Gaining promotion within eight months of taking charge of a football club would usually earn you plenty of breathing space as far as job security is concerned, but that would not be the case for Ian Holloway who, in the space of 353 days, enjoyed the highs and lows of life in the dugout before he departed Crystal Palace on this day two years ago.
Holloway had seen his reputation enhanced during his time at Blackpool, where he earned the club promotion to the top flight during the 2010-11 campaign. After suffering relegation from the Premier League, Blackpool would miss out on a return after losing in the playoffs before starting the 2013-14 season in average fashion, with the club's 12th-placed position resulting in Palace tempting Holloway from Bloomfield Road with a four-and-a-half year contract.
After claiming a 5-0 victory over Ipswich Town in his first game in charge, Holloway would win 10 and lose just five of his opening 22 matches in charge, and despite a nine-game winless streak during the spring, Palace would seal a spot in the playoffs against Brighton & Hove Albion, who they saw off 2-0 on aggregate to reach the final against Watford.
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That left Holloway on the verge of his second promotion in the space of three years, and the 50-year-old grabbed the opportunity with both hands as an extra-time penalty from Kevin Phillips saw the Eagles return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence. After the previous three years had been spent trying to avoid relegation to League One and with the club battling to stay in existence after severe financial problems, the achievement changed the future of the London outfit for the better and gave them the platform to establish themselves as a mid-table team in England's top tier.
However, progress on the pitch would not come under Holloway, who oversaw a disastrous start to the following campaign. Palace would lose seven of their opening eight games, with their only points coming against an out-of-form Sunderland side, and losing 4-1 at home to Fulham proved to be the final straw as chairman Steve Parish announced that the club had parted company with Holloway by mutual consent, despite three-and-a-half years still remaining on his deal.
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After his departure, Parish said: "Ian felt that a new approach might help keep us in the division. It is a completely different challenge for Ian and a completely different challenge for us at the club. Ian's been very noble and he has come forward and said: 'I can't do it.' I have spent three days trying to get Ian in the frame of mind that he can do it."
Holloway was also open about his exit, saying: "I have pride in the job we have both done. We need to shut up shop in this division. At the minute we have got a whole new group there. I have to hold my hand up and say we didn't keep the spirit that got us up. We changed too much too quickly. This club needs an impetus of energy - but I just feel tired to be honest. I'm worn out."
Despite the club's promotion, Holloway would leave Palace having won just 14 of his 46 matches in charge.
Just two-and-a-half months would pass before Holloway moved into a new role, this time as manager of Millwall. Joining the club in 21st position, Holloway would successfully move the Lions a couple of places higher and away from the relegation zone, but like at Palace, his time at The New Den would be relatively short-lived. Just 14 months and 62 games later, Holloway would be sacked with the club eight points from safety in the Championship.
Darren Plant
