From Ferguson to Klopp, football’s greats encounter bumps on their final bows
Football history is replete with iconic managers who’ve shaped the game, but not all farewells to the sport end on a high note. Jurgen Klopp’s recent upset in the FA Cup, thwarting his dreams of a quadruple trophy exit from Liverpool, echoes the experiences of several legendary managers whose final acts were marred by near misses and disappointments. Here’s a glance at five football luminaries whose curtain calls didn’t go as planned.
Sir Alex Ferguson
The legendary Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, ended his storied 26-year tenure with a Premier League title, his 13th with the club. However, his final season was tinged with regret, especially in the Champions League, where a controversial defeat to Real Madrid in the round of 16 dashed his hopes for a final European triumph. Despite domestic success, the abrupt Champions League exit and a frenetic 5-5 draw in his last game left an unfulfilled feeling in Ferguson’s farewell.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger’s departure from Arsenal after 22 years was clouded by the team’s diminishing returns, culminating in a 6th place Premier League finish and a Europa League semi-final exit to Atletico Madrid. The Frenchman’s final season saw the Gunners’ worst league defeat tally under his management and a League Cup final loss, overshadowing his transformative impact on the club.
Embed from Getty ImagesPep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona set the benchmark for modern football excellence, yet his final season saw the Catalans dethroned by Real Madrid in La Liga and a shocking Champions League semi-final exit to Chelsea. Guardiola, visibly drained by the pressures of his role, took a sabbatical, leaving behind a legacy of breathtaking football but a bittersweet last chapter.
Embed from Getty ImagesJose Mourinho
The “Special One” experienced a rare muted exit from Real Madrid in 2013. Despite prior successes, Mourinho’s last season saw Barcelona wrest back La Liga control, and Real suffered a Champions League semi-final loss and a Copa del Rey final defeat to city rivals Atletico Madrid, marking an unceremonious end to his Spanish saga.
Embed from Getty ImagesJurgen Klopp
Klopp’s impending departure from Liverpool has been marked by highs and lows, mirroring his final season with Borussia Dortmund. Despite early struggles at Dortmund, Klopp led a resurgence to finish seventh and reach the DFB Pokal final, only to fall to Wolfsburg. At Liverpool, despite early success in domestic cups, his team’s FA Cup elimination by Manchester United has added uncertainty to his final act.
Embed from Getty ImagesThese stories serve as poignant reminders of football’s unpredictable nature, where even the most celebrated careers can face unforeseen challenges at their conclusion. Despite these setbacks, the legacies of Ferguson, Wenger, Guardiola, Mourinho, and Klopp remain untouched, their impact on the game indelible.
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