The Offficial Managerial Merry Go Round Predictions Thread

[versa]

Goal.com


Jose Mourinho has told Michael Essien that he will sign for Inter on Monday according to La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

The former Chelsea coach has been linked with the club ever since current boss, Roberto Mancini, walked out on the club only to make a dramatic U-turn on his decision.

Mancini still hasn't confirmed his position with the Nerazzurri and he may leave in the summer. Meanwhile the Special One is currently free and waiting to pounce and, according to reports, he has claimed that he will sign for Inter on Monday.

Gazzetta claim Mourinho sent Chelsea midifielder Michael Essien a text message after the Moscow Champions League final telling him the news of his new adventure with the Nerazzurri.

The text reads: "Michael, you have all been great players regardless of the loss to Manchester United. On Monday I will sign for Inter and I hope that one day you too will come to Inter."

It seems as if Mourinho will take half of the Chelsea squad with him if he signs, as Inter are also interested in Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

Mancini has been linked with moves to Chelsea and Manchester City and if he does leave San Siro then the door would be wide open for Mourinho to walk in.

Inter are desperate to win the Champions League and Moratti would prefer someone who has experience of victory in the competition in the past to take the reins at San Siro.

[Nemanjaaa]

Haha i hope he does!

[sparkic]

That would be a good move for Mourinhio imo

[Devilzz91]

Hopefully, if Jose Mourinho does take over Inter, he will bring Lampard and Drogba with him. This will totally nullify any attacking threat that Chelsea currently have. Even if they do splash the cash to sign a replacement, who is to say they'll be as good?

[frenchie]

Hopefully, if Jose Mourinho does take over Inter, he will bring Lampard and Drogba with him. This will totally nullify any attacking threat that Chelsea currently have. Even if they do splash the cash to sign a replacement, who is to say they'll be as good?
if jose does take the job and thats a big if, can't see frank lampard leaving chelsea,not with his family situation as it is,he's blue through and through,won't happen.drogba on the other hand will most defo leave,he's supposed to be having talks with chelsea in the next couple of days to sort out his future,brilliant striker but well temperemental,they'll get someone in i don't doubt that,but it will be intersting the next few weeks to see what happens.

[dlan4327]

Exactly as it sounds folks. This season has seen a number of high profile coaches becoming stay at home dads, for a while. :)

Now that it's time for clubs to pick their new managers who is going where?

I'll start. Apparently Roberto Mancini sounded out Chelsea, or should I say Abramovich, about the recently vacated post at Chelsea.

He was rejected. Soundly. So I'm guessing two things. One Mancini is rather red faced and two he's probably leaving Inter.

So he won't be managing Chelsea and may in fact be out of work coaching wise. This also means that Inter will be on the prowl.

I'm guessing that Mourinho's going to Inter and can finally get back to his job. Flirting with the press. :D

Rijkaard. Chelsea? Maybe. They've got Ten Cate but who can fathom Abramovich's mind?

The only other realsitic possibility for Chelsea is Hiddink but I'd say he'll want to try his luck at the Euro's with Russia.

Announcing he's signing with Chelsea would destabilise the Russian team.

Sven? Not the foggiest. Is he staying? I mean I know he's said no to Benfica. He's talked about Mexico. Still dont know.

Who'll get the City job? Someone who wants all the stress of the Chelsea job with a fraction of their budget.

Considering the only attraction of the Chelsea job is the budget, City are in for a rough ride. If Sven has been sacked after all.

Gone on, impress me with your predictions. :)

[versa]

Should be an interesting thread to keep us occupied in the pre-season. :D

Ok, as you said about Mancini being rejected by Chelski, let me be the first post-er here.


goal.com


Chelsea Reject Mancini

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini approached Chelsea yesterday about their vacant manager’s job, only to suffer a humiliating rejection.

The search to find a new boss at Chelsea is on following the sacking of Avram Grant, and the coaches who have been mostly strongly linked with the position in the media include Frank Rijkaard, Guus Hiddink, Sven Goran Eriksson and Mancini.

The Inter tactician, who last week won his third straight Scudetto in Italy, has been heavily tipped to leave San Siro after a somewhat tumultuous campaign off-the-pitch.

