“The ten coaches who should have resigned this season.”

The 2023/24 season has been a true battleground for coaches in European football, with several managers showing evident signs of wear and contemplating resignation at critical moments. Among them, prominent names like Arne Slot, Ruben Amorim, and Eddie Howe seem to have experienced seasons that felt more like a horror film for those steering the fates of their teams.

Arne Slot, the current manager of Liverpool, reportedly offered his resignation after a season marked by dramatic ups and downs. Despite the painful elimination in the FA Cup against Manchester City, his departure did not materialize, as there remains a crucial phase in the Champions League where Liverpool will fight for a place in the semifinals. However, internal sources reveal that Slot was on the verge of leaving his position during a particularly tumultuous season for managers, with Liverpool experiencing a sharp decline in performance since the defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning European champion. In November, the team suffered three heavy losses – against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and PSV – in a dismal month that culminated in a public confrontation between Slot and Mo Salah, leaving the manager in an unsustainable position.

Another name that did not escape the pressure was Ruben Amorim, who in December seemed determined to part ways with his project at Manchester United. Sources close to the club revealed that the coach was “looking for the opportunity to leave,” a situation that had been anticipated by commentators like Richard Keys for almost a year. Amorim, a young and ambitious coach, saw his path marred by this internal crisis that shook the confidence of both fans and management.

Among the most glaring cases this year is also Eddie Howe, who saw his season crumble after a promising start. Despite notable victories against Manchester United and Chelsea, the humiliating defeat against Barcelona, by 8-3 on aggregate in the Champions League, and the early elimination from the FA Cup against Sunderland were fatal blows. March was the month of truth for Howe, who, according to many critics, should have resigned in a Kevin Keegan-style gesture to save what remained of his reputation.

Other coaches also stood out for the wrong reasons, such as Thomas Frank, whose decline began to take shape in November after a series of poor results and a controversial reaction against Tottenham fans. Nuno Espírito Santo was involved in one of the most surreal episodes of the Premier League, nearly being sacked twice in the same season, and his departure from Nottingham Forest only occurred after several public provocations from the club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis. Meanwhile, Vítor Pereira, at Wolves, saw his season marked by strange decisions, including the reliance on tall and inexperienced players in the Premier League, culminating in a disastrous run that should have led to his departure long before November.

Oliver Glasner, Scott Parker, and Enzo Maresca were also cited as clear examples of coaches who should have left their positions at crucial moments. Glasner, at Crystal Palace, revealed he had decided not to renew his contract back in October but stayed until the end of the season, which weakened his reputation. Parker, at Bournemouth, found himself surpassed by his own club, which sacked him to promote an assistant coach who achieved better results. Finally, Maresca, at Chelsea, experienced “the worst 48 hours” of his career in November but could have left after impressive victories against Barcelona and Arsenal, before the situation deteriorated.

This season has been a true rollercoaster, with late decisions and moments of crisis that could have been avoided had the coaches dared to leave their positions earlier. Top-level football does not allow room for hesitation, and the stories of these ten coaches show that sometimes the best course of action is to cut the problem at its root. The pressure, the results, and the internal dynamics require the courage to leave at the right moment, something that has been sorely lacking this season. The lingering question is: who will be the next to pack their bags before it’s too late?

This article first appeared on Apito Final.