Football’s nine harshest manager sackings ever – multiple Chelsea victims and Man United scapegoat among those hastily dismissed

Frank Rijkaard – Barcelona (2003-2008)

Okay. So his replacement in Catalonia, one Pep Guardiola, did go on to revolutionise the side and possibly football itself with an incredible new style and indoctrination.

But Rijkaard’s dismissal does seem a particularly harsh one considering much of his work was successful including a plethora of trophies and bringing the fiery and unique Ronaldinho to the Camp Nou to wreak havoc on La Liga.