This year it snuck up on us quite quickly. No, not Christmas, but layoff season in English football.
Early season optimism has waned at many clubs across the country, prompting trigger-happy owners to become irritated and make changes in the management department.
On Sunday, four bosses in England's top four leagues were given the opportunity – and they all happened to be homegrown coaches: Gary O'Neil (Wolves), Russell Martin (Southampton), Des Buckingham (Oxford) and Matt Taylor (Bristol Rovers) .
There are now only two English bosses in the Premier League, compared to 16 Italians in Serie A, 15 Spaniards in La Liga, 10 French in Ligue 1 and nine Germans in the Bundesliga. These statistics are worrying, coupled with the FA highlighting a lack of confidence in England bosses in hiring Gareth Southgate's successor. Thomas Tuchel from Germany took over that post.
But look further and there are plenty of highly rated, homegrown young coaches in the English Football League – and abroad – making their keep.
Here, Mail Sport runs through the 10 best English coaches who are ready to move on to your club's next vacancy…
Matt Bloomfield (Wycombe)
Considering the big money giants in League One, including Birmingham – who have spent a mega £15 million on one player this summer alone – Wycombe Wanderers should be nowhere near the automatic promotion places.
But they are, thanks to this club legend. He made 558 appearances for them as a one-clubman and now leads their charge as boss. The 40-year-old has reached the Chairboys top third tier after following in the footsteps of Gareth Ainsworth. They are undefeated in seventeen games.
Speaking to Mail Sport earlier this year, Bloomfield was asked about his highs and lows as a player and replied: 'Easy mate, we're both captain at Wembley – one we won, one we lost.' You suspect that leading Wycombe to the Championship as manager could trump any memory.
Possible landing spot: Sky are the limit for a 40-year-old, but it will take a big bid to tempt him away from Wycombe's promotion bid.
Liam Rosenior (Strasbourg)
The best way to prove Rosenior's talents is to look at the Championship table and find his former club, Hull City, in a worrying position of 24th. Firing Rosenior looked strange at the time and now seems like a catastrophic move by Tigers owner Acun Ilicali.
But Rosenior is on the move in the French top flight with Strasbourg, which owns Chelsea's BlueCo. He made his mark with the coaching teams of Brighton and Derby and, still only 40 years old, the former full-back is on course for a decent managerial career.
He plays attractive football and believes he has learned more in France in a few months than he would in five years in England, outside his comfort zone. Rosenior loves developing young talents and idolizes Arsène Wenger as a manager to look up to.
Possible landing spot: Would be a surprise if he doesn't play in the Premier League in the next few years.
Michael Skubala (Lincoln)
Mail Sport spent a day in Skubala's office last season and the drive home on the windy roads from Lincoln was spent pondering just how far this man could go. He just missed his target in the playoffs last season, but just to be in the conversation was an achievement.
The 42-year-old has taken a not-so-beaten path to the track, having taken his coaching badges at the age of 17, studied sports science at university and worked as a teacher before heading up England's futsal programme, mainly five by five. at a professional level.
He is part of a growing number of bosses who have not had a significant playing career and Skubala describes management as 'like being in a pressure cooker'. However, he is dealing with the heat and certainly has a bright career ahead of him.
Possible landing spot: Championship – then maybe higher!
Michael Carrick (Middlesbrough)
Manchester United legend Carrick is no longer a new manager, but don't take anything away from his performances at Middlesbrough. They finished fourth in 2022-2023 but suffered a slight slump as they missed out on the top six last year. The backbone of their team was icing on the cake.
Now Carrick and Boro are back in the hunt for promotion, with the 43-year-old's side scoring 35 goals – more than all but Leeds in the division – and they are well on their way to a play-off tie. Carrick will soon be destined for the Premier League, whether at Boro or elsewhere.
Possible landing spot: Premier League in the bottom half.
