Russian Oligarch Spends Millions to Stop Boring Football
The carefree attitude Jose Mourinho has displayed with this departure indicates he knows that an Avram Grant, Guus Hiddink or Juande Ramos will not have any greater luck with managing Chelsea under Roman Abromavich. Grant is part of Abromavich's inner circle and will execute whatever orders given no questions asked. He is the ultimate lackey. He will not hoist a single trophy for Chelsea unless it is as a guest aboard one of Abromavich's yachts in the coming years. I would not be surprised if Chelsea have a better shot at winning the UEFA Cup over the next 3 seasons than the Champions League, Premier League or FA Cup. Putting the pieces of this very expensive side back together is going to be a task far greater than anyone can believe.
Fabio Capello's name has come up as often as any other potential replacement. However, he was let go of at Real Madrid for playing boring football en route to winning La Liga. Sound familiar? He may be the only manager in the world right now that can come close to being Mourinho's equal. Consider they've both won domestic titles in different European leagues, both have won the Champions League, both manage their sides to be well organized and workman like, and both are looking for a job. Capello's ego is not quite as large as Mourinho's but I promise you it is large enough to create instant problems with the Chelsea owner.
The amount of hysteria surrounding Mourinho's departure proves what a major impact the manager had at Chelsea, on the Premier League and across Europe. Mourinho was given several million dollars yesterday and sent on his way. Personally, if I became several million dollars richer overnight, was considered the best on the planet at what I do and could essentially pick where I wanted to work next I would not go rushing to find employment. The ridiculous Spurs fans claiming "He's coming to us! He's staying in London! We're going to be given a new level of respect!" is laughable. As badly as I want him to stay in the Premier League I know he won't settle on Tottenham Hotspur. He's too big for that club and while it would instantly raise the level of competition between Chelsea and Tottenham to epic levels there are bigger projects to undertake.
He has a history with Barcalona which makes that club an obvious option coupled with their slow start this season in La Liga. He is probably 15 years away from really embracing the opportunity to manage Portugal. Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan will all seem likely to offer him unlimited control. But will having won the Champions League, having won domestic titles and league cups already take some of the luster off doing the same with another gigantic club? Would winning the Champions League with Juventus or Barcelona satisfy him? Another season, another trophy and life goes on. Seems a rather empty life when you get down to it. I'd almost rather be writing for Vein of Form the rest of my life. Almost.
Were he to win with another English club it might be sticking it to the folks at Chelsea, but other than Manchester United what club in England could really attract him? I think Mourinho should sit out a season and return to Portugal to manage at club level. I'm not well versed in that league's history but I have to think it would be exciting to see him tearing up Europe with a Benfica or Sporting Lisbon side rather than an Italian or Spanish side that has unlimited funds and access to any player in the world.
But let us not forget that the man is now very wealthy and successful. I cannot feel too bad for him. I can feel bad that we will be missing his sound bites, the rivalries he cultivated with Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger. If you have the heart (I don't) you might feel bad for the Chelsea fans who must realize their season has come to a very early end.
Fabio Capello's name has come up as often as any other potential replacement. However, he was let go of at Real Madrid for playing boring football en route to winning La Liga. Sound familiar? He may be the only manager in the world right now that can come close to being Mourinho's equal. Consider they've both won domestic titles in different European leagues, both have won the Champions League, both manage their sides to be well organized and workman like, and both are looking for a job. Capello's ego is not quite as large as Mourinho's but I promise you it is large enough to create instant problems with the Chelsea owner.
The amount of hysteria surrounding Mourinho's departure proves what a major impact the manager had at Chelsea, on the Premier League and across Europe. Mourinho was given several million dollars yesterday and sent on his way. Personally, if I became several million dollars richer overnight, was considered the best on the planet at what I do and could essentially pick where I wanted to work next I would not go rushing to find employment. The ridiculous Spurs fans claiming "He's coming to us! He's staying in London! We're going to be given a new level of respect!" is laughable. As badly as I want him to stay in the Premier League I know he won't settle on Tottenham Hotspur. He's too big for that club and while it would instantly raise the level of competition between Chelsea and Tottenham to epic levels there are bigger projects to undertake.
He has a history with Barcalona which makes that club an obvious option coupled with their slow start this season in La Liga. He is probably 15 years away from really embracing the opportunity to manage Portugal. Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan will all seem likely to offer him unlimited control. But will having won the Champions League, having won domestic titles and league cups already take some of the luster off doing the same with another gigantic club? Would winning the Champions League with Juventus or Barcelona satisfy him? Another season, another trophy and life goes on. Seems a rather empty life when you get down to it. I'd almost rather be writing for Vein of Form the rest of my life. Almost.
Were he to win with another English club it might be sticking it to the folks at Chelsea, but other than Manchester United what club in England could really attract him? I think Mourinho should sit out a season and return to Portugal to manage at club level. I'm not well versed in that league's history but I have to think it would be exciting to see him tearing up Europe with a Benfica or Sporting Lisbon side rather than an Italian or Spanish side that has unlimited funds and access to any player in the world.
But let us not forget that the man is now very wealthy and successful. I cannot feel too bad for him. I can feel bad that we will be missing his sound bites, the rivalries he cultivated with Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger. If you have the heart (I don't) you might feel bad for the Chelsea fans who must realize their season has come to a very early end.
posted by Anonymous at 11:57 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home