Three Soccer Managers Who Should Not Have Been Sacked

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Matthew Adams | Last updated Oct 23, 2025 6:00 AM ET

Soccer managers, rightly or wrongly, get sacked. There have been a few managers who were doing just fine with their clubs, only for the board to decide that it was time to change managers. So, here are a few soccer managers whose clubs should not have sacked.

Vicente Del Bosque: Real Madrid

One of the most unjustified sackings in the history of soccer was Real Madrid dismissing Vicente Del Bosque in 2003. Del Bosque was among the most successful Real Madrid managers of recent times. During his time at the club, he won two Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, the Spanish Super Cup, and a UEFA Super Cup. In his final season, he won the La Liga title with a star-studded squad.

For Real Madrid’s chairman, this was not enough, and the club declined to renew Del Bosque’s contract after winning the La Liga title. Talks of a split in the camp and suggestions that he had taken the club as far as he could were cited as reasons. Del Bosque later became the Spanish soccer manager and won the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.

Tommy Docherty: Manchester Utd

When he arrived at Old Trafford, Tommy Docherty inherited one of the weakest Manchester Utd teams for a generation (rather like Amorim did in 2024). Utd struggled in the league with an aging squad, and Docherty could not prevent relegation in the 1970s. His quick rebuilding soon saw them bounce back into the top division of English soccer, and they finished as high as third under him. In 1977, he brought the trophies back to Old Trafford when his Utd team beat Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

Man Utd dismissed Docherty from his post after the revelation of his extramarital affair. That had little to do with soccer, and the Man Utd faithful regard him as one of the club’s best managers.

Gianluca Vialli: Chelsea

When appointed Chelsea player-manager, Gianluca Vialli was not a proven manager. He did, however, have a good team and won them the Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup in his first season. The Blues went on to win further trophies, including the UEFA Super Cup and the FA Cup. Chelsea’s league form was also decent, and they finished as high as third in the Premiership, which was their highest ever finish at the time.

Chelsea had not won the league title, and the club sacked Viallia after a slow start in 2001. His successor, Claudio Ranieri, was unable to win a single trophy for the club despite considerable player investment. Only when José Mourinho (yup, the special one) arrived at Stamford Bridge did Chelsea’s title drought end. Alas, Vialli was not special enough for Chelsea.

End of My Soccer Managers Rant

So, those three managers were doing great work for their clubs. Real Madrid, Manchester Utd, and Chelsea all won numerous trophies with these managers. They were still mysteriously dismissed from their clubs. Sack the boards!

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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