The Gazzetta claims that Mancini contacted Chelsea yesterday to notify them of his interest in the job, only to be told straight that he wasn’t wanted.

“His representatives have repeatedly knocked on our door, but he isn’t our man,” a source inside the club reportedly stated.

Mancini is still refusing to speak to the media, and kept his silence once again following last night’s 2-1 Coppa Italia final defeat to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

The ex-Lazio and Sampdoria player will meet President Massimo Moratti in the week to discuss his future, but many still strongly believe that Jose Mourinho has already signed a pre-contract to replace him.

[RedForceRising]

AVRAM GRANT, sacked by Chelsea last night after less than nine months in charge, is in line for a quick return to Premier League management with Manchester City. Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson, whose United side beat Chelsea in the Champions League final in Moscow on Wednesday, has vowed he will leave his post in three years “at the very, very most”.

Grant, who said his farewells to the Chelsea players on Friday, was summoned to meet Roman Abramovich, the club’s owner, at his London home to be informed of his dismissal in person. The two men are long-standing friends, and Abramovich did not want the Israeli to be told by anybody else.

However, he has now emerged as the favourite to succeed Sven-Göran Eriksson, who lost the confidence of City owner Thaksin Shinawatra in the second half of the season. Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Brazilian World Cup-winner who coaches Portugal, was first choice but is believed to have priced himself out of the job.

Shinawatra, unlike Abramovich, was impressed by the fact that Grant’s Chelsea ran Manchester United close in the domestic championship and were within John Terry’s missed penalty of beating them in Moscow. He is further attracted by the dignity Grant has shown in difficult circumstances since taking over from Jose Mourinho last year. City are understood to have made offers for four players, for a total of £20m, since the end of the Premier League season, with Pini Zahavi, the Israeli “super agent”, acting on their behalf.

City’s appointment of Grant would have a certain irony, Eriksson having been courted by Chelsea before Mourinho got the job, and currently being linked with it again, although that is probably wishful thinking on his part. Zahavi is again involved here, recommending the former England coach to Abramovich. The favourite to replace Grant at Stamford Bridge remains Frank Rijkaard, who is leaving Barcelona after five years, during which time he won the European Cup, in 2006. Reports in Italy last night suggested Mourinho was about to replace Roberto Mancini at Internazionale, and make Frank Lampard his first signing for the Milan club.


- See, this is really funny to me. It seems that s%^& travels in the same cricles. Maybe City can now turn to Chris Mort to act as Technical Director of Football or some other post and get Chris Warnock to be Grant's assistant....... *altogether now* ahahahahahahahaha




Article No. 2
Candidates line up to succeed Grant

A host of names have already been linked with the Chelsea manager's job even though Avram Grant was not sacked until Saturday.

Grant's tenure at Stamford Bridge was always viewed as a stop-gap measure even though the club consistently denied he would be leaving.

But the attention now switches to those men most likely to replace the 52-year-old Israeli and the first name in the frame is Frank Rijkaard. He was linked with the job as soon as previous boss Jose Mourinho was axed last September.

Rijkaard has just been released by Barcelona after failing to win a trophy for the Spaniards in the last two seasons.

He is a friend of Frank Arnesen, who controls the club's scouting network, and has worked with assistant coach Henk ten Cate at the Nou Camp.

But Rijkaard has no Premier League experience and there have been recent concerns over his health as well as personal issues.

Dutchman Guus Hiddink is another favoured contender. Like Grant, he is a close friend of the club's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich and regarded as the world's best tactician.

Hiddink has consistently denied being interested in the Chelsea job but has as yet, somewhat significantly, not signed a new deal with the Russian Federation.

Abramovich is currently paying his salary to manage Russia and while there is no doubting his pedigree, he has not been involved in club football for some time.

Hiddink has more recently been associated with the international game with spells in South Korea and Australia before taking on the Russian job.

Sven-Goran Eriksson is understood to have rejected the job on two previous occasions and was infamously caught out secretly meeting the club's chief executive Peter Kenyon on one occasion.

His future at Manchester City is unclear and, like Hiddink, he boasts a fine record at club and international level.

