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5 failed football managers of 2014
In the first of a two-part series we focused on coaches who made an impact in the just-concluded football season.
The concluding part is all about those who belied expectations and failed to deliver.
- Also read: 5 managers crowned champions at first attempt
David Moyes (Manchester United)
He was consistent with Everton, helping the Merseyside club to a top-six finish in his nine years in charge.
When Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call it a day, he suggested the fellow-Scot as his replacement. David Moyes made a good start, winning the Community Shield. But that was just about it.
What followed was the worst period in recent Manchester United history.
The club finished a lowly seventh, their worst ever finish in the Premier League era, thereby failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in almost two decades.
More importantly, they ceded their Premier League title with ease, losing a whopping 12 games in the process.
The club owners became impatient and Moyes was fired with four games left to play.
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Martino took the responsibility for Barca's failure
Gerardo 'Tata' Martino (Barcelona)
Tata Martino was a surprise appointment.
He did win the Clausura title with Newell's Old Boys last season, but there were question marks about his pedigree to handle affairs at a big club like Barca.
It began well, with the Blaugrana winning the Spanish Super Copa, thanks to Neymar's vital away goal.
And the Catalan club also remained in the La Liga battle till the last match, winning both the Clasicos (vs Real Madrid).
More importantly, they failed to win in six attempts against eventual champions Atletico Madrid, the Rojiblancos also being responsible for Barca's exit from Europe.
With no major trophy to show for his effort, Martino took the blame on himself and put down his papers.
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Villas-Boas went wrong with his selections
Andre Villas-Boas (Tottenham/Zenit)
Technically, it should be Andre Villas-Boas's second season with Tottenham Hotspur and first with Zenit St Peterseburg.
Doesn't matter, though. The Portuguese failed to deliver on both counts.
The 37-year-old's failure at White Hart Lane is easier to explain.
The club owner, having benefitted from the sale of Gareth Bale (85.3 million pounds) to Ral Madrid, had made ample funds available for Villas-Boas.
It is just that the Portuguese manager went wrong with his selections. Huge amounts were spent on acquiring players like Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue and Vlad Chiriches. All of them failed to make an impact.
Only Christian Eriksen and Paulinho did. Not enough for Villas-Boas to save his job.
He was Russia-bound soon after, replacing Luciano Spalletti in Zenit.
However, despite regaining the lead, the St Petersburg club failed to seal the title.
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Mazzarri failed to inspire Inter
Walter Mazzarri (Inter Milan)
The fact that he led Napoli to the Coppa Italia title in 2012 and a second place in the Serie A in the next season helped convince Inter Milan to appoint Walter Mazzarri as their new manager.
He was officially appointed in May last year, after Andrea Stramaccioni was dismissed after a poor show in the previous season.
Did Mazzarri succeed at San Siro?
If qualification for Europe was Inter's sole aim for the season, then the answer is an affirmative. The Nerazzurri finished fifth in the league to qualify for next season's Europa League.
However, if Inter wanted to challenge for the Scudetto, then the answer is a negative. Mazzarri's side was never in the title chase and it is tough to say if the 52-year-old has managed to convince new owner Erick Thohir about his methods.
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Di Canio failed to deliver despite 14 acquistions
Paolo Di Canio (Sunderland)
Paolo Di Canio was successful in his initial objective: helping Sunderland stay in the top flight at the end of the 2012-13 season.
The satisfied club owners sanctioned the signing of as many as 14 new players.
It wasn't enough, though. Sunderland won just three of Di Canio's 13 games in charge and had to battle relegation again.
The Italian was sacked in September, after just six months in charge, and his replacement, Gus Poyet, managed to stave off relegation.