5 managers who betrayed their club

Managers are the most vital cog in the wheel if a club dreams of winning silverware in the football world. It is their intellect that initiates the possibilities of winning trophies. A club can win accolades even if it has mediocre players. But, a bog-standard coach can never lead the club to bigger things.

A tough task, management is no child's play in football. Yet, some organisers have made it look so easy. There have been a number of managers who have accomplished the unthinkable. But unthinkable only in the sense of trophies? Certainly not.

It would be nothing short of torment for the Man United fans to see Sir Alex managing Manchester City. And see him replicating his success at the Etihad? Even more gruesome. But, luckily, he never did such a thing to incur the wrath of his beloved club.

Although Sir Alex didn't do it, some men have shown the courage to face the hatred of their former clubs by managing rivals. The beautiful game has become habitual to betrayals since ages. But, it isn't only the players capable of committing treason. Managers have proven to be an equivalent competition in the field.

Let's look at some of the managers who have made the switch to a rival club.

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#5: Leonardo

Leonardo coached both AC Milan and FC Internazionale

Former Brazilian midfielder Leonardo played in the Rossoneri shirt for a span of five years during his career. Seven years after he retired at AC Milan in 2003, Leonardo returned to the San Siro to manage his beloved club in 2010.

Leonardo's stay was short although it started with a promise. The Brazilian had a rough beginning, but he improved the results with quite an unusual formation the Seria A had seen. Leonardo used a 4-2-1-3 formation with that focused on the maximum use of productive players Ronaldinho, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf.

The first half of the season looked solid, but the Rossoneri started faltering in the second half. Leonardo quit AC Milan after announcing a strained relationship with President Silvio Berlusconi.

But as if that wasn't enough, the Brazilian was quick to shake hands with Massimo Moratti as Inter appointed him the head coach the following year. Milan fans were more agonised when Leonardo's start emerged better than his predecessors Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez. However, they might have found it soothing as Inter were defeated 3-0 by the Rossoneri in a derby.

Leonardo stepped down after just one year as the manager of the Nerazzurri. Milan supporters definitely might have taken pleasure in watching him fail.

#4: Alex McLeish

McLeish angered the Birmingham fans after joining rivals Aston Villa.

Birmingham City was the first Premier League club that Alex McLeish would manage in his career. The Scot assumed the reigns of the club in 2007 and helped them achieve great heights in his four-year spell with them.

With McLeish in charge, Birmingham City managed an unbeaten run of 13 games in the 2009-10 season, their best ever run in the top flight. He was the first Birmingham coach to win the Manager of the Month award, receiving the award in December 2009. Also, by the end of that season, McLeish secured 9th place for his club. It was the highest position Birmingham had ever finished at in the Premier League.

But, good times were short-lived in the next season. Although Birmingham were relegated to the lower division, the club were intent on continuing with McLeish in the hot seat. But, McLeish decided to part ways with them, only to sign with rivals Aston Villa just five days after leaving Birmingham in June 2011.

The move greatly angered his former club who tried to sue him under the accusation of breach of contract. To add to McLeish's woes, even the Aston Villa fans seemed to be unhappy with his appointment. They protested hard against the Scot's appointment leading to an unrest at Villa Park.

McLeish, however, failed to replicate his success at Aston Villa. The club finished at 16th position clinging just two points above the relegation zone. McLeish was sacked in May after just one season. Quite the news for Birmingham fans to cheer about!

#3: Jorge Jesus

Jorge Jesus left Benfica to manage Sporting CP

I’m grateful to Jorge Jesus for the ingratitude he showed us. He showed us we deserve to change.

These were the words through which Jorge Jesus garnered the hatred of Benfica's director Joao Gabriel. The Portuguese manager deemed it fit to join rivals Sporting CP after leaving Benfica in 2015.

Jesus was an instrumental part of the success Benfica achieved during his tenure at the club. He won a host of domestic trophies while glorifying the club with the Uefa Europa League trophy in season 2013-14. However, money seemed to be an important factor in the coach's departure to bitter rivals after six years at the club.

While the Benfica officials haven't yet forgiven Jorge Jesus for shaking hands with Sporting CP, the Portuguese manager has failed to replicate the amount of success since joining Lisbon. Since 2015, he has succeeded in winning only a single trophy for Sporting.

Carrying out the deed of Judas after being named Jesus. Wow, what irony!

#2: Harry Redknapp

Redknapp walked the road to redemption after rejoining Portsmouth from Southampton

Harry Redknapp particularly made a name at the White Hart Lane in London. It's his genius mind that laid the foundation to the new and exciting Tottenham Hotspur that we see today.

The English coach joined Portsmouth as their manager in 2002 and was an instant hit with the fans after he grabbed the Division One title and gained a promotion to the Premier League in the 2002-03 season. Portsmouth stayed in the top-flight the following year, but Redknapp stepped down after a fall-out with owner Milan Mandaric.

A few weeks later, the Englishman lost all his respect after he signed up with fierce rivals Southampton. Redknapp was subjected to gruesome hatred from the Portsmouth supporters, who bore T-shirts referring to him as 'Scummer'.

Redknapp had a rather failed stint at Southampton. He was asked to keep Southampton in the Premier League but did exactly the opposite. After just one season Redknapp resigned and walked the road to redemption, returning to Portsmouth in 2005 to stay for three years. Portsmouth finished in the first half of the league table for the first time on Redknapp's arrival. Later in 2008, the Pompey emerged victorious in the FA Cup as fans cherished beautiful memories.

Scrutinising closely, one can even say Redknapp remained loyal to Portsmouth in his stint with Southampton. After all, he did condemn the Saints to relegation for the first time in 27 years!

#1: Giovanni Trapattoni

Giovanni Trapattoni is one of the legendary figures in the history of football management

Back in his playing days, Giovanni Trapattoni was an absolutely revered figure at AC Milan. Trap spent his entire career with the Rossoneri and could have been a one-club legend if it hadn't been for his one-year spell with Varese in 1971.

Although he spent 12 years at the club, Trapattoni returned to manage AC Milan three years after his retirement in 1972. The Rossoneri were delighted to welcome their legend, but the excitement was short-lived.

After just one season, Trapattoni stabbed a dagger into the hearts of AC Milan fans by agreeing to coach rivals Juventus. Trapattoni was a huge hit with the Bianconeri who won loads of titles during his tenure of a decade from 1976. It was here that he earned his recognition as one of the best managers in the history of the game.

But, Trapattoni committed treason again by joining rivals Inter Milan for a stint of five years. The Bianconeri fans suffered the same fate as AC Milan supporters. Yet, Juventus welcomed him with open arms back for a second spell in 1991. Quite a brave man!