New Manager Search, Summer 2008

[changingman2000 35]

Football365

After Avram: Who`s Next On Block?

Posted 15/04/08 13:44EmailPrintSave

Even if he wins the Champions League, Avram Grant is likely to be asked to step aside. So who will replace him at Chelsea? Roman's mate, Arnesen's friend, Henk's man or the fans' hero?

The odds of course come from our lovely friends at SkyBet.

GUUS HIDDINK (5/2 favourite)

Currently: Russian national coach.

Biggest Managerial Achievements: Winning the Treble with PSV in 1987/88, coaching South Korea to the semi-finals of the World Cup and taking Australia to their first World Cup in 32 years.

Why It Will Be Him: Roman Abramovich is obviously a fan - he helps to bankroll him in his position as coach of the Russian national side. His CV is a tale of (almost) unbroken success, and if Chelsea want an antidote to the inexperience of Avram Grant then Hiddink is definitely their man. He's also likely to fancy a change after Euro 2008 as the thought of another long qualifying campaign may not float his boat.

Why It Will Not Be Him: The one time he has managed a big club with a massive budget (Real Madrid), he fell flat on his face. And at 61, will he really fancy the pressure of having millions to spend and needing to deliver the Champions League to keep his job? Maybe he likes the semi-retirement of international football?

MICHAEL LAUDRUP (5/1)

Currently: Getafe coach.

Biggest Managerial Achievements: Leading Brondby to the Danish Championship and Getafe to the final of the Spanish Cup.

Why It Will Be Him: He is big friends with Chelsea sporting director and fellow Dane Frank Arnesen, who obviously has the ear of Roman Abramovich. A massively popular manager at Brondby, he could be the true successor to Jose as a young, goodlooking, charming manager thought to have the presence to exhort great performances from average players (his Getafe side were only beaten on away goals by Bayern Munich).

Why It Will Not Be Him: Laudrup has never operated with the kind of pressure to deliver that he will be under at Chelsea...but then neither had Mourinho before he was given the chance. There's also the small matter of Barcelona rumoured to be interested in his services.

FRANK RIJKAARD (5/1)

Currently: Barcelona coach.

Biggest Managerial Achievements: Winning the Champions League in 2006 as well as two La Liga Championships.

Why It Will Be Him: His Champions League-winning assistant Henk Ten Cate is already at Chelsea and it seems to be set up for a return of the dream team. After Barcelona, Chelsea will seem like a relaxing little part-time job in the local bakery - no pressure will come close to what he has endured in Spain. He has an aura about him that only comes from winning trophies and that is an aura that might well tempt the likes of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien to stay. Oh and he plays attacking football.

Why It Will Not Be Him: After Barcelona, he might just fancy a break or a return to a situation where there aren't too many chiefs trying to call the shots. How much has five years at Barcelona worn him down?

GIANFRANCO ZOLA (8/1)

Currently: Italian Under-21 coach.

Biggest Managerial Achievements: He's a baby at this business - he doesn't really have any.

Why It Will Be Him: He's the last true Chelsea hero who is adored by fans, players and the hierarchy at Chelsea. Roman Abramovich has twice tried to lure him back to Stanford Bridge because he knows of his iconic status. He would certainly be the sentimental choice and would immediately have the respect and adoration of the fans. It might actually make non-Chelsea fans soften a little in their judgement. He has also made it clear that his ultimate ambition is to manage the club.

Why It Will Not Be Him: He readily admits himself that he is not ready, being only a beginner in the managerial arena. He's unlikely to risk his status at the club by making a mess of the job before he is ready. The best solution may be a job as an assistant...would Chelsea go back to British and take a punt on Mark Hughes (12/1)?

Other names in the betting: Marcello Lippi (10/1), Luiz Felipe Scolari (10/1), Mark Hughes (12/1), Carlo Ancelotti (14/1)

Your Comments

PineyVillan

"Sir Alex tbf."

shut_up_pleat

"Mark McGhee?"

Vegas_Malone

"rafa beitez. proven european track record, experience of working with dodgy owners and murky club politics at valencia and liverpool. would also provide the rest of the world with plenty of fnar fnar. "

sam9791

"Marco Van Basten with Gianfranco Zola as number 2"

Nik01

"Steve McClaren?"

bleeblee

"after Grant, even Frank Spencer would be an improvement"

gimzy

"Whats wrong with Didier Deschamps. He was a success during his playing days at Chelsea. And lets not forget that he eliminated Chelsea at the semi-finals of the 2003/2004 champs league as coach of Monaco. "

rapidcat

"I'd go for the return of the Special One too. The fans would love it he's a winner, knows Premiership football and it would sure make things onteresting again. Can Roman swallow his pride just a little?"

green25

"i think anyone barring the clown we have @ the moment, How about the return of the special one ??"

kevind04

"What about Didier Deschamps?!?"

