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Having parted company with Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti after a disappointing season, Chelsea are once again searching for a new coach with Dutchman Guus Hiddink the bookies favourite to take over the reigns at Stamford Bridge. Rolly Pelovangu investigates…
A poisoned chalice or a great opportunity to manage at one of world football’s richest clubs? In earnest, assuming the hot-seat at Chelsea football club pertains to both of the aforementioned possibilities.
It is something Carlo Ancelotti himself can attest to. Just 12 months ago the former AC Milan boss could do no wrong. With the Barclays Premier League trophy firmly wrestled from the hands of Manchester United and the FA Cup lofted high in the Wembley sky, not even a hallucinating Nostradamus could have predicted the events just one calendar year later.
The Blues players barely had time to board the bus out of Merseyside before news of Ancelotti’s dismissal was broken to them. Of course the feeling of deja-vu is quintessentially inescapable as owner Roman Abramovich once again flexes his very big and frighteningly powerful blue muscles.
Having splashed over £600million since 2003 on his ‘toy’, the Russian billionaire is perhaps justified in demanding results – consistent and forthright. Failure is, in his eyes, not an option, alas, one could be forgiven for equating the 44 year-old as the football version of Stalin.
The Georgian-born Soviet dictator was known to be a ruthless man, somewhat unnecessarily and it is such traits which eerily reveal themselves in Abramovich. Chelsea’s most successful and popular manager Jose Mourinho was kicked to the kerb after three-and-a-half seasons and many trophies. Avram Grant was shown the door after a John Terry slip, whilst World Cup winner ‘Big’ Phil Scolari barely had time to learn the English language before receiving his P45.
The good news for Ancelotti is that he leaves South-West London on a relatively positive note and still has his credibility as a quality manager intact mainly thanks to the double of 2010. Nevertheless, the way the Italian was sent packing will reaffirm to many onlookers that the Chelsea job has become a poisoned chalice.
Whether it is signing an overpriced and ageing Andriy Shevchenko, drumming out respected number 2 Ray Wilkins, appointing a sporting director to directly undermine the coach, or sealing the signature of a painfully off-form Fernando Torres for £50million, Abramovich’s constant meddling in Chelsea’s managerial affairs is proving to cause more harm than good.
The fact that the Stamford Bridge based club are searching for their sixth boss in four years axiomatically proves this. Good managers such as Carlo Ancelotti need to be supported and backed through thick and thin. If it is European success which is so badly craved for, then Mr Abramovich need only be reminded of ‘Carletto’s’ credentials, namely three Champions League finals (including two victories) in five seasons whilst at Milan. No other top class coach save Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola can match such a record.
The decision to drop the guillotine on the eyebrow-raising Italian smacks of ruthless, in addition to needless desperation and has served to bolster the idea that nothing but uncertainty is certain over at SW9.
So who will now assume the hot-seat? Bookies have already thrown up the names of a variety of coaches from established ones to the atypical young, up-and-coming managers across the continent. Prime favourite is current Turkish boss Guus Hiddink who led the Blues to FA Cup success in 2009. Marco Van Basten is another person who has emerged as a leading candidate although the Dutch legend has much to prove in the dugout.
FC Porto’s current boss Andres Villas-Boas has also been touted having led his side to a domestic double as well as Europa League success to boot. A surprise inclusion in the list is current Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who at 64 years of age may fancy one last crack at the big time.
Have your say below. Who should Chelsea appoint as their new coach?
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