his first term, Inter finished third in the table, making progress from the previous campaign along with a triumph in the Coppa Italia for the first time since 1982.
Juventus’ embroilment in the Italian Football scandal paved the way for Inter to take the crown in 2005/06 after finishing behind the Bianconeri.
Mancini turned his side into a force in the league the following season, enjoying their most successful term in terms of their points on their way to the title, although the Champions League evaded Inter with a defeat on away goals to Valencia.
Even though Mancini guided Inter to their third Serie A crown on the bounce – the most successful run in the history of the team – their Champions League woes continued with a defeat to Liverpool in the round of 16.
Owner Massimo Moratti felt justified in sacking Mancini after his side almost allowed the title to slip through the grasp along with their failings in Europe.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
