Who would be a football manager, eh?
Sitting in the managerial hot seat means constant pressure and if you are not getting results, you are likely to find yourself booted out the door before long. England has a particular fondness for sacking managers before they have got their feet under the desk, but even by these admirable standards, the entries on this list of swift departures are pretty incredible.
Without further ado, 90min has dug into a chunk of the shortest managerial reigns in English football history and taken the appropriate course of action - ranking them. Let's dive in...
16. Tony Pulis (Sheffield Wednesday) - 45 days
Sheffield Wednesday have been far from a bastion of stability in recent times, but sacking Tony Pulis after just 45 days still came as a bit of a shock.
However, with just one victory from his opening 10 games, you can hardly blame them for pulling the trigger.
Watching a Pulis team that isn't even capable of getting results is about as depressing as following football can get.
15. Brian Clough (Leeds) - 44 days
The story of Brian Clough's disastrous 44 day stint in charge of Leeds is legendary. So legendary in fact that it has spawned an award winning part-fictionalised biopic and film spin off.
Clough joined reigning champions Leeds after their legendary manager Don Revie was offered the England job.
The move shocked the world as in the past he had made no secret of his disdain for both Revie and the Whites' dirty tactics. After alienating the club's senior players, he was sacked and went straight to the Yorkshire Television studios for a fierce on air debate with his old rival.
14. Alex McLeish (Nottingham Forest) - 40 days
Nottingham Forest have gone through managers like Henry VIII went through wives since the early 2010s.
Alex McLeish was one of the Trees' shortest managerial flings, lasting just 40 days during the 2012/2013 season. He won just one of his seven games in charge, losing four before leaving by 'mutual consent'.
McLeish got the last laugh though, securing a cameo role in Stan & Ollie, the 2018 blockbuster biopic charting the lives of comedy double act Laurel and Hardy.
13. Les Reed (Charlton) - 40 days
Despite having zero playing or managerial experience, Les Reed was inexplicably given the Charlton job when Iain Dowie was sacked in November 2006.
During a six week spell at the helm, the Addicks managed to win once and were even knocked out of the League Cup by League Two Wycombe Wanderers.
The Premier League strugglers soon grew tired of Reed, replacing him with dad dancing enthusiast Alan Pardew on Christmas Eve. The timing was hard but the decision was justified.
12. Steve Coppell (Manchester City) - 33 days
In between his four, yes four, stints as Crystal Palace manager, Steve Coppell had a brief spell in charge of Manchester City.
After just 33 days in the hot seat, he resigned, revealing that the intense pressure had become too much.
"I'm not ashamed to admit that I have suffered for some time from huge pressure I have imposed upon myself, and since my appointment this has completely overwhelmed me to such an extent that I cannot function in the job the way I would like to," he said at the time (via the BBC).
11. Paul Scholes (Oldham Athletic) - 31 days
A boyhood Oldham Athletic fan, many people were rooting for Paul Scholes when he took over.
Like many of his Class of 92' teammates though, his managerial exploits proved pretty underwhelming.
He was only in charge for seven games, winning one, before he tended his resignation citing broken promises made by the board. What a shame.
10. Paul Hart (QPR) - 28 days
Appointed QPR manager in December 2009, Paul Hart only signed a deal until the end of the season.
He couldn't even last that long though, departing Loftus Road after just 28 days in charge. Hart was only in the dugout for five games and three of those were against Sheffield United.
He first steered his side to a 1-1 draw against the Blades in the league, before negotiating an FA Cup tie and replay. Maybe he just got bored of facing Kevin Blackwell?
9. Oscar Garcia (Watford) - 27 days
Oscar Garcia had an eventful few months back in 2014.
It all started in May, when he resigned as Brighton boss after losing to Derby in the Championship playoff semi finals. Then, he accepted a role at Maccabi Tel Aviv, only to depart several weeks later due to mounting political tensions in the Middle East.
Finally, he took over at Watford in September, lasting just 27 days before he had to leave due to health concerns. Since this scare he has recovered well, going on to four further teams across Europe.
8. Micky Adams (Swansea City) - 13 days
Four months after signing a five-year deal, Micky Adams was sacked by Fulham.
Not to be put off, he soon agreed to take over at Division Three Swansea City.
He would not last long - 13 days to be precise - claiming that money he had been promised to strengthen his squad never materialised.
7. Martin Ling (Cambridge United) - 9 days
After Gary Brabin walked out of Cambridge United following a disagreement with chairman, George Rolls, Martin Ling was brought in as his replacement.
Ling would also grow tired of working with Rolls soon after, spending just nine days in his new post before resigning.
Eight days later, he we re-hired in one of the great non-league plot twists of all time. Ling would go on to spend a season and a half at the Abbey before departing - this time against his will.
6. Billy McKinlay (Watford) - 8 days
Remember number nine on our list, Oscar Garcia?
Well, after he departed Watford, Billy McKinlay was brought in to replace him - and ended up lasting for even less time.
What's worse is that McKinlay gave up his job as Northern Ireland assistant in order to take the reins, before being sacked by the Pozzos after eight days in charge.
To rub further salt in the wounds, his replacement, Slavisa Jovanovic, then went on to secure promotion.
5. Jack Crompton (Luton Town) - 8 days
After helping to rebuild Manchester United - a club he had enjoyed a terrific goalkeeping career with as a player - in a coaching capacity following the Munich air disaster in 1958, Jack Crompton took over at Luton Town.
Crompton had previously been a first team coach at Kenilworth Road but lasted just eight days in the top job after being advised to quit by his doctors due to a stomach ulcer.
Nasty.
4. Kevin Cullis (Swansea City) - 7 days
Prior to taking over at Swansea City, Kevin Cullis' only other previous job was as coach of non-league Cradley Town's Under-16s.
The only reason he got the role was his connections with prospective new Swans chairman Michael Thompson and when they takeover fell through, he was out the door.
This came much to the delight of players who admitted in later years that they found the entire situation farcical. What is Cullis up to now? Not a lot by the looks of things, though he did find time to pick up two fraud convictions in as many years in the early 2000s.
3. Dave Bassett (Crystal Palace) - 4 days
After an eventful few years in charge of Wimbledon - which included three promotions and a relegation - Dave Bassett accepted an offer to join rivals Crystal Palace.
However, just 72 hours later, he changed his mind.
In scenes resembling a sickly sweet rom com, Bassett returned home, stating that he had unfinished business.
2. Bill Lambton (Scunthorpe United) - 3 days
After being sacked by Leeds United - despite bringing future inspirational captain Billy Bremner to the club - Bill Lambton rocked up at Scunthorpe United.
Just three days into his stint he decided to accept a coaching role elsewhere, with Frank Soo taking over soon after.
1. Leroy Rosenior (Torquay United) - 10 minutes
Leroy Rosenior lasted just 10 minutes during his second spell as Torquay manager, before a takeover led to his dismissal. Well, that's how the story normally goes anyway...
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live back in 2017, Rosenior explained how the situation was somewhat more complex than that.
Firstly, he never signed a contract and was not paid by Torquay. He simply came in to steady the ship as a favour to friend and chairman Mike Bateson, while the takeover took place.
10 minutes after he had been unveiled as a manager, Rosenior received a call from Bateson, stating that the deal had been completed and his services would no longer be required. However, he would not formally clear out his desk until a few days later.
Still, it's a pretty good story, isn't it?
Source: 90min
