Search begins for Mourinho’s successor

LONDON: In search of the 10th manager of his 12-year tenure as Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich appears no nearer to his dream of owning a self-sustaining, crowd-pleasing football team.

Jose Mourinho, sacked on Thursday, came back to Chelsea in 2013 vowing to build a legacy, but he instead brought characteristic short-term success, followed by a staggeringly rapid collapse.

He leaves behind a squad full of underperforming big-name players such as Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard and in which highly regarded youngsters like Ruben Loftus-Cheek remain desperately short of top-level experience.



Abramovich is a known admirer of Pep Guardiola, who has given youth a chance at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and instilled playing systems based on intricate, passing football.

Guardiola, though, is tipped to join Manchester City, where owner Sheikh Mansour has stolen a march on Abramovich by installing the Catalan’s former Barcelona allies Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain.

Abramovich has been snubbed by Guardiola before and with Manchester United also felt to be a potential destination for the Bayern coach, the Russian may miss out on his man again.



It is therefore little surprise to see Diego Simeone and Antonio Conte high on the list of potential long-term successors.

Both coaches are passionate, relatively young at 45 and 46 respectively, and exponents of aggressive, in-your-face football.

Neither would be afraid to ruffle feathers, but Simeone is under contract at Atletico Madrid until 2020 and Conte has his sights set on leading Italy into battle at Euro 2016.



Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is another candidate, but in the short term Guus Hiddink is the leading contender to return to Stamford Bridge on an interim basis.

The Dutchman, 69, enjoyed success in a similar role in 2009, stepping in after the dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari and steering Chelsea to FA Cup glory, although his stock has fallen in the years since.

First-team coach Steve Holland could be asked to take charge for Saturday’s home game with Sunderland if an appointment cannot be made in time.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp, cousin of Chelsea great Frank Lampard, believes the players will relish the chance of a clean slate. “A lot of players who have fallen out with him will be pleased to see the back of him,” he said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for someone coming in because make no mistake, whoever comes in, that club is going to fly now.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2015.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.