When Homecoming Turns To Nightmare For Football Managers

Football managers returning to their former clubs often face brutal defeats, as seen with Xabi Alonso, Pep Guardiola, and other notable figures.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 29, 2026 · 9:45 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Xabi Alonso witnessed an Anfield defeat as Liverpool eliminated Chelsea on penalties in the Carabao Cup.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick when Vincent Kompany brought Burnley to Manchester City in 2023.

Lionel Messi scored twice and Neymar added a third as Barcelona defeated Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich in 2015.

Mohamed Salah scored a penalty to defeat Steven Gerrard on his managerial return to Anfield in 2021.

Football managers returning to their former playing clubs often face a nightmarish reception. Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso experienced another Anfield defeat with a new club when Andoni Iraola's side eliminated the Blues from the Carabao Cup following a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.

Vincent Kompany (Man City 6-0 Burnley, 2023)

Manchester City's former captain brought his promotion-chasing Burnley side to the Etihad for an FA Cup quarter-final. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Pep Guardiola's team put six goals past the Clarets.

Frank Lampard (Chelsea 3-2 Derby, 2018)

Chelsea's record goalscorer returned to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup fourth round. Own goals from Fikayo Tomori and Richard Keogh undid Derby, while Cesc Fabregas settled the match in the first half.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Man United 2-0 Cardiff, 2014)

United's former player led Cardiff to Old Trafford in a Premier League fixture. Robin van Persie and Ashley Young scored on the night Juan Mata made his Manchester United debut.

Xabi Alonso (Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen, 2024)

Alonso brought his German champions to Anfield for a Champions League match. Luis Diaz scored a second-half hat-trick and Cody Gakpo added another to defeat Leverkusen.

Graham Potter (Brighton 4-1 Chelsea, 2022)

Graham Potter returned to the Amex Stadium with Chelsea and watched his side concede three goals before half-time, including two own goals, as Roberto De Zerbi claimed his first Brighton win.

Pep Guardiola (Barcelona 3-0 Bayern Munich, 2015)

Pep Guardiola's Bayern side held out until the 77th minute before Lionel Messi scored twice, followed by an injury-time goal from Neymar in the Champions League semi-final.

Pep Guardiola (Barcelona 4-0 Man City, 2016)

On his return with Manchester City, Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was sent off, and Neymar scored to seal the victory for Barcelona.

Mikel Arteta (Everton 1-0 Arsenal, 2023)

Arteta took Arsenal to Goodison Park where James Tarkowski headed in the winning goal in Sean Dyche's first match in charge.

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa, 2021)

Mohamed Salah scored a second-half penalty to defeat Steven Gerrard on his first return to Anfield as an opposing manager.

Kevin Keegan (Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle, 1996)

Kevin Keegan's title-chasing Newcastle side lost at Anfield after Stan Collymore scored an injury-time winner in a seven-goal thriller.

Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn, 1995)

Alan Shearer opened the scoring for Blackburn before John Barnes and a late Jamie Redknapp free-kick threatened Dalglish's return, though Blackburn still won the title.