BBC
Swansea City have sacked Bob Bradley after only 85 days in charge of the Premier League club.
Monday’s 4-1 home defeat by West Ham was Swans’ seventh in 11 games since Bradley took over on 3 October and leaves them on 12 points, above bottom club Hull on goal difference.
Bradley was the first American to manage a Premier League club.
Chairman Huw Jenkins said: “We felt we had to make the change with half the Premier League season remaining.”
He added: “With the club going through such a tough time, we have to try and find the answers to get ourselves out of trouble.
“I have nothing but praise for Bob. He is a good man; a good person who gave everything to the job. His work-rate is phenomenal and we wish him well for the future.”
Bradley managed USA, Egypt and Stabaek in Norway before leaving French second division club Le Havre to succeed Francesco Guidolin, who had himself only been appointed in January.
| Swansea under Bradley – most goals conceded | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Games played | Goals conceded | Per game |
| Swansea City | 11 | 29 | 2.64 |
| Hull City | 11 | 25 | 2.27 |
| Crystal Palace | 11 | 25 | 2.27 |
| Leicester City | 11 | 20 | 1.82 |
At the time of Bradley’s arrival, Swansea were above the relegation zone only on goal difference but have picked up just eight points out of a possible 33 since, conceding 29 goals in the process.
“I knew exactly what I was getting into when I came to Swansea and realised the hardest part was always going to be getting points in the short run,” said Bradley.
“But I believe in myself and I believe in going for it. That’s what I’ve always told my players. Football can be cruel and to have a chance, you have to be strong.
“I wish Swansea the best and look forward to my next challenge.”
First team coaches Alan Curtis and Paul Williams will take temporary charge, starting with Swansea’s New Year’s Eve home game against Bournemouth, before the club appoints its fifth manager in under three years.
Bradley’s ill-fated reign
- Bradley’s reign begins with a 3-2 defeat by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, a loss which sees them equal their worst start to a league season
- A dismal 3-1 defeat at home against Manchester United on 6 November leaves Bradley with just one point from his first four games and prompts boos from a section of the Swansea crowd
- Swansea beat Crystal Palace 5-4 at the end of November to record their first win since the opening day of the season
- “It feels like we have a long, long way to go,” says Bradley after Swansea follow up their win over Palace with a 5-0 thumping by Tottenham
- It’s a second league win under Bradley as Swansea beat fellow strugglers Sunderland 3-0 at home. “We need to build on this result,” says the American
- Swansea concede six goals in heavy league defeats by West Brom and Middlesbrough and the pressure on the American mounts
- Bradley’s position effectively becomes untenable after a 4-1 thumping by West Ham. A section of the crowd at the Liberty Stadium chant “we want Bradley out”
