Five Premier League Managers Who Didn't Deserve The Sack

Football

BY NISAR KHAN

In wake of the sacking to Manchester United manager David Moyes, the discussion of how much time managers should be given has aroused. Maybe, David Moyes did deserve the sack, but here are five managers who definitely didn't.

Did Malky Mackay or Michael Laudrup make the list? Read on... BBC

David Moyes was sacked on Tuesday by Manchester United - the Scot, with big boots to fill from Alex Ferguson, departed just ten months into his six-year contract. After a string of poor results leading to the worst season for Manchester United in the Premier League era, change may be justified.

While the sacking reigned in for a new era at Old Trafford, it also brought up a conspicuous debate on managers. As football evolves, its clear that times change - and the amount of time has drastically decreased for managers. Over the past five years or so, we've seen some changes that quite frankly, cannot be justified.

#5 • Michael Laudrup

Swansea City parted ways with Michael Laudrup in February to cap off a drastic descent for the Welsh club, and their Danish manager, after a series of poor results.

A year prior, Swansea thumped Bradford at Wembley Stadium to lift the Capital One Cup. Yet, at the time the decision was made to sack Laudrup, Swansea had lost six out of eight previous league games, finding themselves 12th place in the league table. 

12th place? Doesn't sound that bad? Think again. This has been one of the closest relegation battles in recent memory, in spite of being overshadowed by a thrilling title race. Swansea City had 24 points in as many games.

Time should have been saved for Laudrup when he won the cup. He definitely deserved more time to turn the season around, and a re-evaluation could have came later. Results have been deteriorating, but after his acquisitions to the likes of Michu and Chico Flores. 

Swansea could have been battling for Europe if they kept hold of Michael Laudrup.

Michael Laudrup was initially signed till 2015 MIRROR.CO.UK

#4 • Harry Redknapp

Despite leading Tottenham to their second top-four finish in three years, Harry Redknapp was sacked by the club after failing to agree terms on a new contract.

Since then, Andres Villas-Boas has came and went, and now Tim Sherwood is in charge. But the North-London club should have never let go of Redknapp.

Currently managing Championship side Queens Park Rangers, Redknapp began his managerial career at White Hart Lane in October 2008, where he took the club out of the relegation zone, including a thrilling 4 - 4 draw in the London Derby with Arsenal.

Video: Highlights from Arsenal 4 - 4 Tottenham in the North London Derby in 2008.  YOUTUBE

Can't view the video? Watch it here

Redknapp's first season in charge was a huge breakthrough, where his side got to the League Cup Final, just losing on penalties. He oversaw his side finish with 51 points placed eighth in the table, narrowly missing out on Europa League qualification. 

Then, in his first full campaign in charge, Harry Redknapp finished fourth in Spurs' most successful Premier League campaign to date. Winning Manager of the Season for his efforts, Tottenham were given the chance to gain Champions League qualification.

Many English football faithful, of course with Spurs, watched on as Tottenham dramatically ascended to unbelievable heights, reaching the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League in a campaign that saw Gareth Bale's tremendous standout performance against Inter Milan.

Spurs qualified for the Europa League in the next seasons and Redknapp put them in firm Europa League qualification. 

However his tenure would come to an end in 2012. Harry Redknapp had changed the club for the better, setting ambitions on Champions League football.

Many believe Redknapp significantly changed Spurs for the better SKY SPORTS

#3 • Avram Grant

After Chelsea's controversial release of Jose Mourinho, a friend of the owner, Avram Grant, took charge of the club.

With little, proven credentials, many fans did not take to him early, and this was increased further when Chelsea lost 2 - 0 to Manchester United in his first game in charge.

After the loss, Chelsea went on a remarkable 16-game unbeaten streak which involved a historic 6 - 0 thrashing of Manchester United - a contract extension would subsequently follow.

Grant lead his team to the League Cup Final where they finished runners up, but ended up finishing 2nd in the league like they had done the previous season.

Chelsea beat Liverpool to progress to the UEFA Champions League Final, where they would lose 6-5 on penalties, after John Terry['s infamous slip in the rain. 

Three days later, a statement on Chelsea's official website read that Grant's contract was terminated with immediate effect. It was later revealed that Grant turned down the offer to return to his role as director of football, just like Mourinho had also done. 

Without losing a single home game in the Premier League, leading his side to two finals in the League Cup and Champions League, and finishing second, that's not bad at all for the first season. Yet, Chelsea saw it another way. 

Grant, like the others, deserved much more time

#2 • Malky Mackay 

Cardiff City sacked manager Malky Mackay earlier this season in one of the most infamous manager sackings in recent memory.

The Scot managed his team to promotion in the season prior, sealing the Championship title, automatically qualifying them into the Barclays Premier League.

However, promotion was tough and Cardiff found themselves in the relegation battle after Christmas, with owner Vincent Tan criticizing manager Mackay on the headlines for his signings, styles and results.

In December, Tan gave Mackay and ultimatum - to leave or be sacked. Mackay was sacked after a loss to Southampton. He may have lost his job, but he gained the support of nearly every football fan.

Promoted teams are just that, promoted. You can't expect them to pick up right away, they are not likely to be safe till late in the season. Mackay's sacking was an absolute disgrace. Vincent Tan forever etched a reputation of 'evil', described on all media outlets, after the sacking of the Scot. 

A legal battle is ongoing between Mackay and the club HUW EVANS PICTURE AGENCY

#1 • Roberto Di Matteo

Roberto Matteo was in charge as Chelsea lifted the FA Cup and Champions League final in May, but less than six months later, the Italian would be shockingly sacked by Chelsea.

Di Matteo came in as the assistant manager for then-in-charge Andre Villas-Boas, before taking full responsibilities when Villas-Boas was sacked. 

Starting with three back-to-back wins, including Chelsea overturning a 3 - 1 deficit against Valencia in the Champions League last-16, the caretaker manager was ascending to unbelievable heights.

In the FA Cup, after a 5 - 1 semi-final win over Tottenham, Chelsea would beat Liverpol 2 - 1 in the final to seal their first trophy in the season.

His incredible triumph would come at the Allianz Arena, where Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich in a historic win to lift the UEFA Champions League. The remarkable feat described Di Matteo as "the greatest caretaker manager of all time".

Over the preseason Di Matteo was appointed permanent manager, and his league form skyrocketed with consecutive wins over teams such as Arsenal and Tottenham, although losing in the UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield.

Di Matteo was sacked after losing 3 - 0 to Juventus in the Champions League. Following 10 months in charge, sealing Chelsea's historic European Cup and the FA Cup, he had been sacked. It was another football manager travesty, Di Matteo had did in 10 months what no-one had ever done, yet was sacked. 

Di Matteo had less than ten months in charge MIRROR.CO.UK

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Those are the top five managers who did not deserve to be sacked. It just shows the ever-changing, unforgiving nature of managerial jobs - not only in the Premier League but in World Football.

Many more sackings will come, managers will depart, and things will change. Adaptation continues, but as these examples suggest, managers often deserve more time.

GET INVOLVED with your opinions. Do you think managers deserve more time? Who tops your list? Use the comments section at the bottom of the article, send us an email, Tweet us your views or post thoughts to our Facbook page.

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