All comments on this story

[EskWeston 696]

Only out of 3 in reality, Rijkaard, Hiddink and Laudrup for various reasons. Rijkaard because of his previous record with the already here Ten Cate and winning attacking football, plus proven record at top level. Hiddink, big friends with Roman, links with the Russian national team falling apart at the right time for us coincidentaly, has a good record. Laudrup is good friends with Arneson and is making a big name for himself and doing it with good football.

I just hope that one of them comes......

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

Laudrup is great friends with Arnesen. Hiddink though has recently fallen out with Abramovich, if the media are to be believed , over money.

So it'll probably be Rijkaard or Laudrup. I'd like Mark Hughes or the Roma boss or Sven. In fact anyone with a bit of a football brain.

[EskWeston 696]

Laudrup is great friends with Arnesen. Hiddink though has recently fallen out with Abramovich, if the media are to be believed , over money.

So it'll probably be Rijkaard or Laudrup. I'd like Mark Hughes or the Roma boss or Sven. In fact anyone with a bit of a football brain.

It's the Russian FA rather than Roman he has fallen out with, which is why it has paved the way for him to come to us after the Euros...

Hughes with Zola and Clarke would be an interesting one... not sure how Hughes would do with a big club but i feel he would do well.

It shows how desperate the situation is if we would be happy with Sven, i would like to avoid him if at all possible, but would be better than Grant!

Rijkaard is the obvious target at the moment, looking like leaving Barca in the summer and with his buddy Ten Cate sitting here it would be a good move, one that could have been pre-planned.

[changingman2000 35]

Laudrup is great friends with Arnesen. Hiddink though has recently fallen out with Abramovich, if the media are to be believed , over money.

So it'll probably be Rijkaard or Laudrup. I'd like Mark Hughes or the Roma boss or Sven. In fact anyone with a bit of a football brain.

I agree with Hughes, Think he would be a hugely popular choice and one who certainly wouldnt tolerate Abramovich trying to interfere in the dressing room. Done his time at Rovers and been very successful.

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

It's the Russian FA rather than Roman he has fallen out with, which is why it has paved the way for him to come to us after the Euros...

Hughes with Zola and Clarke would be an interesting one... not sure how Hughes would do with a big club but i feel he would do well.

It shows how desperate the situation is if we would be happy with Sven, i would like to avoid him if at all possible, but would be better than Grant!

Rijkaard is the obvious target at the moment, looking like leaving Barca in the summer and with his buddy Ten Cate sitting here it would be a good move, one that could have been pre-planned.

I read Hiddink had fallen out with Abramovich because he wanted an extended contract with Russia, and Abramovich was paying him ...whatever.

This season will be looked upon as wasteful - when you think players careers are short enough, and the potential has been wasted this season because of the Gormless One in charge. Not only that, players are potentially leaving that wouldnt be, had Abramovichs ego not been bruised by Mourinho.

Arnesen is a dark force within CFC and wouldn't surprtise me to see his fellow countryman, Laudrup appear in June. They're very matey.

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

I agree with Hughes, Think he would be a hugely popular choice and one who certainly wouldnt tolerate Abramovich trying to interfere in the dressing room. Done his time at Rovers and been very successful.

I think that 's the problem - Abramovich will want a semi-yes man in there, or someone that Buck, Kenyon, Arnesen recommend. They won't want someone who can stand on their own two feet.

For all the Glaziers parasitical greedy intentions, they know not to rock the ManUtd boat when Ferguson and the brand is successful.

Bottom line Abramovich doesnt need to worry about Chelsea FC making money, so he has the luxury of interfering with his toy if he wants to.

[EskWeston 696]

I think that 's the problem - Abramovich will want a semi-yes man in there, or someone that Buck, Kenyon, Arnesen recommend. They won't want someone who can stand on their own two feet.

We don't really know that though. All we know is that he couldn't get on with Jose, for whatever reason that was - we really don't know. I am not convinced that Roman wants a "yes man" as such.

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

We don't really know that though. All we know is that he couldn't get on with Jose, for whatever reason that was - we really don't know. I am not convinced that Roman wants a "yes man" as such.

