Premier League
From Allardyce To Postecoglou: The Shortest Managerial Reigns In Premier League History
Nottingham Forest have dismissed Ange Postecoglou after only 39 days and five Premier League games in charge, following a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis, who announced the decision an hour into the match and confirmed it just 19 minutes after full-time, surged to the conclusion that changes were needed.
Postecoglou’s brief tenure, starting on September 9, marked him as the 10th permanent Premier League manager to endure fewer than 100 days in the role since the competition era began.
Here, Sportxparte reviews the managers who struggled to make a positive impact early in their reign.
Nathan Jones, Southampton – 84 days
Welsh manager, Nathan Jones, departed Luton Town in November 2022 to replace Ralph Hasenhüttl at Southampton.
However, much like his disappointing stint at Stoke City in 2019, his time away from Kenilworth Road proved unsuccessful.
Jones lost nine of his 14 matches in charge, leaving the Saints searching for their third manager of the season.
Quique Sánchez Flores, Watford – 85 days
Watford’s managerial merry-go-round under the Pozzo family’s ownership is notable among Premier League clubs.
Sánchez Flores had two stints, totaling 44 games between June 2015 and May 2016, and just a dozen games in his return three years later, with only two wins.
Bob Bradley, Swansea City – 85 days
Bradley became the first American to manage in the Premier League, taking charge from October 2016 and lasting until December.
He collected eight points from 11 games and left Swansea sitting 19th, with the club having also struggled under Francesco Guidolin.
Ultimately, Paul Clement steadily provided top-flight survival for Swansea.
Frank De Boer, Crystal Palace – 77 days
Frank De Boer took charge at Selhurst Park in the summer of 2017, lasting two days longer than Meulensteen.
After just four games of the 2017-18 season, he was dismissed without a single point or goal, marking the lowest number of games a permanent manager has ever overseen.
Rene Meulensteen, Fulham – 75 days
After 12 years in various coaching roles with Manchester United, Meulensteen replaced fellow Dutchman Martin Jol as manager of Fulham in December of the 2013-14 season.
Meulensteen failed to see out the season, as his side slipped to the bottom of the table after losing nine of his 13 games in charge.
Javi Gracia, Leeds United – 69 days
Gracia lasted 69 days in charge of Leeds United before being replaced by Allardyce, while Garcia took over at Elland Road after Jesse Marsch’s sacking in Leeds’ tumultuous 2022-23 season.
The Spanish coach managed just 12 games in all competitions, finishing with three wins, seven losses, and two draws.
Les Reed, Charlton Athletic – 40 days
After suffering eight defeats in 12 games in 2006, Les Reed took over at Charlton but failed to improve matters for the south London club.
Reed picked up just four points in seven games, suffered a League Cup exit against Wycombe Wanderers, and was sacked on Christmas Eve.
Sam Allardyce, Leeds United – 30 days
In May 2023, Sam Allardyce took charge of his eighth different Premier League club when he was appointed Leeds United manager.
The former England boss was brought in as a last-ditch effort to save the club from relegation following Javi Gracia’s dismissal.
However, Allardyce managed only one point from his four games in charge, and Leeds were ultimately relegated.
Allardyce’s contract expired on June 2, making his Leeds tenure the shortest ever for a permanent Premier League manager.
His stint in charge remains the briefest in the history of the competition.
