Shortest Ever Managerial Reigns in UK Football

Written by Yaro Pavlenko

With the recent sackings of the likes of Wilfried Nancy at Celtic, along with Ruben Amorim exiting Man Utd and Enzo Maresca leaving his Chelsea post, as well as several other high-profile exits this season, how do these managerial reigns compare to the shortest ever terms in the dugout?

Spreadex Sports looks at that very question as we look at the Top Five Shortest Ever Managerial Reigns in UK Football!

While Leroy Rosenior's famous '10 minute' spell at Torquay Utd often tops similar lists, due to the very unusual circumstances of that particular appointment, this list focuses on more substantive periods in charge of a club - although these spells were not that much longer!

1) Sam Allardyce — Leeds United (Premier League, England)

Duration: ~30 days in charge (May–June 2023).

Matches managed: 4 competitive matches (1 point, 1 draw, 3 losses) in that spell.

'Big Sam' was brought in by Leeds in a late attempt to stave off relegation, for which Allardyce was a known specialist. However, the appointment was unsuccessful on this occasion and after just a month in charge, the spell was brought to an end.

In an incredible coincidence, Allardyce also holds the unwanted record of the shortest term as a permanent England manager. After just 67 days in charge and one match managed, he was relieved of his duties after being embroiled in a controversy where he was caught by an undercover reporter explaining how to circumvent FA transfer rules.

Interestingly, Allardyce left with a 100% winning record with the Three Lions, a record unlikely to ever be matched or beaten, albeit based on a solitary game.

2) Wilfried Nancy — Celtic (Scottish Premiership, Scotland)

Duration: 33 days in charge (Dec 2025–Jan 2026).

Matches managed: 8 competitive matches (6 defeats, 2 wins).

After much hype and expectation, Nancy failed to show any of the managerial promise or forward-thinking nous from his time in the MLS as a disastrous spell at Celtic was brought to a swift end.

In what seemed for some a strange mid-season appointment considering interim manager Martin O'Neill's immediate success at the Buoys helm (and again since Nancy's sacking), the fit never seemed right as a run of six defeats from eight and several strange press conferences saw Nancy out of the door.

3) Steve Claridge — Millwall (Championship, England)

Duration: 36 days in charge (summer 2005).

Matches managed: 0 competitive matches (sacked before the season started).

The only spell in this list that didn't even see a single match managed, Steve Claridge's Millwall tenure saw its beginning and end in the summer of 2005. 

To be fair to Claridge, his term was decided not by his failings on the pitch, but due to boardroom changes and instability within the club. After the exit of Dennis Wise as player-manager and the chairman who appointed Claridge suddenly resigning, decisions were made and Claridge was - unfortunately for him - unable to ever show if his appointment would have been a success.

4) Ange Postecoglou — Nottingham Forest (Premier League, England)

Duration: ~39 days in charge (Sept–Oct 2025).

Matches managed: 8 competitive matches (0 wins, 1 draw, 7 defeats).

'Big Ange' holds the ignominy of having the shortest mid-season spell in charge after a disastrous spell earlier this season following Forest's early-season sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo after a poor start to the 2025/26 campaign. 

Postecoglou had earlier been sacked by Spurs after an awful domestic season in 2024/25 which could not be glossed over by winning the Europa League, and the Aussie's stock certainly took a hit at the City Ground after a winless run which was not tolerated by Forest's fiery owner Evangelos Marinakis.

5) Les Reed — Charlton Athletic (Premier League, England)

Duration: ~40–41 days in charge (Nov–Dec 2006).

Matches managed: 7 competitive matches (4 points).

The final name on our list and with the longest period in charge, Reed lasted 41 days and seven competitive matches in charge of Charlton, which unfortunately for him yielded a measly 4 points and meant his tenure came to an abrupt end in December 2006.

WHO WILL BE NEXT?

In the cut-throat world of elite football, managerial sackings are inevitable. So - who will be the next manager to have a short reign, and will a new name join the list and replace anyone in the current top five? Watch this space.