But Chelsea fans are unlikely to welcome the Swede and that may dampen the club's willingness to pursue him. Then, of course, there is the most unlikely prospect of the return of fan's favourite Mourinho.

The 'Special One' was axed last September and replaced by the luckless Grant. Mourinho went after Chelsea's first Champions League game against a weak Rosenborg side ended in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho's relationship with the board, and Abramovich in particular, had deteriorated so much that both sides opted to call it a day.

Mourinho has been out of a job ever since but is favourite to join Inter Milan in the summer even though his relationship with Chelsea's Russian owner has been rebuilt in the last two months.

But his style of football was part of the reason for the severance in the first place and he would find it difficult to adopt another, more attacking approach.

But at a club that opted to replace him with a 52-year-old Israeli, who had never managed in England before and was a virtual unknown outside his own country, anything is possible. Even the return of the 'Special One'.

[Dynamite]

It wont suprise me if chelsea get sven, that's just my opinion!!

[versa]

AP


LONDON: An opportunity to lead one of the wealthiest soccer clubs in the world has opened. However, failure to win trophies will not be tolerated.

Chelsea is on the lookout for a new manager after firing Avram Grant on Saturday, three days after the Blues lost the Champions League final to Manchester United on penalty kicks in Moscow.

Grant replaced the popular Jose Mourinho eight months ago and defied skeptics by taking the club to the final of the League Cup and Champions League. But Chelsea lost both finals, which each went to extra time, and finished just two points behind champion Man United in the Premier League title race.

That was enough for Chelsea owner and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who had brought Grant to the club as director of soccer in July 2007 before promoting him to manager two months later.

"I took on the job at a very difficult time, but Chelsea have pulled the plug on me," Grant was quoted as saying in Sunday's editions of the News of the World. "I feel very hurt, upset and angry."

The biggest coaching names in the world are being mentioned as his replacement. They include former Italy coach Marcello Lippi, outgoing FC Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard, Inter Milan's Roberto Mancini, Russia's Guus Hiddink, Manchester City's Sven-Goran Eriksson, Portugal's Luis Felipe Scolari and Blackburn's Mark Hughes, who played for Chelsea.

Even Mourinho is reportedly back in the frame, despite leaving after falling out with Abramovich.

Former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle said whoever took over would have to be able to deal with the hands-on style of Abramovich.

"It's different than managing any other club," said Hoddle, who led Chelsea from 1993-96. "You can understand if someone is putting that amount of finances into a club, he wants a say. I think this is where football and business really are different.

"Whoever they go for will be high profile and for me, whoever comes in, you know the wicket is going to be a sticky wicket if you want (to make) every single decision."

Abramovich will be able to check out what the supporters want from a phone-in on the club's in-house television station on Monday night.

Chelsea said on its Web site that it will screen a program to look at Grant's time at the club and the phone-in "will give fans a chance to speak on who and what kind of manager you want to replace him."

Meanwhile, Grant has reportedly been lined up to take over at Manchester City. Eriksson is still in charge, but owner Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to end his contract before the start of next season.

[Damian]

What odds can you get on a mourinho return? :eek:

he and Roman Abramavich have made friends again with the later buying a £2 million car

[Keano!]

Jose's at 16/1 on Ladbrokes

Wengers at 50/1!

[spellbound]

Tomorrow we'll find out:D

[Jazz 16]

Inter will become a serious force if they get Jose and maybe a player or 2 like
Drogba and Lampard. They have won the Italian league again, and with a
quality manager like him they could go far in the CL over the next few years.
A team to avoid in the early rounds anyway....

[dlan4327]

It's weird isn't it? It's like every 10 years in football there's a new team that eveyone loaths. Take Inter for example.

10 years ago Inter had Ronaldo and everybody loved them because they entertained and tried so hard yet they never won.

Conversly Juve at roughly the same time were like Chelsea. A squad that just kept dominating and were so strong.

Didn't exactly endear themselves to the broader public. Fast forward a decade and it's the other way round.

Inter and just raking in the titles while Juve are playing gorgeous football and finishing third.

10 years ago it was all about United and Arsenal. Now it's United Chelsea. Maybe in 5 years it'lll be United Liverpool.

Sorry but I can't envisage a situation where United aren't in it to win it. :D Either way just a funny thought about how times change.

