Being a football manager is one of the least secure jobs in professional sports. Across Europe’s top leagues, managers are regularly dismissed as clubs scramble to achieve success. The pressure to deliver results is relentless, and patience from owners and fans alike seems to grow thinner with each defeat.
The 2024-25 season has been particularly brutal for football managers. In the Premier League, Erik ten Hag became the first casualty when Manchester United sacked him on October 28 after a 2-1 loss to West Ham. He was replaced by Ruben Amorim, but Amorim himself is now under pressure following a string of poor results. Steve Cooper followed on November 24 after Leicester City’s defeat to Chelsea, despite the team sitting outside the relegation zone. Gary O’Neil was next, let go by Wolverhampton Wanderers after a heated 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town. Russell Martin and Sean Dyche soon joined the list, with Southampton and Everton both making managerial changes before mid-January.
La Liga has seen similar turmoil. Luis Carrion of Las Palmas was the first to go on October 8, followed by Paulo Pezzolano at Valladolid and Luis Garcia at Alaves. Ruben Baraja lost his job at Valencia in December after the team’s dismal start. Valladolid dismissed Diego Cocca in February, making him one of the shortest-serving managers in recent memory.
Serie A’s coaching carousel has been equally intense. Daniele De Rossi was dismissed by Roma in September, replaced by Ivan Juric, who himself was sacked after less than two months. Claudio Ranieri stepped in as caretaker at Roma at 73 years old. AC Milan parted ways with Paulo Fonseca after a disappointing draw against Roma, with Sergio Conceicao taking over.
Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1 have not been spared. Peter Zeidler was the first Bundesliga manager sacked, while Borussia Dortmund parted ways with Nuri Sahin after a Champions League exit. In Ligue 1, Michel Der Zakarian, Julien Stephan, and Jorge Sampaoli all lost their jobs before February.
The brutal reality for football managers is clear: success is demanded instantly, and failure is rarely tolerated.