Tom Kelly
Ever since the departure of the self proclaimed ‘Special One’ back in September 2007, Chelsea have not found a long-term successor to Jose Mourinho. Avram Grant, despite doing what many pundits and journalists believed was a good job, didn’t have the reputation or profile to attract big names and wasn’t the right man to fulfil Peter Kenyon’s ambitions of building a global brand. The latest to fail following a promising start, Luiz Felipe Scolari, could not handle the pressure the Premier League brings and arguably wasn’t given enough financial backing in the January transfer window.
Current interim coach Guus Hiddink maintains he will leave once the current campaign is over and when one analyses the pros and cons of taking the Chelsea job it is easy to see why. Yes, Chelsea are still a huge club with a strong infrastructure, superb training facilities and vast resources, but an ageing squad, the cost-cutting of owner Roman Abramovich, and a lack of quality young players coming through means it is a long-term project. This is why Hiddink may not be suitable for the role because, at 61, he is unlikely to want to undertake a three to five year project when he has nothing left to prove at the highest level.
Previously three to five years would have been viewed as a short time for a manager at a club, but recent history shows that a manager who stays in a job this long has probably done well to do so. With Abramovich likely to be expecting success fast, Hiddink may not want to risk tarnishing his reputation with a brief one to two year stay before Abramovich pulls the plug as he did with Scolari.
Some though believe that Hiddink may be the one man who Abramovich would give ‘time’ due to the strong respect that the Chelsea owner holds for the Dutchman following his successful role as the coach of the Russian national team. Despite his insistence that he will leave at the end of the season, Hiddink remains the favourite to be the next permanent Chelsea boss with the bookmakers, followed by several familiar names.
If the Dutch coach is to head back to Russia then Frank Rijkaard and Carlo Ancelotti seem the most likely candidates to take the job at Stamford Bridge. Rijkaard, 48, who is currently on a one year period of gardening leave following his departure from Barcelona, appears an ideal candidate for Chelsea. It is known that everyone connected with the Blues has a burning desire to win the Champions League, which they may yet still do this season, and having won the trophy with Barcelona in 2006, Rijkaard will be a stand-out candidate.
Another positive string to Rijkaard’s bow would be the style in which his Barcelona side of 2004 to 2006 played. Chelsea fans have lamented the defensive mindset of their team, particularly at home, even when the revered Mourinho was in charge. The Barca side of that period played free flowing football with players such as Ronaldinho, Ludovic Guily, and Samuel Eto’o having much creative freedom in the final third with Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Edmilson providing more defensive midfield cover.
While Chelsea are strong in the defensive midfield department with Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, and Michael Ballack all powerful players, only Frank Lampard seems capable as an attacking midfielder of the calibre needed to pull his side to Champions League glory. Deco, who played in Rijkaard’s Barcelona side, is past his best, and Florent Malouda has not stepped up a level after a successful stint at Lyon. The troublesome Didier Drogba is not the force he was two years ago and Nicolas Anelka is not the leader Chelsea need up front. With Abramovich reducing spending, Rijkaard would have to adjust the style of how his teams play, or hope the owner backs him and gives him the funds to bring in some younger talent with pace, creativity, and intelligence to revitalise the Chelsea front line.
Carlo Ancelotti’s AC Milan side are more comparable to the current Chelsea team. They rely on a more patient build up and pace isn’t as key a element to their play, despite the having it in abundance with Kaka and Alex Pato. Ancelotti may then find it easier to imprint his style on the current Chelsea squad than Rijkaard. Another Champions League winner, once in 2003 and again in 2007, the Italian recently reaffirmed his commitment to Milan despite another poor season in Serie A and elimination at the hands of Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup. “If things were not to work between me and Milan, as they have done in past years, I think it would be fair for the two parties to embrace, say goodbye and remember with affection these past eight years,” Ancelotti was quoted as saying, “but I don’t think that time has come because the harmony between us is complete, even though the season has certainly not been a positive one.”
The current AC Milan boss is under contract until the end of next season and, having joined the club in 2001, is the longest-serving coach in the Italian top-flight. However, with title heading to Inter for the fourth season running, the time may have come for the Rossoneri and Ancelotti to part company.
Gianfranco Zola is surely a Chelsea manager of the future, but he has the luxury of waiting for the perfect moment, as his status at the club means he could almost walk into the job at any time. At this stage it is probably too early for such a big job and Zola is an intelligent enough man to bide his time and not rush things.
Out of the other possible options, a return Mourinho would have to be regarded as a backwards step. Many believe Chelsea’s ageing squad is a result of the Inter coach not building for the long-term future of the club, and he is unlikely to bring stability to West London. In terms of British managers the only possible candidates are David Moyes from Everton and Mark Hughes at Manchester City. Hughes is unlikely to be tempted due to the huge opportunity he has to build a dynasty at Eastlands and, as shown with the Robinho transfer saga, the balance of power in the transfer market has shifted from West London to East Manchester. Moyes, who has spent seven years on Merseyside, would surely jump at the chance to have a crack at the Champions League, but his lack of experience at that level would be a sticking point for the Chelsea owner.
Ancelotti or Rijkaard seem to be the best options on the table at the current time, but at the end of the day Abramovich’s personal preference will likely decide who ends up in the Stamford Bridge dugout.
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