In brief
Based on win percentage and points per game over a 20-game span, the article rates the worst football managers.
Among the managers who have struggled with their clubs over the years are Steve McClaren, Robin Dutt, and Egil Olsen.
Due to a bad winless run and a breakdown in trust with the club, Montella was fired from his second spell at Fiorentina.
Managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, and Arsène Wenger have all succeeded, winning numerous trophies for their teams and, most importantly, having a unified fan base that cheers them on to success. We’ve already discussed the top Premier League managers; now, we’ll examine those who took a different route and, regrettably for them and their individual teams, failed miserably at managing football.
There are many different situations where a person has had trouble inspiring their club. Egil Olsen from his Wimbledon days, for example, is mentioned. He was a follower of Joe Kinnear, a legend at the club. It can be quite challenging to follow someone who was formerly highly regarded by the fans and achieved success, both in terms of winning over the players and the supporters. A manager needs to be understood and appreciated by the playing staff in order to succeed. One of the hardest tasks is managing a football team. If their team has a bad run of play, the manager is usually the one who suffers and the players are rarely held accountable.
Factors that rank
To be on the list, managers must have overseen more than 20 games.
Points per game (PPG) or win ratio
The Top 10 Worst Football Managers in History
Rank
Name
Group
Games
Ratio of Wins
One
Wilkinson, Howard
Sunderland
27
14.81%
2.
Lawrie Sanchez
Fulham
24
16.67 percent
3.
Jaap Stam
FC Cincinnati
47
17%
4.
Tony Adams
Portsmouth
22
18.2%
5
Terry Butcher
Hibernian
29
20.69%
6.
Paul Jewell
Derby County
58
20.7%
7.
Vincenzo Montella
Fiorentina
27
22.22%
8
Robin Dutt
Werder Bremen
45
24.44%
9
Steve McClaren
Newcastle United
32
25.58%
10
Egil Olsen
Wimbledon
43
25.58%
10Egil Olsen
Wimbledon
The future manager of Wimbledon would have enormous shoes to fill after Joe Kinnear resigned. Olsen’s selection was quite unexpected and caught many people off guard. The pressure of replacing a past successful manager and trying to win over the supporters became too much for the former Norway manager to handle. There were concerns about Olsen’s tactics, despite the fact that he had done a fantastic job leading Norway to World Cup qualification in 1994 and 1998.
That season, Wimbledon started the season with a 3-2 victory over Watford, captained by Graham Taylor. However, they went nine games without a victory after that, so it was somewhat of a false dawn. With players frequently using inappropriate language in the media, Olsen has totally lost the dressing room. Regarding his manager at the time, John Hartson stated, “It has been made public that we don’t get along with the manager – the way he works, his attitude, or his approach.”
With just two games remaining in the season, Olsen was unsurprisingly fired. Wimbledon’s risk to hire Olsen backfired miserably, and they were demoted. It came to 1.04 points per game for the Norwegian. A lot of people think Olsen’s arrival marked the death of Wimbledon as a club, and that was definitely not how the club planned the appointment to go.
Wimbledon player Egil Olsen
The beginning of the rule
June 9, 1999
The end of the reign
May 1, 2000
Games
43
Gains
11.
Draws
Twelve
Losses
20
Win percentage
25.58%
Points for each match
1.04
9Steve McClaren
Newcastle United
By the time McClaren arrived in town, Newcastle United fans had lost all interest. Before Alan Pardew was briefly replaced by John Carver, a long-time assistant manager and the Premier League’s self-described best manager, they had a fairly contentious relationship with him. John, I’m sorry to bring that up again! Even though the team had several well-known players like Moussa Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum, the football was awful, and there didn’t seem to be any kind of strategy. A heated dispute broke out during a pre-match press conference after McClaren received criticism from one of the local news reporters.
Newcastle supporters showed little to no enthusiasm for McClaren’s appointment. Even by Mike Ashley’s standards, the appointment was lacklustre. From the beginning, the former England manager faced a difficult challenge, and his interviewing style offended supporters. His general management style may have given the Newcastle supporters the idea that he did not care about the team.
