With Di Matteo doing more than just 'holding the fort', it would not come as a surprise if the Italian was given the job permanently. But Abramovich is ruthless. Very ruthless.
Avram Grant guided Chelsea to the League Cup Final and more memorably, a Champions League Final in the 2007/2008 season. His first game came just a few days after Jose Mourinho had parted company with The Blues towards the end of September '07, it was a 2-0 loss against eventual champions, Manchester United. Grant then took his side on a sixteen match unbeaten streak, thumping Sven-Goran Eriksson's newly-ambitious Manchester City, 6-0. During December of 2007 he was rewarded with a 4 year contract. At the end of the season he was sacked despite finishing just two points behind the title winners and losing the Champions League Final on penalties.
Scolari began the 2008/2009 season for Chelsea but his time at the club wasn't as successful as he would have liked, being sacked in February after dropping off the pace in the race for the title. The Brazilian was the first World Cup winning manager to take charge of a Premier League club, so where you'd expect other owners would have more patience, his departure was another example of Abramovich's short fuse.
Guus Hiddink was appointed temporary manager and only lost once in his time at the helm even after playing Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Barcelona twice. His side won the F.A Cup and although there was overwhelming support and seemingly, majority of the fans pleading for him to stay on, he stuck to his word and returned to his post with the Russian National side.
Next up was Carlo Ancelotti who's team was a force in his first season (2009/2010), with Drogba grabbing the Golden Boot Award with 29 goals. They ended the season monumentally with a crushing victory over Wigan. 8-0 was the scoreline with Cech, Terry and Cole keeping a clean sheet, Malouda and Lampard providing Drogba with the ammunition to ensure all three points were going their way. This capped the season brilliantly as they had performed so well throughout.
His second season wasn't as impressive as they had finished with 15 less points and a goal difference of +36, compared with +71 for their previous campaign. Subsequently Ancelotti was sacked.
Andre Villas-Boas, a young Portuguese with supreme success in his homeland, but unknown here in the UK - familiar story? Before winning the treble in Portugal he had actually been working under Mourinho at Chelsea as a scout, so he knew the club well. At the beginning of March he was sacked after a win percentage of less than 50%.
Who is likely to take over for next season? Fabio Capello. The former England boss has indicated he very much wants to manage a team in the Premier League: "England would be very interesting for me because I know very well the teams and the players". He knows the English players at the club from his time with the National side and because he has built up contacts over the years you feel he would attract big name players. More importantly, looking back at Abramovich's appointments, there is one word you could use to describe them all, they are tacticians. Capello you could also put into this category.
Will Abramovich go for a young apprentice in Di Matteo, like he did last season with Villas-Boas? Or will he go back to what he knows best and bring in a wise old head?
3 comments:
in your opinion Kevin, which of the sackings were right and which were wrong?
Who's to say they were right and wrong? only the board can truly say that as they have their targets etc.
What confuses me is they offer Grant a contract to stay on, yet they get rid of him 6 months later.
Also you would hope that by giving a young manager like Villas-Boas a chance you ought to give them time, more time than experienced managers anyway.
I think it's for the best that Di Matteo doesn't get the job.
I think Ryan Giggs should get it cause he is incredible scout and can kill an army with on swift kick. He also is Welsh which means he can play good rugby like his fellow team friends. HI KEV
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