By Martin Graham
The Premier League has already seen a number of managerial changes this season, particularly a Nottingham Forestbut one familiar name has made it clear that his time on the touchline is probably over. Frank de Boer, remembered for a historically poor spell in England’s top flight, has reflected on his short and turbulent spell in management.
De Boer endured one of the shortest and least successful reigns in Premier League history while in charge Crystal Palace in 2017. His tenure lasted just 77 days, ending on 11 September that year after four consecutive La Liga defeats without a goal scored. This run made him the statistically worst performing manager in the history of the competition. Their only win came in the EFL Cup against Ipswich Town.
His short-lived spell then also set a record for the fewest games managed before the sack, a mark later equaled by Sam Allardyce during his brief spell at Leeds United in 2023.
Life after the dugout
Following his departure from Palace, De Boer went on to coach Atlanta United, the Netherlands national team, and Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates, with his most recent job ending two years ago. The 55-year-old Dutchman has since stepped away from full-time training and seems content to sit out it.
Speaking to Voetbal International, De Boer admitted that he doesn’t miss the intensity or the criticism that comes with being a manager. “Never say never, but I’m not exactly excited,” he said. “I don’t miss all that negativity.”
Now, his focus is elsewhere: spending more time with his family and enjoying a slower pace of life. “I am a grandfather three times over, I do things for UEFA and for TV for Viaplay, I have a house in Spain. And I can play a lot of padel,” he added. “I’m very happy with my life.”
From the triumph at Ajax to the hard lessons abroad
Before his ill-fated projects a Inter Milan and Crystal Palace, De Boer was celebrated for his remarkable success at Ajax. During his five-and-a-half years in Amsterdam, he guided the club to four consecutive Eredivisie titles between 2011 and 2015.
However, his subsequent experiences at Inter and Palace proved far less fruitful, lasting just 85 days in Italy before being sacked, followed by his short-lived spell in the Premier League. Now, after a coaching career marked by ups and downs, De Boer looks set to leave the touchline firmly in the past.
