[article=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/the-hairdryer/laudrup-sacking-huw-jenkins-first-major-error-210101779.html]One thing in Jenkins' favour is Laudrup's record. After cutting his managerial teeth at Brondby, his Getafe and Mallorca teams played good football. Spartak Moscow less so.
But after leaving Brondby, he has never lasted more than two seasons. Indeed, this spell in Wales is his longest managerial run in one of Europe's bigger leagues: in Russia he was sacked after seven months.
My Spanish colleague Ivan Costello sees Laudrup as "unlucky": "Michael Laudrup needs to return in Spain, with a club like Valencia, Real Betis or Sevilla, and recover his passion with the Spanish way of life. It is only due to bad luck that he was sounded out to coach Real Madrid but was fired from Swansea City months after."
Our Russian office was less glowing of Laudrup (Igor Zelenitsyn: "The Spartak of Laudrup was the most boring team in Russia and his dismissal was 100% correct"), but it does seem that - whatever the reason - he does suffer from 'second season syndrome', like a footballing equivalent to American terror-drama Homeland.[/article]