You are here: Home > News > Top 10 shortest managerial reigns
March 28 2024 4.57pm

Top 10 shortest managerial reigns

January 12 2011

George Burley

George Burley

George Burley only lasted six months as Crystal Palace manager and he makes it into the top 10 shortest managerial reigns.

10. Steve Coppell
June 8 1995 to Feb 8 1996 - 246 days

Steve Coppell returned to Palace for a second time as Director of Football, with Ray Lewington and Peter Nicholas working under him as coaches. He quit with the team in the bottom half of the table leaving Dave Bassett to take over.

9. Terry Venables
June 4 1998 to Jan 15 1999 - 225 days

Terry Venables came back to Palace under chairman Mark Goldberg but his second spell as boss was a let down. The former England head coach made some strange transfer dealings and the team flattered to deceive in the league. He stepped aside just over halfway through the season as the financially crippled club could not afford his extravagant salary and bonuses.

8. George Burley
June 17 2010 to Jan 1 2011 - 208 days

The former Scotland manager was appointed after the CPFC2010 consortium rescued the club from administration. A terrible first half to the season which had Palace languishing in the bottom three at the end of the year resulted in Burley getting the chop after an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at Millwall.

7. Steve Kember
Nov 10 1981 to June 1 1982 - 204 days

Youth team coach Steve Kember took the manager's reigns for the first time and was a popular choice among fans and players. He guided the team to the sixth round of the FA Cup and safety in the league with a final place of 15th but was dismissed in the close season.

6. Steve Kember
May 23 2003 to Nov 3 2003 - 164 days

Kember had a second stint as Palace boss after two successful roles as caretaker manager. But despite a promising start, the Eagles slipped down the table and he was sacked after a 5-0 thumping at Wigan.

5. Steve Bruce
May 31 2001 to Nov 2 30 2001 - 156 days

Steve Bruce arrived at Selhurst Park with a disloyal reputation from his previous clubs. Five months into his tenure with Palace, Bruce was lured back to his old side Birmingham with the Eagles sitting third in the table and looking a good bet for promotion.

4. RS Moyes
July 1 1936 to Dec 1 1936 - 153 days

Club director RS stepped into the manager's chair in what can be described as a strange move at the time but it was just a short stay. He disapproved the incoming transfers of John Palethorpe and Vincent Blore and resigned to become chief scout. Three years later, the FA banned him for 12 months after discovering illegal payments had been made to those players.

3. Paul Hart
March 2 2010 to May 2 2010 - 61 days

Paul Hart took control of first team affairs until the end of the season in the wake of Neil Warnock's departure with Palace fighting for survival after a 10 point deduction. And the ex-Portsmouth boss kept the Eagles up on the final day of season with a nail-biting 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.

2. Malcolm Allison
Dec 1 1980 to Jan 26 1981 - 55 days

The charismatic manager returned to Selhurst Park after a memorable spell in the early 1970s. His second stint was a damp squib and he walked out with his fedora, champagne and cigars after picking up just one victory.

1. Attilio Lombardo
March 13 1998 to April 29 1998 - 47 days

Probably the strangest managerial appointment seen at Palace happened two days after a 6-2 defeat at Chelsea. The Bald Eagle replaced Steve Coppell at the helm despite having no experience as a manager and spoke very little English. He left the post after the club were relegated from the Premier League.

Footnote: Dave Bassett didn't officially sign a contract when he spent four days at the club in 1984.

In Depth Crystal Palace Top 10s


Email us with your comments to editor@holmesdale.net

Latest Headlines

Palace Talk Forum Latest

Forest Predictions
at 4.45pm by Daddyorc

Forest Predictions
at 4.33pm by silvertop

Forest Predictions
at 4.06pm by rob1969

Goalkeeper
at 3.49pm by dreamwaverider

Forest Predictions
at 3.38pm by Palace Old Geezer

Forest Predictions
at 3.21pm by eagleman13

You are here: Home > News > Top 10 shortest managerial reigns