WHY WINNING THE PREM CAN BE BAD FOR JOB SECURITY

THE Premier League has become as much of a curse as a reward. Incredibly, Antonio Conte looks set to be the latest in a long line of managers to lose their job the season after winning the title. Carlo Ancelotti (left) started the trend with Chelsea in 2010, winning the Premier League and FA Cup Double – only to be sacked in May 2011 after finishing second. Jose Mourinho (left) won the title in his second spell at Chelsea in 2015 – and was then sacked within six months, losing his job the following December. Claudio Ranieri (left) won the title with Leicester in 2016, but was axed the following season as the managerial curse struck again. Manuel Pellegrini (left) won the title for Manchester City in 2014, but lasted slightly longer. He left in 2016, but winning the Premier League offered him no job security, either. But the reason is simple. It is often harder to retain the title than to win it, with every opponent out to bring down the champions. And, after finishing first one year, second place is nowhere the next.