The rare 'long-term' relationships in European football: only 6 managers coaching same team for more than 5 years
CGTN

There are 98 managers working in the five major football leagues – Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 – in Europe. Only six of them coached the same club for more than five years, according to a report from Tencent Sports. Judging by today's tendency, it will be quite difficult to expect for contracts to extend like they did for Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsène Wenger, who coached the same club for over 20 years.

In today's world, where football contracts are almost "short-term relationships," Stéphane Moulin of Angers SCO is the longest-coaching manager in the five major European leagues.

Ligue 1

Stéphane Moulin, manager of Angers SCO, reacts in a Ligue 1 game against Montpellier V Angers at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France, March 10, 2019.

Stéphane Moulin, manager of Angers SCO, reacts in a Ligue 1 game against Montpellier V Angers at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier, France, March 10, 2019.

Besides being the  longest-coaching manager in the five major European leagues, Stéphane Moulin of Angers SCO is also the longest-coaching manager for one team in the French league. 

He took over from Jean-Louis Garcia in 2011 and, four years later, Moulin helped Angers SCO get promoted to Ligue 1 where they currently rank No. 8 after 19 games.

Premier League

Eddie Howe, manager of A.F.C. Bournemouth in a Premier League game against West Ham United at London Stadium in London, UK, January 1, 2020.

Eddie Howe, manager of A.F.C. Bournemouth in a Premier League game against West Ham United at London Stadium in London, UK, January 1, 2020.

Five of the 20 managers working in England's top league have coached their teams for more than three years and they are: Eddie Howe, seven years in A.F.C. Bournemouth; Sean Dyche, seven years in Burnley; Jurgen Klopp, four years in Liverpool; Chris Wilder, three years in Sheffield United; Josep Guardiola, three years in Manchester City.

Howe took over as Bournemouth's manager in 2012, when the club was still in EFL League One and took them to EFL Championship by the end of the season. Two years later, he helped the team achieve another promotion and this time to the Premier League for the first time. In the past four seasons, Howe's team remained in the top league as No. 16, No. 9, No. 12 and No. 14, respectively.

Currently, Bournemouth is currently No. 18 with a 5-5-11 record.

La Liga

Diego Simeone, manager of Atlético Madrid reacts in the Supercopa de Espana game against Barcelona at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, January 9, 2020.

Diego Simeone, manager of Atlético Madrid reacts in the Supercopa de Espana game against Barcelona at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, January 9, 2020.

Only three managers in the Spanish top league have been leading their team for more than three years: Diego Simeone, eight years in Atlético Madrid; José Luis Mendilibar, four years in SD Eibar; José Bordalás, three years in Getafe CF.

Having taken over from Gregorio Manzano before Christmas in 2011, Simeone played an important role in reviving Atlético Madrid. In his first season, the Red and the Whites won their second UEFA Europa League title in franchise history. One year later, they defeated Real Madrid to claim the Copa del Rey championship. Then in the 2013-14 season, Simeone brought the La Liga championship trophy to Wanda Metropolitano.

In his eight years as Atlético Madrid's manager, Simone helped the team win one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey championship, one Supercopa de España title, two Europa League championships and two UEFA Super Dup titles. He also led the team to the UEFA Champions League Final twice. This season, Atlético Madrid again made the Supercopa de España final after knocking out Barcelona.

Bundesliga

Christian Streich, manager of SC Freiburg tries to give his players instructions in an Bundesliga game against FC Schalke 04 at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, December 21, 2019.

Christian Streich, manager of SC Freiburg tries to give his players instructions in an Bundesliga game against FC Schalke 04 at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, December 21, 2019.

Only two of the German first league's 18 managers have coached the same team for over three years: Christian Streich, eight years in SC Freiburg, and Friedhelm Funkel, three years in Fortuna Dusseldorf.

When he was a player, Streich played for SC Freiburg for years. In 1995, he became the club's U-19 team manager at the age of 30. After that, he had been working as an assistant manager until taking over from Marcus Sorg.

So far, Streich has already coached SC Freiburg for more than 300 games.

Serie A

Leonardo Semplici, manager of S.P.A.L., in a Serie A game against Lazio at at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Italy, August 20, 2017. /AP Photo

Leonardo Semplici, manager of S.P.A.L., in a Serie A game against Lazio at at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Italy, August 20, 2017. /AP Photo

The Italian top league currently has four teams that have been hiring the same manager for over three years: Gian Piero Gasperini, three years in Atalanta; Simone Inzaghi, three years in Lazio; Roberto D'Aversa, three years in Parma Calcio 1913; and Leonardo Semplici, five years in S.P.A.L..

Semplici became manager of S.P.A.L. in 2014 when the club was in Serie C and spent two years guiding them to a promotion to Serie B. However, Semplici and S.P.A.L. did not stay long in the second division because they reached Serie A in the next season - first time for the club in 49 years.