5 managers who betrayed their club
Managers are the most vital cog in the wheel if a club dreams of winning silverware in the football world. It is their intellect that initiates the possibilities of winning trophies. A club can win accolades even if it has mediocre players. But, a bog-standard coach can never lead the club to bigger things.
A tough task, management is no child's play in football. Yet, some organisers have made it look so easy. There have been a number of managers who have accomplished the unthinkable. But unthinkable only in the sense of trophies? Certainly not.
It would be nothing short of torment for the Man United fans to see Sir Alex managing Manchester City. And see him replicating his success at the Etihad? Even more gruesome. But, luckily, he never did such a thing to incur the wrath of his beloved club.
Although Sir Alex didn't do it, some men have shown the courage to face the hatred of their former clubs by managing rivals. The beautiful game has become habitual to betrayals since ages. But, it isn't only the players capable of committing treason. Managers have proven to be an equivalent competition in the field.
Let's look at some of the managers who have made the switch to a rival club.
#5: Leonardo
Former Brazilian midfielder Leonardo played in the Rossoneri shirt for a span of five years during his career. Seven years after he retired at AC Milan in 2003, Leonardo returned to the San Siro to manage his beloved club in 2010.
Leonardo's stay was short although it started with a promise. The Brazilian had a rough beginning, but he improved the results with quite an unusual formation the Seria A had seen. Leonardo used a 4-2-1-3 formation with that focused on the maximum use of productive players Ronaldinho, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf.
The first half of the season looked solid, but the Rossoneri started faltering in the second half. Leonardo quit AC Milan after announcing a strained relationship with President Silvio Berlusconi.
But as if that wasn't enough, the Brazilian was quick to shake hands with Massimo Moratti as Inter appointed him the head coach the following year. Milan fans were more agonised when Leonardo's start emerged better than his predecessors Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez. However, they might have found it soothing as Inter were defeated 3-0 by the Rossoneri in a derby.
Leonardo stepped down after just one year as the manager of the Nerazzurri. Milan supporters definitely might have taken pleasure in watching him fail.