5 managers who can face the sack if they don't win silverware this season

Life at the top is always tough and it’s no different when it comes to the managerial hot seat. 10 managers were sacked in the Premier League last season while 13 faced the axe in La Liga. It’s a crazy life for managers at these clubs as investors seek immediate returns without paying much heed to any footballing reasons.The revolving door phenomenon is even more visible when it comes to men in charge of any of the big boys in Europe. You have to walk the talk at that level. The huge outlays that the owners of the Barcelonas and the Manchester Citys of the footballing world provide, means the clubs not only want but demand an equivalent level of success to their investment. One season without silverware can mean that you can very well say goodbye to the job.Here are five managers who might face the axe this season if they fail to fill the club's trophy cupboard.

#1 Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)

Chelsea have had 9 different managers during the reign of Roman Abramovich. That’s 10 managers at the rate of a one manager per season. Surprisingly that’s also the average career span of a Premier League manager. So can you still say Abramovich is too harsh? That’s a discussion for another day.

Roman Abramovich has done it before and he won’t shy away from doing it again. Jose Mourinho might have a god-like stature amongst the Chelsea faithful, but for Abramovich, it’s the end result that matters. Mourinho has already had his trial-run last season. This season it’s time to bring the trophies home.

Even Ancelotti couldn’t survive the “Wrath of Roman”; getting the sack after finishing runners-up in 2011 (and winning the FA Cup), just a season after the Italian had led Chelsea to their third Premier League title.

Chelsea have splashed the cash to bolster every part of their squad. Diego Costa and Didier Drogba have come in to rid Chelsea of their striking woes, while Cesc Fabregas was brought in to bring even more quality in the middle of the park. Filipe Luis was also brought in at Stamford Bridge to strengthen an already impressive defence.

With Abramovich ready to loosen the purse strings as always, Mourinho has been allowed to bring in his own players. Now, “The Special One” will be expected to provide some special results

Buy football t-shirts here

#2 Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)

The appointment of Massimiliano Allegri as the successor of Antonio Conte was met with general surprise and not very positively at that by the Juventus faithful. His disastrous spell (following the Scudetto triumph) at AC Milan is still fresh in the minds of all Italian football fans and what prompted Andrea Agnelli to give Allegri the job, still remains a mystery to most.

In his three years at Juventus, Antonio Conte delivered three Scudetto and transformed the club from a contender to the primary benchmark setter in Italian football. Whatever feelings Juventus fans might harbour for the ex-Milan manager, one thing is for sure: Allegri has some big boots to fill in the dugout at the Juventus Stadium.

Conte has left behind a legacy and more importantly a squad that can challenge the best in Europe. With such talents at the disposal of Allegri, any major mishap in his first season at Turin might result in the swift departure of the 47-year old.

While Allegri has a chance at redemption following his largely unsuccessful time at AC Milan, the star power at his disposal will also be the reason for pressure to be perpetually piled on the new Juventus boss.

Buy football t-shirts here

#3 Laurent Blanc (Paris Saint-Germain)

Laurent Blanc enjoyed a reasonably successful first season at the helm at Paris Saint-Germain last season, but the pressure to perform won’t be any less on the Frenchman this season.

Ever since being taken over by Qatar Sports Investment in 2011, Paris Saint-Germain have returned to prominence not only in France but also in Europe. The middle-eastern group headed by Nasser Al-Khelaifi have stood by their name and provided a sizable investment in the club, resulting in the arrival of multiple world-class stars at the Parc des Princes.

With Al-Khelaifi pumping in the money, the Parisians have seen superstars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham, Thiago Silva and Edinson Cavani amongst others arrive at the French capital. The household names haven’t fluffed their lines either, leading PSG to their first domestic title in 19 years in 2013.

The team experienced a successful transition last season as Laurent Blanc took over, spearheading a successful defence of a domestic league-cup double and a reasonable display in the Champions League. His managerial skills will again be put to the test this year as the "Dream Bigger" project will continue to demand more success from the former French international.

While the Ligue 1 title should be the nominal target, further progress in the Champions League will be what Al-Khelaifi will be looking at after the Parisians bowed out at the quarter-finals stage of the competition last season.

Buy football t-shirts here

#4 Pep Guardiola (Bayern Munich)

Football is a funny game and many statements made today can be made to look ridiculous if looked back upon in a few years time. One whole season is long enough to change one’s perspective, beliefs and make them second guess themselves.

Such is the case with Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich. While the Bavarians have given their full backing (going as far as to say that they will “never sack Guardiola”), things might need to be quickly revisited in a year’s time if it doesn’t go to plan this season.

Guardiola, however, remains realistic about Bayern’s lofty targets and he himself admitted last month that he fears of being let go if he doesn’t meet the ambitions of bringing home the main prize. While Bayern remain the favourites to retain the Bundesliga (and winning everything there is to win in Germany), the German champions’ true aim is to be crowned champions of Europe.

Its all about the business of winning and winning at any cost at Bayern. We are all too familiar with the ruthlessness of the Bayern hierarchy. Guardiola himself replaced Jupp Heynckes after the German had won it all in his final season in charge of the Bavarians. For Guardiola and the Bayern the season might just turn out to be “treble or bust”.

Buy football t-shirts here

#5 Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)

I don’t believe there is any other club in the world that shares quite the insatiable appetite for success like Real Madrid. And that is exactly the reason that legendary Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti can expect the sack if he fails to bag either the La Liga or the Champions League.

Florentino Perez is as hungry a man as there is the world of football and there is little that he would spare to make sure his team achieve their objective. You just have to send your minds back rushing 12 years to gain some perspective. Perez and Real Madrid decided not to renew a certain Vicente del Bosque’s contract even after the Spaniard had led Madrid to a Champions League triumph. And that was after del Bosque had steered them to 2 La Liga titles and 2 Champions League triumphs in his four years at the club.

With Madrid, bringing in the like of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez to the Bernabeu this season, the pressure will be firmly on Ancelotti to not only replicate last year’s triumph, but also better it.

Perez, quite alike Bayern will not only look for triumphs in the domestic scene, but also will eye the Champions League as the main prize. If Ancelotti fails to deliver, it might well be lights out for the Italian.