Chelsea fans, the end is nigh- at least for Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese boss has been biding his time this season but it seems the axe is finally set to swing.
With the Blues losing nine Premier League games this season and sat just one-point above the relegation zone it’s no really a surprise- the only thing that defies the odds is that Mourinho has managed to last this long.
However, amid suggestions of a emergency board meeting being held today, Mourinho, like a Christmas turkey, is on the clock. By Christmas Day, he may well have been plucked, hung out to dry and roasted in the media.
Chelsea fans have concerns that there isn’t a direct replacement for Mourinho but there’s not entirely the case. In fact, we have five managers who could be appointed immediately to replace the faltering Portuguese boss.
Hit Mourinho below to see FIVE immediate replacements for him at Chelsea!
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Carlo Ancelotti
The household choice to replace Jose Mourinho would be Carlo Ancelotti, who of course has managed Chelsea in the past. The Italian coach has been out of management since, rather unfairly, being dismissed by Real Madrid in the summer.
With an FA Cup and Premier League already to his name, a Champions League crown and titles in Spain, Italy and France, it’s difficult to argue that Ancelotti wouldn’t be the ideal replacement. He has the pedigree to attract top players and cut the deadwood from the squad.
However, one problem is that he’d prefer to take over a club in the summer rather than mid-season but that’s something Roman Abramovich’s wallet could change.
Ronald Koeman
A surprise contender for the Chelsea role, should it become vacant, has emerged in the form of Southampton boss Ronald Koeman. Taking over on the South Coast after Mauricio Pochettino departed, and the vultures left Koeman working with scraps, he’s assembled a fantastic squad once again.
That said, they are underperforming this season and the big clubs will circle for their star-players again- which will be extremely frustrating for Koeman. Therefore, the Dutch manager may leap at the chance to manage a bigger side and do some damage in the market.
Guus Hiddink
This is a manager that Chelsea have already had but to be fair, it would be very difficult to find a manager that Roman Abramovich hasn’t sacked. Hiddink actually fits the bill there, as his previous role was as a caretaker at Chelsea- where he led the Blues to FA Cup success.
Out of a job since June this year, where he resigned from his post as manager of Holland, Hiddink may leap at the chance to return to club management. His last role at a club, excluding his time at Chelsea, was with PSV Eindhoven in 2006.
There will be concerns about Hiddink’s suitability in the long-term but as an interim boss, Chelsea couldn’t do much better.
Juande Ramos
No, you’re not hallucinating. Yes, this is former Tottenham Hotspur boss Juande Ramos. No, we’re not mental. This isn’t our choice of manager, instead the Spaniard is highly-regarded by the media to be a possible interim appointment for Chelsea.
Since his unsuccessful stint with Spurs, Ramos has managed Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow and Dnipro. However, he won nothing with either. Therefore, there would be question-marks as to whether Ramos could actually make Chelsea competitive once again.
Brendan Rodgers
The big one (in his own mind) is Brendan Rodgers, who has unfinished business in the Premier League since being relieved of his role at Liverpool earlier this season. Crucially, he has prior experience at Chelsea having worked alongside Jose Mourinho in his first spell in charge of the club.
Whilst he’s turned into a social media laughing point, Rodgers is actually a fairly good manager. In the long-term he wouldn’t be the right choice for Chelsea, as he lacks that final pedigree, but he would be likely to get Chelsea’s campaign back on track.
Chelsea fans may not like it but, having looked at this list, Rodgers may well be the most likely replacement.
