‘The Poch effect’ – Five world-class coaches currently jobless

Jose Mourinho [right] has replaced Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham [Courtesy]

Mauricio Pochettino is the latest world-class manager to get sacked.

This happened on Tuesday, November 19, after he held a closed-door meeting with Tottenham owner Daniel Levy over a potential exit.

Pochettino led the London-based side for five-and-a-half years and took them to the Champions League final in the 2018/19 season, where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.

"The club can today announce that Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff Jesus Perez, Miguel D'Agostino and Antoni Jimenez have been relieved of their duties," said Tottenham in a statement.

Truth be told, taking into account Tottenham’s dismal performances this season, the axe was imminent for Pochettino.

You could say, Pochettino paid the price for raising the bar too high at Tottenham – a victim of his own success.

This is no surprise in modern football. The manager will always bear the brunt if a team fails to live up to expectations.

Here are five world-class coaches currently jobless and could take over other big clubs in the future.

Massimiliano ‘Max’ Allegri

Massimiliano ‘Max’ Allegri [Courtesy]

Popularly known as ‘Max’, Allegri made a name for himself at Juventus after winning four consecutive Scudettos after his move from Milan in 2014. At ‘the Old Lady’, Allegri’s win percentage was 70, the highest ever in the club’s history. He stepped down from the reins of power in May 2019 after Juventus had secured a fifth consecutive league title.

He is one of the most tactically experienced managers in the world at the moment and could end up at a big club next season.

Eusebio Di Francesco

Eusebio Di Francesco [Courtesy]

Di Francesco took over Italian side AS Roma in 2017 after his successful exploits with Sassuolo the season before. He replaced Luciano Spaletti and guided Roma to a top-three finish in Serie A, earning them Champions League qualification.

He was sacked by Roma in 2019 after FC Porto eliminated them in the Round of 16 in the 2018/19 Champions League. He joined Sampdoria for a short stint before being sacked again.

Laurent Blanc

Laurent Blanc [Courtesy]

Referred to as ‘Le President’ by many, Blanc was named French national team boss in 2010 and led the team to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2012.

He joined Paris St Germain the year after and emphatically dominated the league during his reign, winning Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue and Trophee des Champions three times each.

In 2016, PSG announced Blanc had left the club by mutual agreement.

Niko Kovac

Niko Kovac [Courtesy]

The German-Croatian manager has not had a season to remember with Bayern Munich. Joining the Bavarians in 2018 after two successful seasons with Eintracht Frankfurt, Kovac, under his ‘speculation-riddled’ tenure, managed to guide Bayern to a league and cup double.

He left Bayern on November 3, 2019, by mutual consent.

Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino [Courtesy]

‘Poch’ is the latest manager to receive the axe after failing to replicate Tottenham’s performances last season.

Just five months after guiding the club to the Champions League final, the Argentinian and his coaching staff were relieved of their duties by club owner Daniel levy due to a poor start to the season.

The 47-year-old joined Spurs from Southampton in 2014 and has been key in transforming them to a world-class side.