L-R: Ten Hag, Maresca, Amorim and Alonso were sacked in the middle of the season
Several elite coaches have faced dismissal following various issues and challenges at their respective clubs during the ongoing 2025/26 season.
The shockwaves began in England when Enzo Maresca was dismissed due to poor team performances and off-the-pitch issues with the board.
Shortly after, Manchester United followed suit by sacking Rúben Amorim after controversial comments questioning club officials and a string of poor results.
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The most surprising departure for football fans was that of Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, who left amid internal tensions and performance concerns.
Erik ten Hag also endured one of the shortest managerial stints, being sacked by Bayer Leverkusen after just nine weeks due to abysmal results.
Check out the statistics of the coaches below:
Enzo Maresca
Maresca parted ways with Chelsea by mutual consent, as announced by the Premier League giants on January 1, 2026, after 18 months in charge.
The Italian coach managed 92 games, recording 55 wins, 12 defeats, and 16 draws despite the ups and downs toward the end of his tenure.
He achieved a win percentage of 59.8%, ranking among the best managers.
Maresca made history as the first coach to win the inaugural edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, defeating Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the final. He also won the UEFA Conference League.
Rúben Amorim
Portuguese manager Rúben Amorim endured one of the worst statistical runs as Manchester United manager.
The former Sporting Lisbon coach oversaw 63 games, winning 25, drawing 15, and losing 23, a disappointing return considering his profile.
His side scored 122 goals but conceded 111, resulting in a win rate of 39.7%. He failed to win a trophy during his spell.
Xabi Alonso
Alonso joined the 15-time Champions League winners at the start of the 2025/26 season from Bayer Leverkusen, leaving Madrid while they were still competing on multiple fronts—sitting second in La Liga and actively involved in the Champions League.
However, internal dissatisfaction over performances and the team’s direction led the club to act before the decisive phase of the season. Despite strong numbers, the hierarchy opted for change as pressure mounted to deliver silverware.
During his 34 matches in charge, Alonso recorded 24 wins, four draws, and six defeats. His team scored 72 goals, conceded 38, and kept 10 clean sheets. They also reached the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup and finished runners-up in the 2026 Spanish Super Cup.
Erik ten Hag
The Dutch manager’s reign lasted just 62 days, one day short of nine weeks, before he was sacked.
He managed only two Bundesliga games, including a 3–3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen after Leverkusen threw away a 3–1 lead.
Leverkusen also lost their season opener at home to Hoffenheim. Ten Hag’s only competitive win came in a German Cup tie against a fourth-division side.
After two Bundesliga games and three competitive matches in total, he set a new record for the fewest league matches in charge before being dismissed in Germany.
SB/EB
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