10 years ago Chelsea were just another team and Leeds were a club that rarely finished outside the top 5.

Strange, huh? :)

[sparkic]

It's weird isn't it? It's like every 10 years in football there's a new team that eveyone loaths. Take Inter for example.

10 years ago Inter had Ronaldo and everybody loved them because they entertained and tried so hard yet they never won.

Conversly Juve at roughly the same time were like Chelsea. A squad that just kept dominating and were so strong.

Didn't exactly endear themselves to the broader public. Fast forward a decade and it's the other way round.

Inter and just raking in the titles while Juve are playing gorgeous football and finishing third.

10 years ago it was all about United and Arsenal. Now it's United Chelsea. Maybe in 5 years it'lll be United Liverpool.

Sorry but I can't envisage a situation where United aren't in it to win it. :D Either way just a funny thought about how times change.

10 years ago Chelsea were just another team and Leeds were a club that rarely finished outside the top 5.

Strange, huh? :)

I was just telling that to my mates the other day...its funny how football change and one season your in the CL semis (Leeds) and the next your fighting for promotion or relegation lol...The reason imo that Man United have been consistant is because of our manager and once he leaves we must not fold over and let others dominate our trophies!

[versa]

goal.com


According to Portuguese sports daily 'A Bola', Jose Mourinho and Inter have come to an agreement for the former Chelsea man to replace Roberto Mancini as coach.

It was reported in the Italian press earlier today that Mourinho had made up his mind that he wanted the job at Inter, but had issued the club’s President Massimo Moratti a deadline of midnight tonight to make or break the deal.

Moratti, who was said to be having second thoughts about whether or not to keep Roberto Mancini on, has now, according to A Bola, decided that Mourinho is indeed his man.

The 45-year-old has apparently been handed a three-year contract at San Siro, and will earn €9m per-season.

As part of the deal, Mourinho will immediately be allowed to sign former players Frank Lampard from Chelsea, and Deco from Barcelona, while Luis Figo will be handed a one-year extension to his current contract that runs out next month.

The Mancini era, which yielded three successive Scudetti appears now to be over, although it must be noted that there is still no official confirmation.

[dlan4327]

Sven's agent says there have been talks with Mexico so if you're a gambling man/woman... :)

Anybody hear from Allardyce? :D

Oh and Mourinho to Inter I'm pretty conmfident on that one now too.

I'd also say Rijkaard to Chelsea. Still we'll just wait and see.

[versa]

Sven's agent says there have been talks with Mexico so if you're a gambling man/woman... :)

Anybody hear from Allardyce? :D

Oh and Mourinho to Inter I'm pretty conmfident on that one now too.

I'd also say Rijkaard to Chelsea. Still we'll just wait and see.

Keep coming, guys. How else to keep occupied in this pre-season? And also speculate and update a bit on the other RFR's thread on United too. These two threads are perfect for this period. :)

[Red Devil]

versa, wake me up when your finished ;)

[versa]

versa, wake me up when your finished ;)

That would be when there are no more activities or 'activities' in the pre-season. Sleep well... :D

[Red Warrior]

It was reported in the Italian press earlier today that Mourinho had made up his mind that he wanted the job at Inter, but had issued the club’s President Massimo Moratti a deadline of midnight tonight to make or break the deal.

Moratti, who was said to be having second thoughts about whether or not to keep Roberto Mancini on, has now, according to A Bola, decided that Mourinho is indeed his man.

The 45-year-old has apparently been handed a three-year contract at San Siro, and will earn €9m per-season.

As part of the deal, Mourinho will immediately be allowed to sign former players Frank Lampard from Chelsea, and Deco from Barcelona, while Luis Figo will be handed a one-year extension to his current contract that runs out next month.

The Mancini era, which yielded three successive Scudetti appears now to be over, although it must be noted that there is still no official confirmation.

[Nemanjaaa]

I think Allardyce or maybe MaClaren to take over City, Sven to go to Mexico I've heard.
As for Chelski it's anyones guess i suppose, i'll say ... Rjkaard though.

