Living on the Volcano

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A man punches the wall in a strategic show of anger; another feels like a stranger to his loved ones. A third relies on “my three a day: coffee, Nurofen and a bottle of wine,” while another admits he’s an oddity who would prefer working in cricket. These are football managers, candid and unfiltered. Arsene Wenger compares the job to “living on a volcano,” speaking from his experience as the longest-serving manager in English football, having spent 17 years at Arsenal. The average lifespan of a Football League manager is just 17 months, with 53 managers sacked or resigning in the 2012-13 season and 57 changes in 2013-14. What drives these men? They are familiar figures, often revealing little about their personal and professional lives. Award-winning writer Michael Calvin explores their motivations, highlighting insecurity as a common thread, while noting that managers at different levels face unique challenges—some dealing with multi-millionaires, others with mortgage slaves. The narrative follows over 20 managers at various career stages, from those at the peak like Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez to those like Chris Hughton and Brian McDermott, who have been sacked and seek to return. Their stories provide insight into a profession often judged superficially, revealing the complexities of management that require both ruthlessness and empathy.