So constantly under-fire Chelsea manager AVB has parted company with the club. Roman Abramovich’s patience finally ran out after the poor display and 1-0 defeat to West Brom on Saturday, this prompted Abramovich to once again sharpen his sword and have it fall on yet another manager.
The Chelsea statement read:
“Andre-Villas Boas has parted company with Chelsea Football Club today.
The board would like to record our gratitude for his work and express our disappointment that the relationship had to end so early.
Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season.
The club is still competing in the latter stages of the Uefa Champions League and the FA Cup, as well as challenging for a top-four spot in the Premier League, and we aim to remain as competitive as possible on all fronts.
With that in mind we felt our only option was to make a change at this time.
With immediate effect Roberto Di Matteo has been appointed first team coach on an interim basis until the end of the season.”
The question is who will replace AVB in the Chelsea hotseat?
William Hill have compiled their top 5 candidates for the job:
Rafa Benitez – 2/1
The former Liverpool manager has undoubted pedigree both in the Premier League and Champions League. During his time at Liverpool he won the Champions League in one of the most memorable finals ever in 2005 and guided them back to the final 2 years later, only to lose 2-0 to AC Milan.
He won the FA Cup in 2006 and finished runners-up in the 2008-09 season of the Premier League. He started to faulter during the closing stages of his Liverpool career but I’m sure Chelsea fans would welcome such a well respected manager to the Bridge. He may be able to get the best out of Fernando Torres as well as the other older players before moving them on.
Jose Mourinho – 3/1
A man who needs no introduction, one of, if not the most successful Chelsea manager ever winning 2 league titles, the FA cup and 2 league cups. He successfully conducted Chelsea through a dominant spell in English football compiling an unbeaten home record spanning 2 and a half seasons under the ‘special one’. There is no doubt who the Chelsea fans pick would be, but will Abramovich swallow his pride and bring back the glory days?
Pep Guardiola – 4/1
Here is a man promoted from the Barcelona B team who went on to win every trophy possible for Barcelona. He has no doubt worked wonders at Barca, however, he is untested in the Premier League and Chelsea is not a great first job in England. The pressure at the club is unbelievable and as AVB found out there is no time for settling in. Guardiola is a world class manager but is he that good or did he just inherit one of the greatest teams in history?
Roberto Di Matteo – 6/1
A true great for Chelsea during his playing days but a man with very little managerial experience. He has no pedigree at the top level having failed in the Premier League with West Brom. Personally I think Chelsea are taking a risk if they do leave him in charge for the remainder of the season. In terms of a candidate for the full time job, I say highly unlikely. Abramovich wants a manager capable of winning the Champions League and unless Di Matteo works wonders in the next 3 months I just cannot see this happening.
Fabio Capello – 8/1
A manager with pedigree and unquestionable records at every level of football. A win percentage of 66.67% as England manager, making him statistically England’s best ever manager, although obviously world cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey takes that crown. Capello has won titles in Italy and Spain, securing 4 titles for AC Milan, 2 for Juventus and 1 for AS Roma. He also has won 2 La Liga titles with Real Madrid and won the Champions League in 1994 with AC Milan. A former Serie A coach of the year would be a perfect candidate for the Chelsea job.
The only question mark over Capello is his language barrier with English players and his style of play. Abramovich wants open attacking football (along with success) and Capello prefers a more controlled defensive style, this may be the stumbling block for this one.