I'm convinced. You just have to look and listen to Buck, Greenberg, Grant, kenyon -all stating endless mundane platitudes - just for the filthy lucre.

Abramovich gets used to this unconfrontational approach -you get someone with balls like Mourinho -and billionaire boy dont like it.

[EskWeston 696]

I'm convinced. You just have to look and listen to Buck, Greenberg, Grant, kenyon -all stating endless mundane platitudes - just for the filthy lucre.

Abramovich gets used to this unconfrontational approach -you get someone with balls like Mourinho -and billionaire boy dont like it.

EVERYTHING that comes out of the club is going to be spin! Being fair the club never come out voluntarily and say the things they do, the press ask them the question and they have to give the answers that keep things smooth. What would happen if they said the truth?

Q: "So Peter Kenyon, is Grant going to be here next season?"

A: "Absolutely not, we never had any intention of keeping him on longer, infact we have Rijkaard lined up for as soon as the season is over. We only said that Avram would stay so that you press w**kers didn't stir up all kinds of crap"

or

Q: "Bruce, is it true that Roman is going to give Avram £100m to spend on players next season"

A: "Well actually we are going to spend £100m and Grant will be doing the buying but as Director of Football. Roman wanted to give Avram a chance but it is clear (chuckles a bit) that Grant isn't good enough so we are moving him back upstairs and getting a proper manager in, truth be told we should have done it in the first place."

Not really going to happen is it? In reality we have no idea what is going on in our club or what they want.

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

But it's not rocket surgery. Everywhere Abramovich goes -whether its to the most prestigous luxury yacht makers in the World, for his fouth luxury £400 million ship, to people catering to his every champange lifestyle whim, he's going to receive unmitigated deference only paralleled by Royalty.

When this happens you get used to it. Doesnt matter if his toy team is doing exceedingly well, he won't take kindly to some gobby Portuguese upstart running HIS club and having charisma.

Chelsea FC has come along way from being bought by Bates for a quid and Eddie McCreadie leaving because he cant have a Ford Escort company car, but not neccesarily for the good. Its less of a team and more of a pyramid structure

[EskWeston 696]

Previously the club has been run incredibly well by Roman, he has done wonders for the club and made us a seriously big club. Getting rid of Jose wasn't his biggest mistake. Appointing Grant was!! I have no idea how the club is run and who has what influence, and at the moment i am reserving judgement!

Everyone believes that appointing Grant means that he doesn''t make his own choices anymore! Now that might be right, certainly if Grant is given another season then it more than likely is true because there is no possible explanation for it otherwise! But, if Grant is moved out in the summer then there was probably more to it.

Roman has done a hell of a lot for our club, and for that at the moment i am reserving judgement on him for this fiasco. All the PR that comes from the club just isn't worth listening to.

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

Grant ingratiated himself to Abramovich when he was in Israel. Abramovich was 'impressed' with his football 'knowledge'. Israeli sources at the time said this was what Grant was good at - sucking up to the rich and powerful. Gaydemark at Pompey was another Russian jew that siphoned of Russias assets as communsim collapsed and as a favour to Abramovich ''parked'' Grant at Pompey till the ''Director of Football'' position miraculously appeared. Grant had also sucked up to Arnesen a couple of years previous, and it's quite obvious a conspiracy was there to oust Mourinho, and this suited Abramovich. There was also thespat that resulted in the three freebies Haim, Pizarro, and Sidwell arriving. This is how I see it. Could be wrong, but thats how I see it.

The club should be just that , a club. If Grant goes it will be because a groundswell of unpopulatity has finally penetrated Abramovichs ivory tower.

[EskWeston 696]

There is a very high possibility that Roman did give him the job because he is his friend! Roman maybe looked at it and seeing that Grant had done OK in Israel why not give him a chance! No if Roman rectifys that this summer and gets rid and brings someone knew in, then lesson learned. However if he doesn't after seeing what has happened this season, then it really is time to worry. Lets see what happens!

[Fulham Broadway 16,392]

Abramovich hasn't been seen at games recently I saw on a Chelsea blog, he's too busy hanging out the back of that model.

Allegedly.

[EskWeston 696]

Abramovich hasn't been seen at games recently I saw on a Chelsea blog, he's too busy hanging out the back of that model.

Allegedly.

Who wouldn't

[changingman2000 35]

Who wouldn't

well I certainly wouldnt....Not unless I had a huge pair of the old beer goggles on anyway

[EskWeston 696]

well I certainly wouldnt....Not unless I had a huge pair of the old beer goggles on anyway

Lol, such high standards!!