Following a discouraging home loss to Bournemouth, McClaren was fired after managing just seven victories. His successor, Rafael Benitez, was unable to retain the team in the Premier League. Even Pardew scored more points per game (1.37 per game) than McClaren, who scored 1.14 points each game.
Newcastle United player Steve McClaren
The beginning of the rule
June 10, 2015
The end of the reign
March 11, 2016
Games
32
Gains
7.
Draws
6.
Losses
18
Win percentage
25.58%
Points for each match
1.37
8Robin Dutt
Werder Bremen
Dutt was an unexpected choice for the German team because, nine months prior, he had been named sporting director of the German Football Federation. Dutt will not want to put his dismal victory percentage of 24.44% next to his name, as it is among the worst in the club’s history. Before being hired by Werder Bremen, he first established himself as a manager with Stuttgarter Kickers, a former Bundesliga team. His stellar record there gave him the opportunity to coach FC Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen. It was believed that he could succeed with Bremen after having strong stints with both teams, but it was soon evident that the players didn’t agree with his managerial style as the team started to decline in the league.
Although his dismissal wasn’t shocking given his 11 victories in 45 games, many were taken aback by how long Dutt held the position. He took over as manager at the beginning of the 2014–15 season, however he would leave after Bremen lost their first nine games. Viktor Skrypnyk, a former player, took over and guided the team to a solid 10th place result. It’s not surprising that Dutt’s stint didn’t last long given his dismal 1.02 points per game.
Dutt, Robin, of Werder Bremen
The beginning of the rule
May 27, 2013
The end of the reign
October 25, 2014
Games
45
Gains
11.
Draws
13.
Losses
21
Win percentage
24.44%
Points for each match
1.02
7Vincenzo Montella
Fiorentina
Montella’s dismissal was officially attributed to a breakdown in trust and a lack of respect for the club. That sums up everything you needed to know about Fiorentina’s terrible stint. An unfortunate turn of events, to put it mildly, was an appointment that damaged his standing with the team and the fans who formerly loved him.
After winning more than half of his 153 games in his first managerial term, Montella was on his second stint with the team. His first stint as manager resulted in a Europa League semi-final as well as fourth and third place finishes. When he returned, the high expectations were not met by the second spell, to put it mildly. After Fiorentina went seven games without a victory and became entangled in a relegation battle, Montella was fired.
When Montella showed up, the appointment was well greeted. Those positive emotions would pass quickly. In football, there’s a motto that goes, “Never go back.” stating that a manager or player shouldn’t rejoin a team. This is due to the possibility of ruining the history that a player or management has worked so hard to establish during their initial time at a club. Montella’s points per game during his second stay at Fiorentina were 1.08, down from 1.79 during his first term, and he failed to meet the high standards set for him upon his return to the team. However, the Italian has since reconstructed his career as manager of Turkey, leading the team to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 before losing to the Netherlands, proving that there is undoubtedly a capable manager in there.
Montella, Vincenzo, of Fiorentina
The beginning of the rule
April 10, 2019
The end of the reign
December 21, 2019
Games
27
Gains
6.
Draws
7.
Losses
14
Win percentage
22.22
Points for each match
1.08
6Paul Jewell
Derby County
Derby’s notorious 11-point season, in which Newcastle United (sorry, Newcastle supporters) contributed four points. Since their 11-point haul was a record-low score that remains the same to this day, it made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Nor are we certain that the record will ever be broken. It’s very amazing, but not in a positive sense.
Jewell had done wonders at Wigan Athletic and was well regarded before to his appointment at Derby. Supporters welcomed him with open arms, but they had no idea what was about to happen. Prior to coming to Derby, Jewell had received offers for various jobs, including one with the Republic of Ireland. Despite being cautioned against accepting the position at Derby, Jewell chose not to. His image was damaged by his turbulent period in the Midlands, and he was unemployed for more than three years before Ipswich Town approached him.
