Managers are supposed to be the figurehead of a football club – authoritative, loyal, and a role model for the players. But somewhere in the EFL, a move away is being plotted. A buyout clause is being negotiated. And a hero is about to become a zero. How The EFL Traitors – Managers – Works […]
Managers are supposed to be the figurehead of a football club – authoritative, loyal, and a role model for the players.
But somewhere in the EFL, a move away is being plotted. A buyout clause is being negotiated. And a hero is about to become a zero.
Welcome to The EFL Traitors – where not every manager who pledges their allegiance means it.
If you’ve ever caught an episode of The Traitors, you’ll know how this plays out.
We’re going to select our Traitors – EFL managers who have previously gone under the radar or blatantly upset their fanbase, in forcing a selfish move up the pyramid.
After that, we’ll pick our bosses who have been as good as gold – proper ‘one club men’, worthy of being Faithfuls.
Then, we’ll select our Secret Traitors – our predictions on who is going to be next Harry Redknapp and throw the footballing world into chaos!
Let the games begin.
It’s time to tiptoe around the roundtable and select our traitors – who has deceived all and quit to join a rival team? Who will be next?
Owen Coyle is a manager known to supporters of two football clubs in particular – Bolton Wanderers and Burnley.
The 59-year-old had been in charge of Burnley during the 2009/10 season following a spell that had seen the Clarets promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 33 years.
However, during the campaign, Coyle agreed a move to local arch-rivals Bolton Wanderers in January 2010, causing anger from Burnley supporters.
When the Wanderers next faced the Clarets, with Coyle still in charge, the 59-year-old was named “Judas.”
In response to this, he stated that Burnley fans should have called him “Moses” for guiding the team out of the wilderness, helping him to become even more hated in Claret circles.
Well played Owen but perhaps slightly too forward!
Alex McLeish left Birmingham City in the summer of 2011 with the manager leaving the Blues by his own choice and, most surprisingly, by email of all choices.
Then, just five days later, McLeish joined local rivals Aston Villa who are located just two miles from St Andrews @ Knighthead Park.
The move created a large amount of controversy with McLeish right in the centre of it.
Meanwhile, following protests and anti-McLeish graffiti, he guided Villa to a 16th placed finish just to get fired following the end of the campaign.
When discussing the reasons behind his sacking, Aston Villa cited his playing style as once of them. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot and gaining a collective hatred, from both sides of Birmingham!
Perhaps the most traitorous move of them all, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp resigned from his post in 2004. Just weeks later, Redknapp took over as manager of arch-rivals Southampton, a move he later called “crazy” and “the biggest stupid thing” he ever did.
Pompey fans felt betrayed, labelling him a “Judas,” and Redknapp received significant abuse, including death threats and fishermen yelling abuse at his home.
Despite the move across to the west of Hampshire, Redknapp couldn’t prevent Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2004-05 season.
Less than a year later, Redknapp returned to Portsmouth once again, then won the FA Cup. He said: “It was a bad mistake to go to Southampton and that’s not being disrespectful to them, but really I shouldn’t have done it for the sake of the fans.
“I know how people must have felt when I left. When I left I genuinely never thought I would go to Southampton.”
Harry, you have our respect – traitor!
Next up is our Faithful section! These select few are being rewarded for excellent behaviour – loyal managers.
Our first faithful is the longest-serving manager in the EFL.
Simon Weaver has been the manager of Harrogate Town since May 20, 2009, a tenure of over 15 years – guiding them from non-league football to the EFL.
Originally player-manager of the League Two side, Weaver is now a hero for Town fans young and old.
As faithful as it can get!
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has been at the club for five years now.
The Northen Irishman has had many-a-chance to leave the Tractor Boys, receiving offers from Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion in 2024, but turned both down.
A man clearly not in football management for a payday, he’s waiting for his club Manchester United’s call.
We hope for his sake that he gets it – faithful!
Our final faithful, John Coleman managed Accrington Stanley (who are they?) for nearly 25 years across two stints at the club.
Coleman’s first stint in charge of the Reds was from 1999 to 2012, before returning in September 2014 after brief spells elsewhere. Coleman led Stanley to promotion to League One in 2018, cementing his already.
From non-league to legend – a true faithful.
Portsmouth manager Mousinho, who guided the club back to the Championship in 2023/24, is a hero for Pompey fans.
But as somebody who has felt hard done by with a lack of investment from his higher-ups, could Mousinho soon force a move away?
It may not be to rivals Southampton, but we think Mousinho could break the hearts of Blues fans and have an ugly exit.
Paul Heckingbottom has helped to guide Preston North End to a sixth placed finish in the Championship this season and a promotion could make him a hero in North End circles.
However, should be not be promoted, could Heckingbottom experience difficulty and become the next manager to fall into the bad books of Preston supporters?
It could shake the Championship but that’s what a secret traitor is there for.
Make sure to check out our player’s edition of the EFL Traitors.
