Europe’s Managerial Meltdown: Every Major Sacking of the 2025/26 Season
The 2025/26 football season has delivered unprecedented volatility for managers across Europe’s elite leagues. Club hierarchies and supporters have shown record levels of impatience, with several coaches dismissed before the campaign even reached its midpoint. The modern game’s demand for instant results — combined with the financial stakes tied to success — has left little room for long‑term vision. Even managers with recent achievements found themselves out the door the moment performances dipped or internal tensions rose.
This season has pushed the trend to new extremes. While the Premier League once again leads the way in managerial turnover, Serie A, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 have all contributed to a remarkable wave of sackings. Here’s a full breakdown of the most notable departures.
Enzo Maresca – Chelsea
Enzo Maresca arrived at Chelsea as the supposed long‑term architect of the club’s youth‑driven project. He delivered immediate success: a top‑four finish, the Europa Conference League title, and the historic 32‑team Club World Cup. Yet despite these achievements, his tenure ended abruptly on New Year’s Day.
Results were inconsistent, but the real issues were off the pitch. Maresca publicly criticised the lack of internal support, clashed with ownership over authority, and explored interest from other clubs to strengthen his contract position. After a 2–2 draw with Bournemouth left Chelsea with just two wins in two months, the relationship broke beyond repair. Strasbourg’s Liam Rosenior replaced him.
Rúben Amorim – Manchester United
Rúben Amorim survived Manchester United’s disastrous 2024/25 season, but his first full campaign under INEOS quickly unravelled. Despite a massive $293 million summer overhaul, performances remained stagnant. United sat seventh when he was dismissed — only three points above 11th — but the table masked deeper issues.
Amorim posted the worst win percentage in club history, struggled to adapt his rigid 3‑4‑3 system, and mishandled rising star Kobbie Mainoo. His downfall accelerated after an explosive press conference in which he accused the club of limiting his authority and reducing him to a “head coach.” Five days into the New Year, United cut ties.
Xabi Alonso – Real Madrid
Xabi Alonso’s dream return to Real Madrid collapsed in dramatic fashion. After an electric start — 15 wins in his first 16 matches — cracks began to show. Heavy defeats to Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester City exposed tactical flaws, while players reportedly grew frustrated with his demanding training methods.
Tensions with the board over medical staff and transfer needs added fuel to the fire. A narrow 3–2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final triggered an emergency meeting, and Alonso was dismissed just seven months into the job. Álvaro Arbeloa stepped in as interim manager.
Other Major Sackings Across Europe
Erik ten Hag – Bayer Leverkusen Ten Hag’s attempt to continue Alonso’s legacy at Leverkusen ended in just 62 days. A 4–0 DFB Pokal win was followed by a league defeat and a blown 3–0 lead against Werder Bremen. The club acted swiftly, appointing Kasper Hjulmand to stabilise the season.
Adi Hütter – AS Monaco Despite three straight top‑three finishes and a Champions League return, Hütter was dismissed after a poor start to 2025/26. Heavy defeats to Club Brugge and Lorient, plus a slide to ninth in Ligue 1 and 19th in the Champions League League Phase, sealed his fate.
Serie A Turmoil Jiventus sacked Igor Tudor after an eight‑game winless run, including a damaging loss to Lazio. Fiorentina dismissed Stefano Pioli, while Atalanta parted ways with Ivan Jurić after he failed to replicate Gian Piero Gasperini’s success.
Premier League: The Epicentre of Instability
The Premier League once again topped the charts for managerial turnover:
- Nuno Espírito Santo – Sacked by Nottingham Forest in early September.
- Ange Postecoglou – Lasted just 39 days and eight winless matches, the shortest permanent tenure in Premier League history.
- Graham Potter – Dismissed by West Ham; Nuno replaced him before taking the Sweden national team job.
- Vítor Pereira – Removed by Wolves in November with the club bottom of the table.
The league’s relentless pressure and financial stakes continue to make it the most unforgiving environment for managers.
