SACK RACE
The shortest manager reigns in Premier League history, after Nathan Jones is sacked by Southampton in just 95 days
WHO would be a football manager?
Welsh coach Nathan Jones is the latest Premier League boss to be axed, following a dismal run of results at Southampton.
12
The ex-Luton Town gaffer, 49, lasted just 95 days and lost nine of 14 games in charge at St Mary's.
He is officially Southampton's shortest-serving manager in the Premier League era, but his reign isn't the shortest.
Here's 11 bosses who took a bullet before they could get their feet under the door.
PEPE MEL, 120 DAYS
The former West Brom boss held his position from January 9 to May 12, but was relieved of his duties after the Baggies survived the drop by three points.
However, his tenure was best remembered by the epic fallouts he had with playing staff.
Mel sacked Nicolas Anelka, while Saido Berahino and James Morrison had a heated dressing room fight.
West Brom won just three of his 17 games at the club.
12
STEVE WIGLEY, 107 DAYS
In 2004, Wigley was a surprise choice to replace Paul Sturrock on a permanent basis as Southampton manager.
Most read in Football
But the former Nottingham Forest star was highly thought of on the South Coast, already impressing as a youth team coach.
Fans were also against Glenn Hoddle returning to the club, so the decision became easy.
14 games later, though, and Saints fans soon changed their tune and turned on him after just one win.
12
CLAUDIO RANIERI, 106 DAYS
After the Leicester title-winning miracle, Ranieri's return to our shores came at relegation threatened Fulham in 2019.
But with just three wins from his 16 games, he was unable to save the Cottagers from the drop.
In-squad fighting between Aboubakar Kamara and Aleksandr Mitrovic during a squad yoga session certainly didn't help.
Like Espirito Santo at Spurs, Ranieri was also faced with 'you don't know what you're doing' chants in his final game - a 2-0 defeat to Southampton.
12
TONY ADAMS, 106 DAYS
The Arsenal legend had a brief spell as Wycombe boss before being hired by Portsmouth to take over from Harry Redknapp in 2009.
However, his cause wasn't helped by the sales of Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra before the transfer window closed.
Memorably, his Pompey side almost caused an upset in the UEFA Cup - leading 2-0 against the mighty AC Milan, before they were pegged back for a 2-2 draw.
Two wins from 16 games wasn't enough to save his bacon.
12
COLIN TODD, 98 DAYS
During the 2001-02 season, Todd was brought in to replace legendary Derby boss Jim Smith with the club lying in 19th place in the league.
Matters weren't helped with no financial support to bring in new players, and talented youngsters Malcolm Christie, Seth Johnson and Chris Riggott having their heads turned with links to bigger clubs.
Johnson did go, in the end, to Leeds. But Christie and Riggot stayed for the fight.
An FA Cup defeat to fourth tier Bristol City saw Todd fired.
12
TERRY CONNOR, 91 DAYS
With Wolves struggling in the Premier League in 2012, they turned to Connor after sacking his pal, Mick McCarthy.
It was a mistake Jez Moxey, the club's chief executive, would soon regret - promising before hiring Connor he would be looking to appoint an experienced hand.
With 13 games left to play, Wanderers failed to pick up a win and finished the campaign rock bottom of the league.
That summer, Connor was back as assistant - leaving the club just months later.
12
QUIQUE SANCHEZ FLORES, 85 DAYS
The suave Spaniard returned to Watford in 2019, when the Hornets disposed of Javi Gracia - who months earlier had led the club to an FA Cup final.
In his first spell, Flores led the London side to a mid table finish.
Second time around, though, he was unable to replicate the magic.
In fact, it was a bit of a disaster all round, winning just once and getting hammered 8-0 by Manchester City.
12
BOB BRADLEY, 84 DAYS
Before Ted Lasso, there was Bob Bradley.
The American beat Ryan Giggs to the vacant Swansea post in 2016. However, he was soon poked fun of by fans for calling away games "road games".
The "long term appointment" as chairman Huw Jenkins called it, was anything but.
Bradley was given the boot after just 11 games, picking up just eight points from a possible 33.
12
FRANK DE BOER, 77 DAYS
Palace should have known.
Before turning up in South London in 2017, the Dutch legend failed spectacularly at Inter Milan and was fired 85 days in the job.
Here, he bettered that by eight days - just fours games into the league season.
In that time, Palace had lost all their games without scoring.
12
RENE MEULENSTEEN, 75 DAYS
From being Sir Alex Ferguson's right hand man and leading the coaching at Manchester United to being his own boss, Meulensteen got his opportunity with Brondby, first, but that was a disaster.
Evidently asking his players to find their spirit animals and then quizzing each one about what animal they wanted to be alienated his Danish stars.
He didn't appear to make that mistake at Fulham from 2013, but couldn't win for toffee.
After 13 games, he was off probably counting his chickens.
12
LES REED, 41 DAYS
Ironically, the worst football manager in the Premier League wrote the handbook 'The Official FA Guide to Basic Team Coaching' before taking on the role of Charlton boss in 2006.
In just six weeks, the Addicks were beaten by lowly Wycombe in the league cup and won once in the league.
His gloomy demeanour on the touchline also earned him the nickname 'Les Miserables' with things coming to a head before Christmas.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He was sacked on December 24, with Alan Pardew soon appointed.
Not quite the present Charlton fans would've wanted.
12
Topics