Seven managers who keep returning as Darren Ferguson gets 4th Peterborough stint
Darren Ferguson has been appointed Peterborough manager for the fourth time – and just 11 months after he left the club.
The son of legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has replaced the sacked Grant McCann, who was axed after just one win in nine in League One with Posh eighth in the table.
He first took charge in 2007, taking them from League Two to the Championship. He then secured another promotion to the second division during his second spell from 2011-2015, and made it a hat-trick in 2021.
Ferguson resigned last February but couldn't stay away for long – just like the following seven managers who also kept returning to their former side.
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Graham Westley – Stevenage
In stark contrast to Ferguson, Graham Westley only had only stint at Peterborough. But he's taken the reins at Stevenage four times during his managerial career.
After a three-year spell from 2003-2006, the 54-year-old returned in 2008 and guided them to back-to-back promotions up to League One.
But in his third spell the Hertfordshire club were relegated back to the fourth tier in 2014. And his fourth went even worse, losing all six games he took charge of from December 2019-February 2020 before resigning.
Does your club have a player or manager who keeps coming back? Let us know in the comments section.
Franciszek Smuda – Widzew Lodz
Polish coach Franciszek Smuda has racked up a mega 27 different spells on his CV – five of which have come at Widzew Lodz in his home country.
His first reign was extremely successful, winning the title twice and getting into the Champions League group stages where they faced Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Steaua Bucharest.
He returned in 2002, 2003 and 2004 before going on to manage his nation in 2009. But, of course, he went back to Lodz in 2017 for another bite at the cherry, which only lasted a season.
Martin Allen – Barnet
Martin Allen looks to be done with management with his last job at Chesterfield ending four years ago – but you wouldn't rule out a return to Barnet for him.
The former QPR and West Ham midfielder, who earned the nickname 'Mad Dog' during his playing days, had a staggering five spells with the Bees.
He was appointed in 2003, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2018, helping them avoid relegation from the Football League in his third tenure but was unable to repeat the trick six years later.
Nicolo Napoli – FC U Craiova
Former Juventus defender Nicolo Napoli really takes the biscuit when it comes to returning to a former side. The 60-year-old is now in his eighth, yes eighth, spell in charge of Romanian side FC U Craiova, who's own fans are even sick of the sight of him.
Upon his return last January, a group of ultras told him: "We are tired of this soap opera. Come on. We have nothing against you personally, we have nothing to do with you as a human being. But we don't want you anymore. We are tired. Leave us, brother. Leave us."
But he's still in the job – for now.
Gheorghe Multescu – Dinamo Bucharesti
Gheorghe Multescu's CV looks more like the menu from your local Chinese there's so many entries on it.
He has sensationally taken charge of 40 football teams in just 37 years, with Dinamo Bucharesti calling him up and giving him the boot on five separate occasions.
His first spell with the Romanians came all the way back in 1990. Some 31 years later he took charge of them for the final time in 2021.
Nicknamed Smurdul after the Romanian emergency services – due to taking the reins at clubs in danger of relegation and helping them avoid the drop – it seems he's the equivalent of the likes of Sam Allardyce.
Jupp Heynckes – Bayern Munich
Retired German coach Jupp Heynckes is one of Bayern Munich's best ever managers – and they probably would've been better off keeping him than employing him on four separate occasions.
He won back-to-back titles in his first reign from 1987-1991 but was given the boot, which general manager Uli Hoeness later described as "the biggest mistake of my career".
He returned 16 years later to take on a caretaker role for the final five games of the season, ensuring Bayern qualified for the Champions League.
But the Bundesliga giants didn't give him his job back full-time until 2011. He won the title, cup and Champions League treble in 2013, but was pushed out the door in favour of Pep Guardiola.
He then finished his career with one final stint at the Allianz Arena in the 2017/18 season, lifting the title once more before retiring.
John Sheridan – Oldham
John Sheridan's managerial career came full circle – he just could not get away from Oldham Athletic.
He had two spells as caretaker boss of the Latics before taking charge permanently in 2006, spending three years in the dugout before a run of poor results cost him his job.
His second spell as full-time manager came in 2016 and he saved the club from relegation to League Two in the six months he was there.
A third full-time tenure in 2017 lasted just a matter of months too, as did his final one last year. Oldham fell out of the Football League after Sheridan was appointed in January and he left in September.
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