5 shortest managerial stints in English football

If someone uses job security and football management in the same sentence, it would be one of the most contradictory statements one can make. The nature of the job is such that you need to get results from the time you sign a contract. When a manager fails to deliver, they either get the boot or resign themselves. Several gaffers end up at one club for a really long time, managers such as Alex Ferguson exemplify that. However, as football leagues become more cut-throat, the notion of a single club manager is all but dead. Most famously Brian Clough was a part of a 44-day tenure at Leeds United in 1974, after a short stint at Brighton & Hove Albion. He chose to part ways with the club, after a string of poor results. You would be surprised to know that this was not the shortest tenure for an English manager.Here are five shortest managerial stints in English football history.

#5 Brian Clough (44 days, Leeds United)

Brian Clough couldn’t work his magic at Leeds United

As mentioned, this was one of the most infamous premature endings to a managerial tenure, so much so, that the entire trajectory was captured in a film called ‘The Damned United’.

He succeeded Don Revie at the club, who went onto take up the England National team job. The Leeds United roster did not take to him well as he had often criticised their style of play. Club Captain, Billy Bremmer led a revolt within the club, which eventually saw him move onto Nottingham Forest.

There was a fierce battle between Revie and Clough for the England job with the former coming out the victor. He was also offered the top job for the Wales and Republic of Ireland national teams, which he declined.

Clough’s time at Nottingham Forest saw him garner two European Cups. He had earlier coached Derby County and Brighton, prior to moving to Elland Road. His six seasons at Derby saw him promote the club to Division One and eventually helping the Rams lift their first ever league title.

#4 Les Reed (41 days, Charlton Athletic)

Les Reed’s experience wasn’t enough to help Charlton avoid the drop

Reed’s tenure at The Valley proved to be catastrophic for the club. They were eliminated from both the Cups by lower league opposition. Their 2006 Carling Cup campaign was cut short, thanks to a defeat at the hands of League two outfit, Wycombe Wanderers at home.

The six week debacle also saw them lose to Tottenham twice, 5-1 and 3-0. These run of fixtures cemented their position in the relegation zone and ultimately saw them go down. They are yet to return to the top flight of the English football hierarchy.

Reed was replaced by Alan Pardew, who has clearly managed to consolidate his career in the Premier League. He is now a Executive Director with Southampton FC, following a managerial stint with Conference South club, Bishop’s Stortford.

He also spent time as the Director of Football at Fulham; his most notable addition was that of Chris Smalling. Reed recruited him from Non league side, Maidstone United.

Sacked on Christmas eve, Reed was also wrote a book title, “The Official FA Guide to Basic Team Coahching,” sadly his expertise wasn’t enough to help the addicks survive the drop.

#3 Alex McLeish (40 days, Nottingham Forest)

McLeish has left England to Coach Belgian side, Genk.

McCleish’s managerial career struck a high, when he secured the 2011 Carling Cup with Birmingham City, defeating Arsenal in the final. However, his time at Nottingham Forest was far from successful.

Differences with the board, over their transfer policy, acted as a catalyst to his resignation from the club. The inability to sign George Boyd on the final day of the winter transfer window was the final straw for him.

During his time at Forest, he had an unsuccessful return to his old stomping ground Birmingham City, losing 2-1 at St. Andrews. He also had a stint at Aston Villa, but his contract was terminated within a season.

As a player, he represented Scotland 77 times. McLeish played most of his domestic football in Scotland with Aberdeen. He also managed several other clubs such as Motherwell, Hibernian, Rangers, before joining Birmingham City.

In 2007, he became the Scotland national manager, only to part ways after failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

He is currently coaching Belgian Pro Ligue side, Genk.

#2 Martin Ling (9 days, Cambridge United)

Ling is currently managing Torquay United.

Ling took over at Cambridge United from Gary Brabin, who quit citing personal differences with the Chairman, George Rolls. However, Ling quit the club within a week, due to a falling out with the same person.

Prior to the Cambridge job, Ling had helped Leyton Orient attain automatic promotion to League One. He stayed there for six years, before leaving the club in 2009. The 48-year old also had a stint with Scottish Premier League (SPL) side, Hibernian, where he helped setup a scouting network.

What was surprising was his return to Cambridge, a few months later. Ling went on to steer the club outside the relegation zone of the Conference Premier division.

He is currently managing Conference Premier side, Torquay United.

#1 Leroy Rosenior (10 minutes, Torquay United)

Rosenior went onto manage the Sierra Leone national football team

The award for the shortest serving English football manager goes to Leroy Rosenior. His second spell as Torquay manager saw him stay at the helm for a mere 10 minutes.

On May 17, 2007, he had helped Torquay earn promotion to League One, despite being relegated in their first attempt in the league. However, his second stint wasn’t as long. The club went through an ownership change at the time of his confirmation as manager.

As the new owners came in, their first decision was to terminate Rosenior’s services with immediate effect. But, Rosenior did manage to land a job with Sierra Leone, the same year.

He had short stints at Brentford and Gloucester City as well. Rosenior’s playing career saw him ply his trade for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers.