Stoke City has been guided by Mark Hughes to three straight ninth-place finishes for 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 season, their best place finish since 1974-75 before finishing 13th last season. However, their team which has added weight by bringing in new players like Jese from Paris Saint Germain, Kurt Zouma from Chelsea and Saido Berahino from West Bromwich Albion in January has failed to perform this season.
Stoke City is known for their mettlesome defending and they have become famous in the footballing world as the place teams struggle to win points at. Their physical style of football at the bet365 stadium has been popularized to the extent that it is now considered an achievement for teams who to win matches on a “cold, rainy night at Stoke”.
They are a powerful side with tall burly players all across the pitch who loves to play the physical game. With the addition of stout and pacey attackers, they perfected their balance on the pitch. However, things have fallen apart this season. As is always the case with any club suffering a loss of form, the axe falls on the manager. Mark Hughes is no exception.
This was their club statement.
“Stoke City can confirm that the contract of manager Mark Hughes has been terminated with immediate effect,” the club stated in a string of comments posted on Twitter.
“We would like to thank Mark for all he has achieved for the Club over the last four and a half years, notably in guiding us to three successive ninth places finishes in the Premier League, and we wish him every success for the future.
“The Club will look to appoint a new manager as soon as possible and will be making no further comment at this time.”
As Stoke’s hunt for a new manager intensifies, the latest man to be linked with them is Ireland boss Martin O’Neill.
The former Aston Villa manager is no stranger to the Premier League and the 65-year-old will probably be handling both the national team and club job for a short while. O’Neill has had a successful career in every club he has managed with one of his greater achievements being helping Aston Villa to three consecutive 6th placed finishes in the Premier League. He has also won league titles with Celtic and took the Scottish club to a European final in 2003.
Whether O’Neill who has been out of club management for almost five years now can help Stoke City change their fortunes this season will remain to be seen with the club executives yet to confirm any rumours linking them with the Irishman.
