What are the shortest managerial reigns in Premier League history?
Scott Parker has joined a rather unpopular club having been dismissed by Bournemouth just four games into the 2022/23 season.
The Cherries won their season opener against Aston Villa after returning to the Premier League from the Championship, but defeats to Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in the time since has resulted in Parker losing his job.
It's a great shame after Parker made such a positive impact on the club when joining last season, taking them back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
But, a career in management unfortunately is one that is never without scrutiny and pressure. And when your team loses 9-0 in the Premier League - no matter how good the opposition might be - it becomes incredibly difficult to justify things.
After the harrowing defeat to Liverpool, Parker didn't mince his words post-match and seemed to suggest that the club were going to be resigned to such defeats throughout the season, due to the squad not being good enough.
That hasn't gone down well, and after it became the third league loss on the spin, it was enough for him to lose his job in rapid fashion.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Scott Parker, Manager of AFC Bournemouth reacts during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on August 27, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
The unfortunate managerial sack race is a hotly debated topic at the start of every season, and while there has been plenty of concern surrounding Bournemouth and their ability to avoid relegation, Parker was not the name on everybody's lips when predicting who would be gone first.
Plenty of managers remain under pressure and the likelihood is a number will follow Parker out of the door imminently, but for now, we think it's as good a time as ever to take a look at the shortest managerial reigns in Premier League history. Check it out below.
11. Pepe Mel (West Brom) - 120 days
Mel arrived in January 2014 to replace the sacked Steve Clarke and steer the baggies clear of the relegation zone, but was out of the door by May having failed to lift the spirits at the Hawthorns.
West Brom did avoid relegation that season, but only by the skin of their teeth, convincing the club that another manager was required for the following season.
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Pepe Mel manager of West Bromwich Albion (L) looks on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City at The Hawthorns on May 11, 2014 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
10. Steve Wigley (Southampton) - 107 days
Interestingly, Southampton have also been on the receiving end of a 9-0 defeat - twice. But we aren't here to discuss the manager who was in charge for both of those, amazingly.
Instead, we go back to August 2004 when Wigley was given the Saints' managerial job on a full-time basis just two games into the season, following Paul Sturrock's departure. He couldn't live up to the task at hand, though, and was gone in December after 14 games.
9. Claudio Ranieri (Fulham) - 106 days
Ranieri's return to the Premier League years after taking Leicester to the Premier League title was an unfortunately forgettable one.
He took charge at Fulham in November 2018, but couldn't get a response from the squad, won just three games out of the 16 he managed and was gone the following February, with Fulham 10 points adrift of safety.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 08: Claudio Ranieri, Manager of Fulham reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham FC at Old Trafford on December 8, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
8. Tony Adams (Portsmouth) - 106 days
A run in the UEFA Cup was about as good as it got for Adams in 2008/09. His league form while in charge of Portsmouth was woeful after taking the reigns in November, and he couldn't inspire an uplift inform.
Adams was gone by February, with Portsmouth in a very tough spot.
7. Colin Todd (Derby County) - 98 days
Into the sub-100 days zone, Todd took charge at Derby in October 2002 with the club in a tough spot.
Unfortunately, things wouldn't get any easier with his arrival as Todd was unable to inspire the Rams away from the drop zone. He was dismissed in January.
10 Oct 2001: New Derby County manager Colin Todd shouts instructions to his players during the Worthington Cup, Third Round match between Fulham and Derby County at Craven Cottage, London. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Phil Cole/ALLSPORT
6. Terry Connor (Wolves) - 91 days
The most memorable moments to come out of Connor's brief and rather painful stint in charge of Wolves are the incredibly meme-worthy screenshots of him in post-match interviews, which is rather telling of how things went.
Taking charge in February 2012 following Mick McCarthy's dismissal, Connor was well out of his depth and picked up just four points from 13 games as Wolves finished plum last and were relegated to the Championship.
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5. Quique Sanchez Flores (Watford) - 85 days
It's not a managerial sackings list without Watford, right? Right. Flores knows all too well about their brutal policy when it comes to managers, but came back for a second bite of the cherry in September 2019.
The Spaniard couldn't make it stick, and was relieved of his duties by the Hornets for a second time by December, barely having time to even get his foot back in the door.
WATFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 05: Quique Sanchez Flores, Manager of Watford reacts during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Sheffield United at Vicarage Road on October 05, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
4. Bob Bradley (Swansea City) - 84 days
Bradley had his back against the wall from the minute he took charge of Swansea in October 2016.
Ridiculed by British media for - unsurprisingly - being incredibly American, Bradley was under the pressure from the off with Swansea struggling. His side conceded 29 goals from just 11 games and he was sacked as a result in December. At least we got the funny Soccer AM sketches out of it.
3. Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace) - 77 days
Famously dubbed the worst manager in the league's history by Jose Mourinho back in 2018, De Boer surprisingly doesn't have the shortest reign. He does have an abysmal record, though.
The Dutchman arrived at Crystal Palace in 2017 to much fanfare despite a woeful spell in charge of Inter. It went horrifically. Palace lost their opening four games and failed to score a goal in doing so. He lasted just three more before being sacked.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10: Frank de Boer, Manager of Crystal Palace looks dejected following defeat in the Premier League match between Burnley and Crystal Palace at Turf Moor on September 10, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
2. Rene Meulensteen (Fulham) - 75 days
Remembered best for his spell as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's go-to men at Manchester United, Meulensteen's step into Premier League management in 2013 was disastrous.
Fulham decided he was the man for the job in December 2013, but he failed to leave his mark and was gone by February 2014, having managed just 13 games. Ouch.
1. Les Reed (Charlton Athletic) - 41 days
It's going to take some doing for a manager to knock Reed off the top spot, with his dismal spell at Charlton in 2006 still standing strong as the shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.
Taking charge in November, Reed lasted just six weeks in the job before losing his job on Christmas Eve. He looked helpless on the touchline and his team looked exactly the same on the pitch. Ouch. Draw a line under it and swiftly move on.
MIDDLESBROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM - DECEMBER 23: Charlton Manager Les Reed watches his team during the Barclays Premiership match between Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic at The Riverside on December 23, 2006 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)