10 Worst Managers in Football History, Ranked
Football management isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a world where you’re either celebrated or blamed, and the pressure to deliver results is relentless. Some managers rise to the occasion and achieve greatness, while others… well, they become infamous. The men on this list didn’t just have a tough time; they made decisions and faced results that put their names in the conversation of the worst football managers ever. Here are 15 football managers who struggled so badly their tenures became legendary—but not in a good way.
Egil Olsen at Wimbledon
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Egil Olsen was a tactical genius with Norway, but his switch to English football in 1999 didn’t go as planned. Taking charge of Wimbledon, his unusual methods clashed with the squad. By the end of the 1999-2000 season, Olsen oversaw Wimbledon’s relegation, ending their long Premier League stay.
Steve McClaren at Newcastle United
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McClaren’s Newcastle stint in 2015-16 was a disaster waiting to happen. Despite heavy spending on players, his leadership led to only seven wins in 28 games. Newcastle drifted closer to relegation each week, and McClaren got the boot with the club in real danger.
Paul Jewell at Derby County
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Derby’s 2007-08 Premier League season remains one of the most painful campaigns ever seen. Under Paul Jewell, the team scraped just 11 points all season and didn’t win a single match with him in charge. That’s a season Derby fans would prefer to erase entirely.
Bob Bradley at Swansea City
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Bob Bradley’s time at Swansea in 2016 was brutal, not just because of the results but also how quickly it went wrong. The first American manager in the Premier League struggled from day one, earning just two wins in 11 matches. Swansea looked out of sorts, and Bradley didn’t last three months.
Frank de Boer at Crystal Palace
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Frank de Boer’s time at Crystal Palace in 2017 was so short it felt like a cameo appearance. After four games, zero goals scored, and zero wins, Palace cut their losses. His tenure became the stuff of legend—but for all the wrong reasons.
Tony Adams at Portsmouth
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Tony Adams, a legend as a player for Arsenal, couldn’t replicate that success in management. In 2008, his short-lived spell at Portsmouth ended after just two wins in 22 games. Sometimes, being a great player doesn’t translate into being a great coach.
Felix Magath at Fulham
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Felix Magath came to Fulham in 2014 with a reputation for discipline. But instead of turning things around, his methods made things worse. Fulham won only three times in 12 games under his command and dropped to the Championship, leaving fans frustrated and bewildered.
Terry Connor at Wolverhampton Wanderers
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When Mick McCarthy left Wolves in 2012, Terry Connor stepped in to fill the void. Unfortunately, his record speaks for itself: 13 games, zero wins. Wolves spiraled straight into relegation, and Connor’s time in charge is remembered as one of the darkest stretches in club history.
Remi Garde at Aston Villa
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Taking over an Aston Villa team in 2015 that was already struggling was never going to be easy for Remi Garde. But with only two wins in 20 matches, his time on the sidelines didn’t help matters. Villa’s relegation seemed inevitable, and Garde couldn’t steer them to safety.
Jan Siewert at Huddersfield Town
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When Jan Siewert arrived at Huddersfield Town in 2019, the team was already in trouble. Unfortunately, he didn’t bring the spark they needed. With just one win in 19 games, his brief tenure sealed Huddersfield’s fate in the Premier League.
Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham
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Lawrie Sanchez’s spell at Fulham in 2007 looked promising at first. But as the weeks went by, the wins dried up, and Fulham slid toward the relegation zone. After just three victories in 24 matches, Sanchez was shown the door.
David Moyes at Manchester United
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David Moyes inherited a giant task: succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2013. But the shoes were just too big to fill. United finished seventh under Moyes, missing out on Europe for the first time in over 20 years. It was a fall from grace few expected.
Robin Dutt at Werder Bremen
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Robin Dutt’s run at Werder Bremen in 2013-14 didn’t leave fans with many happy memories. With just 11 wins from 45 games, Bremen looked lost under his leadership. By the time he departed, the club was dangerously close to relegation.
Vincenzo Montella at Fiorentina
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Vincenzo Montella’s second spell with Fiorentina in 2019 was a far cry from his earlier success. The club struggled throughout the season, winning only six of 27 matches. By the end, fans were relieved to see him go as results just wouldn’t improve.
Philippe Clement at Rangers
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Philippe Clement’s Rangers record, especially against their fierce rivals Celtic, hasn’t been easy to stomach for supporters. Six straight Old Firm games without a win has seen Rangers fall further behind their arch-rivals, leaving fans questioning his tactics and approach.