Skip to content

Six managers whose success soon turned sour

By Matthew Beedle

Leicester City’s sacking of Claudio Ranieri has divided opinion in the football world after he led the Foxes to the Premier League title last season.

The Italian was sacked following the club’s 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Champions Legaue. He leaves Leicester 17th in the table with fears they could become the first team to win the first division title and get relegated the following year.

Here we look at some managers of Yorkshire sides who enjoyed success but were soon relieved of their duties or left their clubs.

Steve Bruce, Hull City (2016)

Bruce guided the club to their second promotion under him by beating Sheffield Wednesday in the 2016 play-off final thanks to a Mo Diame strike.

However, the former Manchester United player left the club just 55 days after their Wembley triumph due to the clubs lack of transfer activity in the summer.

Bruce is now the manager of Championship side Aston Villa who sit 17th in the Championship table.

Paul Cook, Chesterfield (2014)

The former Accrington Stanley boss led Chesterfield to the League Two title, seeing off competition from Scunthorpe and Rochdale. The title win signalled an end to a two-year absence from the third tier of English football.

Cook was never sacked by Chesterfield, instead choosing to leave the club at the end of 2014/15 season.

He left for League Two side Portsmouth, 374 days after winning promotion with Chesterfield. Cook is still in charge at Fratton Park with Portsmouth sitting inside the play-off places in League Two.

Russ Wilcox, Scunthorpe United (2014

The former Hull City defender took over from Brian Laws in November 2013 and beat the record for the longest unbeaten start to a managerial reign, as the Iron went 28 games undefeated.

The undefeated run was a foundation for Scunthrope to go on and win automatic promotion to League One, finishing three points adrift of Cook’s Chesterfield.

Wilcox’s reign lasted just a further 158 days and was sacked following a poor start to life in League One, winning just two of their opening 11 games.

He is currently without a job following his sacking at York City in 2015.

Steve Evans, Rotherham United (2014)

Evans guided Rotherham to promotion to the Championship by beating Preston North End on penalties in the play-off final. The Millers finished fourth in the league as they scored 86 goals in the regular season which was the second highest in the division that season.

The Scotsman helped Rotherham stay in the Championship the following season but was relieved of his duties at the New York Stadium in September 2015. 491 days after winning promotion.

Evans is now the manager of League Two side Mansfield following a spell as head coach of Leeds United.

Simon Grayson, Huddersfield Town (2012)

The former Leeds United manager won promotion in similar circustances to Evans as his Huddersfield Town side beat Sheffield United on penalties in the League One play-off final.

He was sacked 243 days after winning promotion to the Championship as The Terriers went 11 games without winning a game.

Grayson is now manager of Preston North End  where he has been in charge for four years and they sit ninth in the Championship table.

Dave Jones, Sheffield Wednesday (2012)

In the same season that Grayson guided Huddersfield to promotion, Jones did the same at Hillsborough as he led the Owls back to the second tier of English football by winning automatic promotion from League One.

Jones was sacked in December 2013 following a poor start to the 2013/14 season with Wednesday winning just one game and were the only team in the top four divisions to have no kept a clean sheet so far that season.

He returned to football management by becoming manager of Hartlepool United following a three year absence from the game.

What do you think?