[versa]

A fresh new name has been thrown in the fray. Thought you may like to know...


goal.com


Chelsea have made an unofficial inquiry regarding the availability of incoming Bayern Munich boss Jurgen Klinsmann…

The Blues, trophyless this season for the first time since 2004, are in need of a new manager after sacking Avram Grant last week.

Klinsmann was a candidate to succeed Jose Mourinho after the Special One left Stamford Bridge back in September, having been interviewed by club owner Roman Abramovich and his cohorts.

The former Tottenham striker eventually turned down Chelsea’s approaches, however, as he refused to work under Grant, who then the club’s director of football.

The man who took Germany to the semi-finals in the 2006 World Cup has since been targeted by Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett as a possible replacement for Reds boss Rafa Benitez – a fact that, when leaked by Hicks, caused uproar at Anfield.

But the west Londoners have rekindled their interest in Klinsmann, even going so far as to inspect the terms of his contract with Bayern to determine if there are any clauses or loopholes that can be exploited.

The deal seems watertight, however, and Klinsmann’s representatives have announced that the former Internazionale hitman will definitely start work at the Allianz Arena on July 1.

Inter’s sacking of Roberto Mancini has added another name to the fray, although Dutch duo Frank Rijkaard and Guud Hiddink remain the favourites to take the reins at Stamford Bridge, despite the latter’s commitments to the Russian national team.

[versa]

goal.com


Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini's agent Giorgio De Giorgis has confirmed that his client will be dismissed from his post and replaced by Jose Mourinho...

Mourinho has been linked with the Inter post over the past couple of months, since Roberto Mancini's outburst following his side's controversial elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool.

The coach quit, only to reverse his decision a day later. Seeds of doubt had been planted and despite continuous public backing from president Massimo Moratti since the incident - not to mention another Scudetto win - Mancini is now heading out at San Siro to be replaced by Mourinho, as Goal.com reported yesterday.

The official word comes from Giorgio De Giorgis - Mancini's agent - who has expressed Mancini's dismay at his dismissal, and confirmed that Mourinho will be replacing him as coach of the Italian champions.

"Roberto didn't expect it to finish like this but I always knew that something wasn't right," began the agent.

"However, it has happened and Roberto is very disappointed because he still had alot of work which has not been finished. He could have tried to win other important trophies, like the Champions League.

"Now Mourinho will arrive and he will have the task of trying to repeat what Mancini has done over the last few years."

De Giorgis admitted that pressure has played a large part in Inter's underwhelming second half of the season and that despite the narrow title win, the theatrics after the Liverpool defeat did little to help Mancio's case.

"Looking at Inter's form since January, I believe the pressure from above began to take its toll," he explained. "And then after Liverpool's exit there was an outburst, maybe Roberto could have avoided this."

"I think he made a mistake then, he shouldn't have told anyone he was leaving."

Massimo Moratti is said to be wasting no time in ushering in the new era, with Mourinho in Milan this evening accompanied by Inter technical secretary Marco Branca.

As soon as Mancini's departure is officially processed, the former Porto and Chelsea boss will sign on with Inter on a three-year contract, earning a staggering €9 million per year.

Mourinho, the self-proclaimed Special One, has been out of work since his controversial dismissal from Chelsea in October, and though he expressed an initial willingness to live the quiet life and relax, he has become more and more vocal in the media as months have gone on, sensing that the time is right for a return.

During his time off, he has been linked with every major club in Europe bar Manchester United, Arsenal and of course Chelsea. The links have always been strongest with Inter, city rivals Milan and Barcelona. Mourinho is said to have turned down a "major club" at this time last season - thought to be Real Madrid - and with Barcelona and Milan choosing to keep affairs very much in the family, it is Inter who have stuck their neck out and sacked a league-winning manager after a disappointing end to the season.

With the Inter move having been confirmed by Mancini's agent, now all that is left for the club to make an official announcement. Whether or not the likes of Deco, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho will follow their beloved ex-boss to Milan as much of the press has speculated remains to be seen. It promises to be an extremely interesting summer for the Nerazzurri...

[frenchie]

goal.com


Internazionale manager Roberto Mancini's agent Giorgio De Giorgis has confirmed that his client will be dismissed from his post and replaced by Jose Mourinho...

