Chelsea icon speaks out after being brutally sacked as manager while live on BBC
A former Chelsea midfielder learned he’d been sacked by his club during a live broadcast on the BBC
Gus Poyet was unceremoniously sacked on live TV(Image: Getty)
Life as a football manager can be unforgiving – but the way Gus Poyet lost his job at Brighton & Hove Albion was especially extraordinary. In June 2013, Poyet discovered he had been sacked while taking part in a live BBC broadcast.
The Uruguayan had travelled to Manchester to provide analysis for BBC Three’s Confederations Cup coverage of Spain against Nigeria when Brighton publicly confirmed his exit.
The announcement came despite a hugely successful period for the club. Poyet had inherited Brighton when they were competing in League 1 and later guided them to fourth place in the Championship, along with a run to the play-off semi-finals.
Their promotion hopes ended after defeat to fierce rivals Crystal Palace but supporters were still stunned by the timing of his removal. Poyet later admitted he had no indication the decision was coming.
FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
READ MORE: Ex-Chelsea star reveals health scare that left him paralysed during European finalREAD MORE: Luis Enrique makes PSG feelings clear on facing Arsenal in Champions League final
“The chairman tried to sit me down in London, we had a meeting one to one (to discuss a new contract)… he was convinced I had an offer (from another club) but I had nothing,” Poyet, 58, explained on The Managers podcast.
“So then I asked him to let me go and I went up to (the BBC studios in) Manchester for that game. And I remember, I talked to my lawyer who told me they (Brighton) would like to put a clause (in my new contract)… half an hour later we went live, I took my jacket off, I asked for a cup of tea, and the presenter (Mark Chapman) said, ‘You just got sacked.’
“I said, ‘What?’ We were not live at that stage. We asked them to bring the statement – and I got sacked. Which was sad.”
Despite the shock of the situation, Poyet later argued there was likely a misunderstanding. “It was a mistake probably, they made a mistake,” he said.
“(Brighton probably thought) if we don’t agree (a new contract), we sack him. So they sacked me – and they didn’t know I was on TV. So a mistake.”
His time away from football did not last long. Sunderland appointed him in October 2013 after the disastrous reign of Paolo Di Canio. Poyet successfully moved Sunderland out of danger, taking the side from 20th up to 14th and also led them to the 2014 League Cup final before losing to Manchester City.
Even so, he was unable to complete a second full season on Wearside. Sunderland dismissed him following a 4-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, a result that left the club hovering above the relegation zone.
In the years since, Poyet has managed across several countries, including Greece, Spain, China, France, Chile and South Korea. In April 2026, he accepted the role of head coach at Al-Khaleej FC in Saudi Arabia’s top division.
As a player, Poyet also enjoyed an accomplished career with Chelsea, Tottenham and Real Zaragoza. His most decorated years came at Chelsea, where he won four major trophies, including the FA Cup in 2000, plus the League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
£43
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
