As the popular adage goes, there’s only two types of managers in this world: those that have been sacked and those that will be sacked in the future. The football manager’s job has been hailed as the loneliest on the planet — an awful, thankless task that pushes its practitioners to the brink of madness.
If you’re looking for proof, look no further than Palermo’s 2015-16 Serie A season.
The club began the season under the leadership of Giuseppe Iachini, who’d guided the club to the Serie B title in 2013-14 and followed that up with a respectable 11th place finish in the top division in 2014-15.
But after opening the new campaign with four wins, two draws and six defeats, the club grew anxious for a new direction and owner Maurizio Zamparini sacked the experienced manager.
Next up was Davide Ballardini, who compiled a record of two wins, four defeats and one draw. However, one of those victories marked his final match in charge — according to reports, the Palermo players were forced to do all the preparation for the match themselves with Ballardini refusing to speak.
Then came caretaker boss Fabio Viviani, who lost 4-0 to Genoa.
He was followed by Argentine Guillermo Schelotto, who oversaw a 4-1 win against Udinese before it was revealed that he did not have the proper coaching qualifications to manage in Serie A.
In came Giovanni Tedesco — while Schelotto worked behind the scenes — but he only lasted three games before Schelotto moved to Boca Juniors and Tedesco was subsequently relieved of his duties.
Giovanni Bosi was installed; he lost to Torino 3-1, and Giuseppe Iachini — the manager who’d started the season — was reinstalled.
Iachini lost two, drew one and was sacked again.
In came Walter Novellino, who lost three and drew one. He was sacked, and in came — also for the second time — Davide Ballardini.
Remarkably, Ballardini finished the season with three wins, two draws and one defeat. The absurd turn of form actually saw Palermo avoid relegation by a single point, proving that it’s a pretty sound strategy to make nine managerial changes involving seven different men in one season.
But not really — Palermo would be relegated the following season while using five different managers.
