Are long-term managers a dying breed in football?
Tuesday, the 19th of November, brought with it a managerial dismissal of somewhat epic proportions. Tottenham Hotspur gaffer Mauricio Pochettino was given the boot, after five-plus years at the helm of the North London outfit.
This may have come as a shock to the footballing world but the signs were there from the start of the current season. What was even more shocking was the Argentine's replacement; the ever-divisive Jose Mourinho.
One would wonder why a club like Spurs would go for such a managerial maverick given the perceived tranquil nature of the now departed Pochettino. The answer lies in Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's eagerness to recruit the much-travelled Portuguese for years, going back to when he was dismissed from his first stint at Chelsea.
Whether Mourinho makes a lasting impression during his stint with Spurs remains to be seen. But this latest development has got this football writer asking the big question: have long-term managerial reigns truly gone out of style?
End of an era
Pochettino's exit now leaves Eddie Howe, Sean Dyche and Jurgen Klopp as the only three managers to remain in their jobs since the 2015/16 league season. Every other club in the league has made managerial changes at least once.
It seems that given the ever-increasing demands of top level management, patience from club hierarchies has started wearing thin. Gone are the days of 'dinosaurs' such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.
Incidentally, Ferguson's successor was given a six-year contract but was sacked only 10 months in, while Wenger's successor is currently teetering on the brink of dismissal.
What has changed?
It's clear that the pressure from the board on managers has increased in recent times. This is mostly for financial reasons, particularly in the English top-flight.
In today's times, where cash is king, the person or group of persons who hold the club's purse strings have massive influence.
Truth be told, managers are no longer the center of absolute authority that they once were. Poor results now mean reduced financial rewards for clubs at both ends of the Premier League, which in turn means termination for the man at the helm.
Will we ever see another 'dinosaur' in the Premier League?
Some would say the answer to this question is a resounding no, but a lot would depend on how we define managerial longevity in the modern game. Pochettino's five years at one club means he can be considered one, given what the modern manager goes through.
Someone like Klopp may decide to take a break sooner rather than later, and City head coach Pep Guardiola probably won't stick around long enough before wanting another challenge, given his recent Premier League success.
Some would argue that Eddie Howe and Sean Dyche do fit the criteria at the moment. However, before giving them the tag we will have to see how long they can keep their clubs in the top-flight, and how much time it will take for them to be poached by clubs higher up the Premier League ladder.
The bitter truth
Pochettino's exit may still seem barely believable, but it was always a possibility given Spurs' atrocious domestic form. The bitter truth is that we may never see another long-serving manager in England's top-flight.
That said, the sheer shock value that comes with such dismissals and appointments means the drama and theater never stop.
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