5 shortest managerial reigns in the Premier League in the last decade
Some clubs in the Premier League have become habitual with the act of welcoming new managers and of bidding goodbyes to those at the helm. It is never an easy transition to make with managers because the support staff changes and the philosophy changes too. But the top divisions in football are heavily result-oriented and the Premier League is no different.
In recent times, club heirarchies and fans have been seen running out of patience at the first sight of uncomfortable defeats. The bar is set high and sometimes results need to be prioritized over the promise of a long process. There are times when clubs stick along, for they find an identity that is in place and the response behind the scenes hasn't turned all gloomy yet. Whereas on other occasions, they are pretty straight forward in issuing marching orders.
Watford have sacked manager Xisco Munoz after less than 10 months in charge.
The first Premier League manager to be dismissed this season. https://t.co/atdZtWEYf4
Premier League clubs often sack managers to avoid relegation
The club's heirarchies are often seen making desperate calls to survive relegation battles in the Premier League. Sometimes these gambles bear results and sometimes they don't. This list is about that last bit which is generally bitter and proves short stays are not always sweet.
Here are five managers from the last decade in the Premier League who lasted for the least amount of time at their respective clubs.
#5 Terry Connor - Wolverhampton Wanderers (91 Days)
For someone who predominantly functions as an assistant manager, it is very unfortunate that the one time Terry Connor became a proper manager, it landed him on this list. Wolverhampton Wanderers were down in the relegation zone in 2012, when Connor was appointed mid-season.
Connor took over from Mick McCarthy, who was sacked with the side sitting 18th in that campaign. However, the assistant manager-turned-boss could not bring enough change in ideas and playing style. Wolves finished the season by losing all of their last seven Premier League games.
Later that year, Wolves cut all their ties with Connor and relieved him of the assistant manager's post as well. He left the club after 13 years of loyal service to them. As a player, the Englishman played in the striker's position and his career highlights included spells at Leeds United, Brighton and Portsmouth.
Facing relegation wasn't all that new for him. As a player he was relegated to the third tier with Brighton and in his first season at Portsmouth they were out of the English top-flight. Notably, Connor was the assistant manager for the Northern Ireland side from 2018 to 2020 and is currently at Cardiff City in the same post.
# Quique Sanchez Flores - Watford (85 Days)
Watford is arguably the hottest of the hotseats in the Premier League. They have a reputation for sacking managers as if passing wagons in a merry go round. Reappointed, the second time did not turn out a charm for Quique Sanchez Flores who was sacked in just 85 days by the Hornets.
Sanchez first managed Watford in 2015-16 in a campaign where one would say they were overachievers, given the downfall they have been on since. They finished 13th in the table and only managed to better that position in the Premier League once afterwards in the 2018-19 season (11th).
In Sanchez's first season, they also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. However, in his second spell after replacing Javi Garcia, Sanchez could not produce the magic he did before. At the time of his sacking in December 2019, Watford were on their worst return after 14 games in the Premier League with only eight points.
Getafe have sacked Michel Gonzalez after picking up one point from their first eight games.
Quique Sanchez Flores is the favourite to replace him. twitter.com/partidazocope/…
When the season finished, Watford were relegated after finishing 19th. At the time of writing there is news going around that Sanchez Flores is set to become the head coach of Getafe in La Liga Santander.