Almost since the takeover of Manchester City by the Abu Dhabi United Group, City fans have become accustomed to seeing many managers names mentioned as being potential candidates to take over from Mark Hughes, whose job is under threat on an almost daily basis. Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini and Jurgen Klinsmann are the three most recently named.
City fans must be wondering what is going on in the last few days as there have been no reports of Hughes on the brink of being sacked or set to be replaced by anyone and everyone not in a job.
But it’s about time Hughes’ position has stopped being scrutinised in such a way. Being a football manager in the Premiership must be the most pressurised job in football. With so much money being pumped into the top flight, it is easy to disregard a manager who hasn’t achieved any amount of success. It is likely that Gareth Southgate will be sacked at the end of the season, whether Middlesbrough are relegated or not. Tony Mowbray may survive after taking West Brom up in the first place, while Newcastle will have to appoint a new manager anyway, should they both also be relegated.
Look at the manager’s already dismissed this season. Tottenham quickly disposed of Juande Ramos, who was hailed as the clubs saviour following the sacking of a certain Martin Jol; the same Martin Jol who is on the verge of reaching the UEFA cup final with Hamburg. The replacement for Ramos was Harry Redknapp from Portsmouth, who installed Tony Adams into the hot seat, only to dismiss him after just thirteen games.
Blackburn Rovers appointed Paul Ince as Hughes’s replacement at Blackburn, but dismissed him before the year ended, while Sunderland and Roy Keane went their separate ways. But the biggest casualty this season was undoubtedly Luis Felipe Scolari, sacked by Chelsea less than a year into his contract. Another big name manager failing to make an impact at the Bridge.
It has been said before that managers need to be given time to assemble their team properly if they are to challenge on a regular basis. Although City fans will hate this example, we only have to look over the road at Old Trafford to see an example of what time can do. In September 1989, Manchester United visited Maine Road. Despite spending heavily in the summer on players such as Gary Pallister and Paul Ince and two of the Wallace brothers from Southampton, United were soundly thrashed 5-1.
Towards the end of the match City supporters waved and sang a farewell tune to Alex Ferguson. Almost twenty years after that match, Sir Alex is still in charge at Old Trafford, while City have had a string of unsuccessful managers come and go through their doors and the only manager who showed some promise, Sven Goran Eriksson, was sacked after just one season in charge.
If clubs want success at any level, they have to stick with the manager, at least until the end of his contract. They have to allow him to build and shape the team and mould their style of play. It takes time and with time must come patience. City fans are amongst the most patient in the world, having waited since 1977 to lift a trophy. If Mark Hughes can bring that success, another couple of years to allow him to build will be nothing compared to the success he can bring.