There was a phase in the men's professional game where there seemed to be an obsession with appointing young, up-and-coming managers. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler are examples of young managers who have been successful, but this isn't always the case.
Why Clubs Are Turning Back To Experienced Managers
Real Madrid opted for young managers in their last two managerial appointments: Xabi Alonso replaced the highly respected Carlo Ancelotti, and Alvaro Arbeloa replaced Alonso after he failed to control the player discord at Los Blancos.
What did the Real president do? He has now gone back to appoint his friend and former coach, Jose Mourinho. The Special One has come into the Real Madrid not for the first time in such circumstances. In his first spell, the now 66-year-old at the time won La Liga with 100 points, which remains the record to this day.
Simply put, he disrupted the dominance of a Barcelona team that many thought was pretty much indestructible. Something similar is needed here. The Catalans have almost sleepwalked to two La Liga titles.
Los Blancos have looked unbalanced and unorganised in the last two seasons. Under Carlo, the veteran coach appeared to paper over cracks.
Mourinho, Ancelotti And Moyes Prove Experience Still Counts
Talking of Don Carlo, he too has been somewhat of a firefighter for Florentino Perez. Real Madrid weren't able to win the Champions League for a few years, and when Ancelotti returned, so did the titles.
The now-Brazilian manager has won five Champions League titles, more than any other manager; maybe that explains why The Selecao were so desperate to appoint Carlo in the first place.
Several up-and-coming managers were hired and fired by the Brazil FA.
Scottish side Celtic were similar in the sense that they appointed well-respected Northern Irishman Martin O'Neil to save their fledgling season, which he did as the defending SPL champions not only defended their crown, but they also won the Scottish Cup.
David Moyes is another example of a veteran manager who has saved clubs due to his know-how. West Ham and Everton are the two clubs he stabilised. Now the former Sunderland manager isn't at the London Stadium; this, in part, is linked to The Hammers' relegation, I think.
In the case of all these men, they have evidently held their own, despite the emergence of younger managers who arguably have fresher tactics.
Honourable mentions
The Championship appears to be adopting a model similar to that of top British clubs and some abroad. Roy Hodgson and Tony Mowbray, managers of Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers respectively, bring a wealth of experience.
The Robins have appointed League One title-winning coach Michael Skubala on a three-year deal, but it must be pointed out that the former Fulham manager did good work to help stabilise Bristol City.
The baton will need to be passed on someday
The veteran coaches that we have mentioned Jose Mourinho, Tony Mowbray, Martin O'Neil, and Carlo Ancelotti are coaches who, despite defying time at present, can't go on forever.
There will be a time when the young guns will need to command the respect that the experienced managers do, but that will surely happen with time, right? These experienced managers were young once.
