Of the 20 clubs that will compete in the Premier League next season, three will do so under the tutelage of new managers. What is likely to have been the final managerial search of the summer was concluded when Chelsea got their man, and Fulham and Aston Villa will also step out in August with new buttocks on the bench, to varying degrees of early popularity.
Spare a thought for Mark Hughes. After creating one of these vacancies by allowing his short contract at Fulham to elapse, it would appear that his agent - the not-at-all unsavoury Kia Joorabchian - wasn’t spinning a yarn when he claimed upon Hughes’ departure from Craven Cottage that the decision was not linked to any unfilled jobs; the bookies will undoubtedly have done a decent bit of summer business on Hughes to both available posts in the Premier League.
We don’t yet know what the future holds for the former Wales, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City manager and his now-famous ambition, but there are three men who do have their next challenges lined up.
Andre Villas-Boas, Chelsea
Chelsea’s search for a new manager ended on 22nd June and it wasn’t Hughes or Guus Hiddink, but a 33-year-old managerial whizzkid from Portugal: Andre Villas-Boas. The comparisons between Villas-Boas and Jose Mourinho are obvious and are already doing the rounds in the English press with increased frequency. Both have worked with Bobby Robson (and with each other), both are talented linguists and amazing managerial talents, and both have won domestic and continental trophies with Porto despite having either limited playing experience or, in the case of the younger man, none at all.
The so-called “New Mourinho” has wisely dismissed any suggestion that he is the second coming, but a high-profile move to Chelsea from northern Portugal makes it difficult to believe that this distancing will stick in the popular consciousness. In truth, while he has proven himself worthy of the opportunity, Villas-Boas remains more of a risk than Mourinho ever was for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich precisely because of the success Mourinho made of the Stamford Bridge job.
Nevertheless, it’s not difficult to imagine why Chelsea might have targeted one of football’s hottest properties, Portuguese prodigy or not. Having befriended Robson in Porto, Villas-Boas set about building a coaching CV that simply shouldn’t be possible for a man of his age. He obtained his UEFA C-Licence at the age of 17, coached the British Virgin Islands at 21 and never looked back, working for several years with the manager whose legacy could become Villas-Boas’ millstone.
He took on the Porto job a year ago after spending a season with Académica and his achievements at Estádio do Dragão were out of this world. As well as breaking an almost endless list of records, Villas-Boas’ Portistas won an incredible four trophies last season, including the Portuguese title and the Europa League. There is a risk involved in taking Villas-Boas from the Portuguese League and - let’s face it - demanding he wins the title, but Chelsea have clearly made a smart appointment here. Dare I say, even exciting?
Martin Jol, Fulham
Martin Jol was appointed by Fulham on 7th June to replace Hughes, who declined the option of renewing his contract at Craven Cottage. Hughes’ exit was keenly felt (not a euphemism) at a club that he’d guided to a very respectable eighth-placed finish in the Premier League last season. They also qualified for the Europa League through the fair play league and Hughes’ claim that he was leaving the clue to pursue his ambitions can therefore be considered a real kick in the teeth to the supporters.
The identity of his replacement has somewhat softened the blow. Jol was, for Villa as well as Fulham, the appointment many wanted last summer and didn’t get. This time Fulham got their presumed first choice and the likeable Dutch boss will be a welcome addition to the Premier League as a whole. I can think of at least one club whose supporters might just be a little jealous that Fulham arguably appointed a better manager this summer than they did.
For both Jol and Fulham, this could be the perfect blend of familiar and challenging. Jol knows English football well, having played here and managed Tottenham Hotspur with a good deal of success; he was under-appreciated at times and Fulham’s supporters can rightly be excited with their new manager. There is no guarantee at all that he will be a success, but having over-achieved in the past it’s not unrealistic to think he might help them qualify for Europe once again. He might even be more willing to give the Europa League a go this year than was his predecessor.
Alex McLeish, Aston Villa
Yes, that’s former Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish, at Aston Villa. Confirmed on 17th June, McLeish’s appointment has been a fiercely debated and hugely divisive decision by Villa owner Randy Lerner and CEO Paul Faulkner. While there is opposition among some Villa supporters based solely on the identity of his previous employers, many more are concerned about his unimpressive Premier League record across the city, and his tendency towards negative football.
It’s amazing how a club can go from spotless PR to PR disaster and back again in a little over a week. Previously very popular, cracks are beginning to show in Lerner’s approach and Faulkner is taking the brunt of the criticism after a chaotic search for Gerard Houllier’s replacement in the dugout. Villa’s approach for Roberto Martinez was cannily publicised by Dave Whelan and left Villa smelling of roses, but the near-offer of a job to Steve McClaren and subsequent withdrawal because of the supporters’ anger dented goodwill significantly.
To then appoint an extremely unpopular man (thereby not applying consistent standards) seems quite unwise, but relations have improved in the days since because of some slick PR moves. Never a dull moment at the Villa.
The unfortunate local rivalry edge to the anti-McLeish backlash has perhaps taken away from the real concern, which is that his Premier League record isn’t all that impressive. But underneath all that there is a deeper worry: that McLeish’s appointment indicates that the people running the club have either decided to cut back on their spending, or that they’re not fit to do the job. And while the latter is a reasonable factor for supporters to consider, “not investing” in a vain attempt to chase the dream should be applauded more often in this game. Time will tell which applies.
Tags: Alex McLeish, Andre Villas-Boas, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Fulham, Managers, Martin Jol