Shortest managerial stints in Premier League history

The Premier League season is in its final stretch, and important results are creating tension between struggling clubs and their fans, with a number of managers already falling victim to the chop.

We take a look at the shortest managerial stints in Premier League history below.

Quique Sanchez Flores – Watford

Previously managing Watford in one of their most successful Premier League campaigns in recent times, which saw them finish in 13th in their first season after promotion, Quique Sanchez Flores returned to Hertfordshire to take charge at Vicarage Road once again, much to the delight of the fans that remembered him fondly.

Unfortunately for Hornets fans, it was not to be the second coming of success and his previous feats were quickly forgotten as Watford plummeted down the table. Losing a critical match to relegation rival Southampton, Watford were left in a mightily precarious position in the league, and Flores’ tenure could no longer be justified by the club owners who sacked him after 85 days (7th September 2019 – 1st December 2019).

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Bob Bradley – Swansea

Brought in by the owner to be a long-term appointment that would deliver stability on and off the pitch, Bob Bradley was quickly found to be as incompetent as his Americanism suggested. He was the first manager from across the pond to manage in the Premier League, and his jarring turn of phrase saw him quickly draw criticism and mockery from neutral and Swansea fans alike.

He wouldn’t last long in the role with Swansea dropping even further down the table with the American at the helm. He lasted for 84 days in total, from 3rd October 2016 – 27th December 2016.

Frank de Boer – Crystal Palace

Frank de Boer had recently been sacked from his role as the Inter Milan coach, surviving just 85 days in charge after a poor string of results. For whatever reason, this didn’t stop Crystal Palace from getting in touch with the Dutchman, and they hired him in an attempt at turning the fortunes around after Sam Allardyce left the club.

It wasn’t fun and games at Selhurst Park after the appointment, with the Eagles losing all four of their opening games of the season and scoring zero goals in the process. That proved to be enough for Frank, and he was sacked again, this time after even less time in charge at only 77 days (26th June 2017 – 11th September 2017).

Rene Meulensteen – Fulham

This manager was brought in after building a reputation at Manchester United that saw him seen as a safe pair of hands, but the man who had overseen a calamitous period at Brondby IF in his previous job didn’t turn out to be as proficient as he had seemed.

Winning only three of the 13 league games he was in charge of at Fulham, Rene Meulensteen was quickly becoming a serious problem; losing the player’s trust in him with unorthodox techniques that may have been better suited to a primary school, famously asking the players to play like their ‘spirit animal’.

It goes to show that claiming you will keep a team in the Premier League before your first game in charge isn’t always the way forward. He lasted just 75 days in charge (1st December 2013 – 14th February 2014).

Les Reed – Charlton Athletic

The shortest Premier League stint on the list is perhaps the most legendary. Les Reed was in charge of Charlton Athletic for just 41 days as his ability to manage at the highest level quickly became evident as non-existent.

Registering just one league win in the six weeks he was in charge (14th November 2006 – 24th December 2006), Reed was brutally ridiculed after it was discovered by fans that he had written ‘The Official FA Guide to Basic Team Coaching’ before becoming the worst Premier League manager in history.

Honourable mention – Leroy Rosenior – Torquay United

Leroy Rosenior was reappointed as the manager of Torquay United after the sacking of Keith Curle and was put in place with the goal of guiding the club onto a fresh path of success, with his previous fruitful term in charge a strong influence on the decision.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be for the former West Ham striker, who was relieved just 10 minutes later when a consortium took over and implemented a new vision for the club, bringing in former Torquay player Paul Buckle instead. We can’t see this record getting beaten anytime soon.

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