Huw Jenkins has said it is “vital” Swansea City appoint the right manager following the departure of Carlos Carvalhal – sentiments the club chairman has expressed seven times in the last four years.
Carvalhal – the man who often talked about throwing all the meat on the barbecue – finally ran out of gas on Friday.
Five days after the club were officially relegated from the Premier League, the Swans issued a statement confirming that the Portuguese’s five-month stay would be extended.
Carvalhal was in charge for 18 league matches. For nine of those he produced top four, Champions League form as he accumulated 17 points.
For the next nine, he provided relegation, managerial sacking material of just three points, with no victories.
The Swans were relegated from the Premier League on Sunday, the end of their seven-year stay in the top flight confirmed by a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke.
Carvalhal was appointed as Paul Clement’s successor in December, just three days after leaving Sheffield Wednesday.
He won five of his first nine league games as Swansea climbed to 13th place, but they were condemned to the Sky Bet Championship after picking up only three points from the last 27 on offer.
Managers already being linked with the post include former Wales boss Chris Coleman, who was recently sacked by Sunderland, and Swedish club FK Ostersunds’ boss Graham Potter, while long-serving Swans player Leon Britton also has his admirers.
Jenkins said: “While there are already rumours linking us with several managers, it is vital that we identify the right person to take this team forward.
“We’d like to put on record our thanks to Carlos for his enthusiasm, hard work and commitment since arriving at the club in December.
“Naturally, we are all disappointed with the club’s relegation from the Premier League, and following discussions with Carlos, we felt it was in the best interests of both parties that we move in a new direction.
“We will now be looking to appoint a new manager in readiness for the 2018-19 season.”
In a statement on the club’s official website, Swansea also confirmed that first-team coaches Joao Mario and Bruno Lage have left the Liberty Stadium, along with match analysts Jhony Conceicao and Paulo Sampaio.
Carvalhal said after the Stoke game that Swansea’s American owners had spoken to him about being in charge next season.
But Swansea have decided not to take up the option of extending the Portuguese’s short-term contract.
Carvalhal said: “First of all, I must thank the chairman Huw Jenkins and majority owners Stephen Kaplan and Jason Levien for their full support.
“It has been a big pleasure to manage Swansea City, and I am very grateful for the way not only the club but the city welcomed me.
“From the players to the chefs, the physios and staff, I really enjoyed working with you all.
“I also appreciate the way the press at local and national level treated me. I like to think we had a very positive relationship.
“But most of all, I must thank the supporters. They were absolutely fantastic during my time here, and they follow the team up and down the country with huge passion. You should be very proud of your support.
“While Swansea and myself will go in a different direction, I wish the club all the best. I am sure I will be a Jack forever.”
Carvalhal’s departure from Swansea means there have now been a Premier League-record 14 managerial changes this
He follows Sam Allardyce (Everton) and David Moyes (West Ham) in leaving their roles in the week between the end of the season and Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Add in 10 changes during the league season and Arsene Wenger’s pre-announced departure from Arsenal after their final game against Huddersfield, and this season has now surpassed the previous record of 13 changes.
Crystal Palace sacked Frank de Boer just four matches into the season – and his three-year contract – and Craig Shakespeare and Ronald Koeman left Leicester and Everton respectively in October.
Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic at West Ham and West Brom sacked Tony Pulis before Paul Clement became Swansea’s first casualty of the campaign before Christmas.
January saw Mark Hughes and Marco Silva leave Stoke and Watford respectively, Mauricio Pellegrino left Southampton in March and the following month, Alan Pardew became the second West Brom boss sacked.
Defining a season as the period from August 1 one year to May 31 the next, the previous mark was reached in 2013-14 after a similar end-of-season flurry.
That campaign saw Manchester United and Norwich part company with Moyes and Chris Hughton respectively in April before – at the end of the season – Pepe Mel left West Brom and Tottenham sacked Tim Sherwood before luring Mauricio Pochettino from Southampton to replace him.
It was Tottenham’s second change of the campaign after Sherwood had taken over from Andre Villas-Boas in December, with Fulham also changing twice and Sunderland, Crystal Palace, West Brom, Cardiff and Swansea contributing to the total as well.
The 2015-16 season, when Aston Villa sacked Sherwood and Remi Garde, also finished with a bang.
Everton’s Roberto Martinez, Manchester United’s Louis van Gaal, Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini, Watford’s Quique Sanchez Flores and Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink all left their posts in May – some having been announced beforehand – to take the season’s total to 12.
The 2008-09 season, which featured another short-term assignment for Hiddink at Stamford Bridge, and the final season of a 22-team Premier League in 1994-95 each saw 11 managers fall.