The Boston Red Sox fired World Series-winning manager Alex Cora and five coaches amid a 10-17 start to the season, according to multiple reports. The decision came after a disappointing opening stretch that left the team near the bottom of the American League East. Cora, who led the Red Sox to a championship in 2018, had been under pressure as the team struggled to find consistency. The club has not yet named a permanent replacement, and the coaching staff overhaul signals a significant shake-up for the franchise. In Australia, the St George Illawarra Dragons terminated Shane Flanagan's contract after an 11-game losing streak and an 0-7 start to the 2026 season, according to multiple reports. Club officials publicly framed Flanagan's exit as a 'mutual agreement', but the decision was widely seen as a firing. General Manager of Football Ben Haran also departed under similar circumstances, as reported by multiple sources. Interim coach Dean Young sacked assistant Michael Ennis as part of a 'circuit breaker', according to multiple reports, in an attempt to reverse the team's fortunes. Ennis had been considered for the interim head coach role but was instead dismissed, leaving his future with the club uncertain.
In Major League Soccer, CF Montréal fired head coach Marco Donadel after a 0.88 points per game record and five defeats in six games, according to multiple reports. The club has never announced a record signing and their payroll of $12 million was the league's lowest in 2025, as reported by multiple sources. Donadel's dismissal reflects the team's ongoing financial constraints and struggles on the pitch. The club has not yet announced a replacement, and the low payroll suggests limited options for a turnaround.
Xabi Alonso did not get enough time. It's very complicated.
French football saw a series of dismissals across Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Amiens SC fired head coach Omar Daf with the club in 16th place in Ligue 2, according to multiple reports. FC Nantes fired Ahmed Kantari due to poor results and a lack of dialogue with the squad, as reported by multiple sources. The specific poor results or lack of dialogue that led to Kantari's firing have not been detailed. Vahid Halilhodzic is the leading candidate to replace Kantari at Nantes, according to multiple reports, but it remains unclear if he will be appointed or if other candidates are under consideration. Paris FC dismissed Stéphane Gilli on 22 February 2026, according to research from two sources, though The Guardian did not specify a date. Antoine Kombouaré replaced Gilli as manager, arriving the day after the dismissal, according to multiple reports. Gilli had felt like a lame duck since the Arnault family took over the club midway through last season, as reported by multiple sources. Paris FC were in the top half of the table in mid-October but dropped to 15th after winning only one of their last 11 games, according to multiple reports. The players were informed of Gilli's departure in the dressing room after a 1-1 draw against Toulouse on Saturday, as reported by multiple sources. Paris FC signed striker Ciro Immobile, aged 36, in January, who had yet to score after four appearances, according to multiple reports. The club also brought in Marshall Munetsi, Diego Coppola and Luca Koleosho on loan in January, as reported by multiple sources.
Stéphane Gilli is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a defender, according to research from two sources. He worked as a physical therapist after a bad injury, with CS Sfaxien, Nîmes and Fulham, as reported by two sources. Gilli was the long-term assistant manager to Mehmed Baždarević for 17 years, according to research. He managed Bosnia and Herzegovina for one game against Gibraltar in March 2017 after Baždarević was suspended, as reported by two sources. Gilli was terminated from Bosnia and Herzegovina after knocking out the tooth of Greek player Giannis Gianniotas during a brawl after a 0-0 draw with Greece on 9 June 2017, according to research. He was appointed interim manager of Paris FC on 30 December 2019 after Baždarević was sacked, as reported by two sources. Gilli was assistant manager for Vahid Halilhodžić with the Morocco national team from 2020 to 2022, according to research. He was formally appointed manager of Paris FC on 3 June 2023, as reported by two sources. Paris FC returned to Ligue 1 after 46 years under Gilli, and he earned promotion to Ligue 1 at the first time of asking by finishing second in Ligue 2, which can be stated as fact.
In German football, Fortuna Duesseldorf fired Markus Anfang and hired Alexander Ende for the last five games, according to multiple reports. Anfang won six of 22 games during his six-month stint, as reported by multiple sources. Real Madrid fired Xabi Alonso on January 12 after about seven months in charge, according to multiple reports. According to Fotbolltransfers, former Real Madrid player Luís Figo described the decision as premature, saying Alonso did not get enough time. The club has not yet announced a permanent replacement, and the dismissal adds to a turbulent season for the Spanish giants.