John Eustace (Blackburn)
In October 2023, Eustace had Birmingham City in sixth place in the Championship. He was fired. Wayne Rooney took over and the rest, as they say, is history. Blues are now in League One and Eustace, who gained a reputation while out of work, returned to the game with Blackburn.
Rovers are on a six-match winning streak and have kept five clean sheets in a row, five points clear of the automatic promotion spots with a game in hand. Eustace, 45, is another who looks ready for the highest level. Watch, Wolves or Southampton?
Possible landing spot: Premier League in the bottom half.
Lee Bell (Crew Alexandra)
Perhaps similar to the aforementioned Bloomfield in his loyalty to the club of his heart, Bell had two spells with local team Crewe Alexandra and is now manager. It is believed he was approached this week by League One club Burton, also a former club, but he turned them down.
That's because he believes that Bell, with the second bite of the cherry, can lead the Alex himself to the third level. In terms of budget and available squad, getting them to the play-off final last season was a remarkable achievement. They now hope to go one better and are third.
“This club has given me the life I have today,” Bell, who wants his teams to play like Jurgen Klopp's, told Mail Sport in May. 'My son is here. If I were fired tomorrow, I wouldn't want my son to be anywhere but here. It means a lot to me, this club.'
Possible landing spot: He turned down more money at Burton, so it will take a lot to lure him away from the railroad guys, but he's a classy coach and man.
Mat Sadler (Walsall)
Sadler's Saddlers fly in League Two and also play a nice brand of football. At just 39 years old, the Birmingham City academy graduate is bringing the good times back to nearby club Walsall. He has had admirers in higher divisions all season.
Possible landing spot: Millwall have weighed him for their vacancy. The championship would be a big step forward, but many have made it successful in recent years.
Dave Challinor (Stockport)
Mr Promotion. In fourteen seasons as boss, Challinor has overseen seven promotions: one at Colwyn Bay, three at AFC Fylde, one at Hartlepool and now two at Stockport County, whom he has taken from non-league to League One.
At 49, he is the oldest boss on this list, but Challinor, who once held the world record for the longest throw-in in football, is a class man and could quickly move up the divisions again. Don't worry County fans, that could just happen at Edgeley Park, with Stockport in fifth.
In an interview last season, Challinor told Mail Sport that his biggest mantra was professionalism. “My mentality is that in the top leagues or part-time leagues it's about working as professionally as possible,” he said. 'Minimize excuses and make people accountable.
Possible landing spot: Championship clubs will take note of his CV.
John Mousinho (Portsmouth)
The 38-year-old had one of the toughest nights of his career on Friday as his side were beaten 4-0 by fellow promoted Derby, but the fact that Portsmouth are in the Championship is enough reason for Mousinho to make this list.
Many had tried and failed to return Pompey to the second tier over the past decade – many with decades of experience under their belts. Former Burton and Oxford midfielder Mousinho is a workaholic who takes his laptop to bed… and as the chant goes, 'who needs Jose Mourinho?'
Possible landing spot: Even if Pompey are relegated, Mousinho is good enough at this level.
Adam Hinshelwood (York City)
The wild card on the list of a family that was burdened by football. Adam manages York City, son Jack plays for Brighton, grandfather Wally played in the top flight in the 1950s, father Paul played almost 300 times for Crystal Palace and uncle Martin was there too, now a scout.
Hinshelwood Minstermen are second in the National League and could make a famous return to the EFL. Several managers have made the leap from that level in the past year – think Stuart Maynard from Wealdstone to Notts County or Mike Williamson from Gateshead to MK Dons.
Possible landing spot: A League Two club will certainly make a move if Hinshelwood does not gain promotion from York.
PS…
O'Neil and Martin still have a lot to give despite their recent dismissals, as does Buckingham after leaving Oxford. And one who might be on your club's list in the coming months is 40-year-old Nick Cushing, who recently left New York City FC in Major League Soccer.
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