Perhaps making that season even worse for the former Wigan manager is the fact that Derby’s only Premier League victory was under Jewell’s predecessor. We wonder what his managerial career may have been like if he had taken a different job offer rather than Derby. The manager and the club suffered as a result, therefore it’s reasonable to conclude that it wasn’t a match made in heaven. When you factor the time spent in the Championship, Jewell’s 1.13 points per game at Derby is, to put it mildly, extremely disappointing. His terrible tenure as the club’s manager was, predictably, cut short. It’s unclear to us whether Jewell had any positive memories of his time at Derby.
Paul Jewell from the County of Derby
The beginning of the rule
November 28, 2007
The end of the reign
December 28, 2008
Games
58
Gains
Twelve
Draws
15.
Losses
31
Win percentage
20.7%
Points for each match
1.13
5Terry Butcher
Hibernian
Terry Butcher is an example of a great player who does not necessarily become a great manager. As Hibs supporters can confirm, he is an excellent player but not a good manager. Hibs chose to take a risk on Butcher after firing Pat Fenlon following a good stint at Inverness. To say that the bet didn’t pay off would be an understatement; Hibs’ relegation and Butcher’s resignation followed a run of just one victory in their final 18 games of the season.
Hibs’ supporters referred to Butcher’s tactics as “Gutless” during a bad run of results, and many had already lost their patience. Hibs was in a comfortable mid-table position when Fenlon left, but Butcher’s management had the team moving in a certain path, which was regrettably not up to grade.
The former England player had won four of his first seven games, so things were going well for him. However, Hibs’ terrible run of form started there, and it was all downhill from there. Butcher had a brief stint at Newport County after that, but it’s safe to say that his tenure at Hibs put a dent in his future management ambitions.
Compared to his predecessor, Fenlon, who won 31 of his 87 games in charge and averaged 1.28 points per game, Butcher’s points per game came to 1.1. After Hibs was relegated, it’s understandable why supporters began to worry about the club’s future under Butcher. Their concerns about his management style and methods were validated.
Butcher, Terry, a Hibernian
The beginning of the rule
November 12, 2013
The end of the reign
June 10, 2014
Games
29
Gains
6.
Draws
8.
Losses
15.
Win percentage
20.69
Points for each match
1.1
4Tony Adams
Portsmouth
Undoubtedly, Portsmouth fans have made an effort to forget this difficult period. Similar to Butcher, Adams’ skill as a player was undeniable. He is justifiably hailed as an Arsenal great and was a world-class defender. Unfortunately, his glittering playing days were far more impressive than his management career.
Adams faced somewhat unjust conditions after Harry Redknapp, who had guided the team to FA Cup triumph, left. Given the club’s catastrophic debt and unclear future, Adams faced overwhelming odds. In his 21 games as manager at Fratton Park, Adams only secured four victories. Portsmouth earned 10 points out of a possible 48 while he was manager.
Adams was viewed by many as having blown his opportunity to manage football. Though his record wasn’t any better, Adams would go on to coach FK Qabala in Azerbaijan, where he oversaw 44 games before leaving the team. Then came Granada, the somewhat notorious appointment.
At Portsmouth, Adams scored 1.1 points per game, while Redknapp, the man he replaced, scored an impressive 1.5 points per game. Redknapp won 54 of his 128 games as manager, and his win ratio more than doubled Adams’ with a staggering 42.19%, which is no small accomplishment for a team like Portsmouth that is competing with the Premier League’s elite.
Portsmouth’s Tony Adams
The beginning of the rule
October 28, 2008
The end of the reign
February 9, 2009
Games
22
Gains
4.
Draws
7.
Losses
11.
Win percentage
18.2%
Points for each match
1.1
3Jaap Stam
FC Cincinnati
Why do center-backs make such terrible managers? Another player with a stellar playing career who could not translate to management was Stam. Stam was fired because FC Cincinnati had only won four games this season and was in second place in the Eastern Conference. Stam watched as his team only managed one victory in 16 games.
