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Top 10 foreign flops (Managers).

Parky

by Parky
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Parky

Parky

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Jozef Venglos, Aston Villa, 1990-91

 

The Slovakian manager was the first manager not from Britain or Ireland to take charge of a top-flight club in England, although he did not last long. His record of 18 different clubs in a career spanning 32 years reveals that he has not lasted long wherever he has gone.

Venglos stepped down from the position after one season after they finished just two places above the First Division relegation zone, and having seen David Platt sold to Italian side Bari for £5m.

 

Ossie Ardiles, Newcastle, 1991-1992 and Tottenham, 1993-94

A successful period at Swindon Town was winding down with the threat of relegation hanging over the club when Newcastle United offered Ardiles a way out in 1991.

The Argentine lasted 12 months at St James’ Park before being sacked, leaving Newcastle at the bottom of the second division. Ardiles joined Spurs in 1993, but despite the bringing in Jürgen Klinsmann, Ilie Dumitrescu and Gheorghe Popescu in summer 1994, he was sacked in October with Tottenham battling relegation.

 

Christian Gross, Tottenham Hotspur, 1997-98

Gross found it difficult at Spurs from the word go. Arriving into Heathrow Airport, the Swiss had to rely on the Tube to get to his first press conference as manager.

To be fair, he dealt with the ignominy rather well, flourishing his London Underground ticket as he walked into the room, infamously offering the words “I want this to become my ticket to the dreams.”

A 6—1 defeat to Chelsea on his home debut, however, set the tone for his tenure. And when Spurs lost two of their opening three matches of the 1998-99 season, Chairman Alan Sugar ended Gross’ contract, blaming the media for destroying his reputation.

 

Attilio Lombardo/Tomas Brolin, Crystal Palace, 1998

Despite having no coaching experience, Lombardo was appointed joint player-manager in 1998 with fellow player Tomas Brolin, and they presided over the club’s relegation that season. Lombardo might have been one of the club’s most skilful players ever, but promotion to coach was like being “run over by a lorry.”

He explained: “I came home last night and received a phone call and was summoned by the chairman-to-be and I was proposed the job there and then. I had half-an-hour to make a decision, and it felt like being run over by a lorry.”

 

Egil Olsen, Wimbledon, 1999-00

It was under this Norwegian’s aegis that Wimbledon’s 15-years in England’s top-flight ended. Known alternately by the nicknames “Drillo” and “the mad professor”, Olsen was famous not for his football philosophy so much as for being an ex-Communist Party member who had memorised the exact height of every known mountain on the planet.

Ridiculed for his penchant for Wellington boots, Olsen was out of his depth: he even failed to realise that one of his own players, John Hartson, had been sent off during a game against Bradford.

Olsen was sacked in May 2000, a decision that outraged Vinnie Jones — who bear in mind never even played under the Norwegian — because “I never got a chance to chin him”.

 

Gianluca Vialli, Watford, 2001-02

The Italian arrived at Watford as the most successful manager in Chelsea’s history having won five trophies in three years, including the FA Cup in 2000. Vialli was offered a three-year contract at Watford, but he lasted just one season.

Having made wholesale changes to the club’s coaching staff, and made a number of signings which broke the club’s wage structure, his team lost 19 of their 46 games and finished 14th. Vialli was sacked, and he ended up suing the club over the payment of the remainder of his contract.

 

Jacques Santini, Tottenham, 2004

Santini was one of the lucky ones, as he resigned rather than being pushed. Nevertheless, the Frenchman’s time at the club, which spanned just 13 games, must still be considered a flop.

Santini took the managerial position at Tottenham after euro 2004, but resigned soon after, ostensibly because of personal problems. However, it was widely reported that a series of disagreements with then Sporting Director Frank Arnesen had led to his departure.

 

Velimir Zajec, Portsmouth, 2004-05

Zajec arrived at Portsmouth in 2004 as an executive director, but the Croat was forced to take over temporary control of team affairs in November when Harry Redknapp resigned. Following on from Redknapp proved too hard a task, and he complained bitterly that having to perform two roles at the club was “impossible”.

Five months later he reverted to his intended director’s role, following the arrival of Alain Perrin, but that was not an end to the troubles. He resigned from his position at Fratton Park on October 10, 2005 due to personal reasons.

 

Alain Perrin, Portsmouth, 2005

Perrin replaced Zajec in April 2005, and was immediately nicknamed ’Reggie’ by the media and Pompey fans after the character Reginald Perrin from “The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin”.

He succeeded in keeping the club in the top flight, but was sacked the next season, just 8 months into the job after achieving only 4 wins from 20 games.

 

Juande Ramos, Tottenham, 2007-08

The Spaniard won the Carling Cup, so he cannot be called a complete failure. But having sold Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, the 2008—09 season saw Ramos take Tottenham to their worst ever start to a league campaign.

With no wins from their opening eight matches, Spurs were the laughing stock, with North London rivals Arsenal crowing that “even a triangle has more points.”

The fact Ramos failed to learn even a smidgen of English after a year in the job did not help his case. He was sacked on 25 October, along with assistant manager Gus Poyet, first team coach Marcos Álvarez, and club sporting director Damien Comolli?

 

 

 

Ha ha three Spurs managers in there.  :cheesy:

 

Surprising for such a well run club.  :harry:

 

 

 

 

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Parky

Parky

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I am starting to think that we care more about Spurs then most of their own fans.  It's getting ridiculous on this board constantly harping on about them.

 

Where does it say Spurs in the thread title?

 

Just so happens loads have been at Spurs. [wink/]

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Guest Heneage

Guest Heneage

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Vialli is a vile c***, ruined our football club plunging us perilously close to admin. Horrible man.

 

Tried to do too much?

 

Bought foreign friends on massive wages.

Like who? Can't say I remember his time at Watford much.

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Dave

Dave

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Ramos shouldn't be in there.

 

Given the hysteria surrounding his arrival from both Spurs supporters & the media & then the amount of time he lasted he should be pretty near the top of the list IYAM.

 

Cross between Wenger and Ferguson wasn't it? :lol:

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dcmk

dcmk

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Ramos shouldn't be in there.

 

Given the hysteria surrounding his arrival from both Spurs supporters & the media & then the amount of time he lasted he should be pretty near the top of the list IYAM.

 

He won them a trophy in his first season in charge and they sold his first choice strikers for him in the summer.  Not too mention he weren't in charge of players purchased and he couldn't speak English properly.

 

You forget the demolition of Arsenal and the football they played?  His name shouldn't be there, it's a ridiculous inclusion.

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