When Stam joined, the club was just five years old. It was extremely difficult to recruit the quality required to compete with the league’s largest clubs, and it was even more difficult for a club with little to no history to become one of the leaders in MLS football. However, with just eight victories in 47 games, Stam’s record with the club remains appalling.
The club’s announcement of Stam as manager was the first clue that his tenure in the MLS wouldn’t be pleasant. Only… It was another person’s photo! Since being removed of his responsibilities at Cincinnati in September 2021, the Dutchman has not managed. If Stam is included among our top three worst managers, we’re not sure he’ll want to know!
Stam scored 1.2 points per game. When you contrast that with his tenure at Reading, where he won 40 of 98 games and averaged 1.5 points per game, it’s evident that the Dutchman had a difficult time adjusting to life in America, and his managerial reputation suffered. One that, after his successful tenure at Reading and Feyenoord, he had begun to develop and earned respect for throughout the game.
The FC Cincinnati Jaap Stam
The beginning of the rule
May 21, 2020
The end of the reign
September 27, 2021
Games
47
Gains
8.
Draws
13.
Losses
26
Win percentage
17%
Points for each match
1.2
2Lawrie Sanchez
Fulham
After Chris Coleman was fired, Fulham gambled on Sanchez after he had a successful tenure as Northern Ireland’s manager. While continuing in his position in Northern Ireland, Sanchez took over as interim manager of the Cottagers. The most unexpected move was probably his decision to quit his position with Northern Ireland entirely. He had gained a lot of respect in his position and achieved some very impressive results, such as a 1-0 victory over England in a World Cup qualifying match and a 1-1 draw with Portugal, who would go on to the 2006 World Cup semi-finals.
Although he kept Fulham in the Premier League, his record of one victory, one draw, and three losses during that period was not noteworthy. Sanchez was hired by Fulham on a permanent basis, but their romance didn’t last long because he was fired in December after Fulham lost to Newcastle United, dropping them to the bottom three. Since leaving Craven Cottage, Sanchez has mostly been in the football wilderness, with stints at Barnet and the Greek team, Apollon Smyrni, and others.
Sanchez scored 1.2 points per game, which is undoubtedly insufficient to keep the Premier League from relegating him. If Sanchez could go back in time, it’s doubtful he would accept the Fulham position once more. He was well on his way to solidifying his legacy with the National team, having established something unique with Northern Ireland.
Fulham’s Lawrie Sanchez
The beginning of the rule
April 11, 2007
The end of the reign
December 21, 2007
Games
24
Gains
4.
Draws
8.
Losses
Twelve
Win percentage
16.67 percent
Points for each match
1.2
1Howard Wilkinson
Sunderland
At the top of the list is Howard Wilkinson’s terrible tenure with Sunderland. He had managed 27 games while on Wearside, and by the end of his tenure with the Black Cats, his victory percentage was a pitiful 14.81%. When he was hired in October 2002, Sunderland was already in danger of going under. After failing to improve the club’s fortunes, Wilkinson was unable to finish the season and left in March 2003.
Despite their turbulent period, Sunderland had the opportunity to name a manager who may improve their fortunes for the ensuing years. It is puzzling that they chose Wilkinson, who had not held a significant position in management for six years. The club was toxic, the former Leeds United manager was doomed from the beginning, and he needed to start strong in order to have any lasting effect.
Wilkinson’s heated arguments with local reporters reflected the atmosphere on Wearside. Sunderland’s then-record-low 19 points put them at the bottom of the division. Since then, Wilkinson has not been spotted in the dugout. At Sunderland, he scored 1.35 points per game, which ultimately proved that they were relegated from the Premier League.
Wilkinson, Howard, Sunderland
The beginning of the rule
October 10, 2002
The end of the reign
March 10, 2003
Games
27
Gains
4.
Draws
8.
Losses
15.
Win percentage
14.81%
Points for each match
1.35