Mourinho has been linked with the Inter post over the past couple of months, since Roberto Mancini's outburst following his side's controversial elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool.

The coach quit, only to reverse his decision a day later. Seeds of doubt had been planted and despite continuous public backing from president Massimo Moratti since the incident - not to mention another Scudetto win - Mancini is now heading out at San Siro to be replaced by Mourinho, as Goal.com reported yesterday.

The official word comes from Giorgio De Giorgis - Mancini's agent - who has expressed Mancini's dismay at his dismissal, and confirmed that Mourinho will be replacing him as coach of the Italian champions.

"Roberto didn't expect it to finish like this but I always knew that something wasn't right," began the agent.

"However, it has happened and Roberto is very disappointed because he still had alot of work which has not been finished. He could have tried to win other important trophies, like the Champions League.

"Now Mourinho will arrive and he will have the task of trying to repeat what Mancini has done over the last few years."

De Giorgis admitted that pressure has played a large part in Inter's underwhelming second half of the season and that despite the narrow title win, the theatrics after the Liverpool defeat did little to help Mancio's case.

"Looking at Inter's form since January, I believe the pressure from above began to take its toll," he explained. "And then after Liverpool's exit there was an outburst, maybe Roberto could have avoided this."

"I think he made a mistake then, he shouldn't have told anyone he was leaving."

Massimo Moratti is said to be wasting no time in ushering in the new era, with Mourinho in Milan this evening accompanied by Inter technical secretary Marco Branca.

As soon as Mancini's departure is officially processed, the former Porto and Chelsea boss will sign on with Inter on a three-year contract, earning a staggering €9 million per year.

Mourinho, the self-proclaimed Special One, has been out of work since his controversial dismissal from Chelsea in October, and though he expressed an initial willingness to live the quiet life and relax, he has become more and more vocal in the media as months have gone on, sensing that the time is right for a return.

During his time off, he has been linked with every major club in Europe bar Manchester United, Arsenal and of course Chelsea. The links have always been strongest with Inter, city rivals Milan and Barcelona. Mourinho is said to have turned down a "major club" at this time last season - thought to be Real Madrid - and with Barcelona and Milan choosing to keep affairs very much in the family, it is Inter who have stuck their neck out and sacked a league-winning manager after a disappointing end to the season.

With the Inter move having been confirmed by Mancini's agent, now all that is left for the club to make an official announcement. Whether or not the likes of Deco, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho will follow their beloved ex-boss to Milan as much of the press has speculated remains to be seen. It promises to be an extremely interesting summer for the Nerazzurri...
mancini to chelsea,mourinho to inter,then he'll take lampard,drogba and carvalho with him.

[versa]

With no real games in the pre-season, speculation has to be the name of the game... for now.

Yet another new name thrown in the fray for Chelsea...


goal.com

Chelsea have identified Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari as a prime candidate to fill the recently vacated manager's role at Stamford Bridge, although they face strong opposition for his signature…

Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) vice-president Amandio De Carvalho revealed yesterday that the Blues are chasing the big Brazilian, saying: “I already know that Chelsea are interested in Scolari.”

The 59-year-old will be out of contract following the completion of EURO 2008, but Portugal are keen to retain his services and are lining up talks to discuss a possible contract extension.

Scolari is on the record as saying he wishes to clear up his future before the tournament in Austria and Switzerland officially kicks off, meaning Chelsea will have to move quickly if they wish to install the man who led Brazil to victory in the 2002 World Cup.

FPF president Gilberto Madial is likely to offer Scolari an increase on his current salary of ₤1.9million-per-year to lure him to stay on.

Scolari knows he could earn considerably more in England, and while Manchester City drop continually further out of the picture as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s fate remains unresolved, Chelsea may launch a late bid to bring Big Phil to Stamford Bridge.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich has scouted several possibilities since sacking Avram Grant last week, although the board is yet to reach any consensus regarding their preference to succeed the Israeli.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes is the only British candidate, although the nature of his contract at Ewood Park means Chelsea would have pay up despite the fact he is on the final year of his deal.

Incoming Bayern Munich manager Jurgen Klinsmann has also been approached, as he was an initial candidate to succeed Jose Mourinho back in September before Grant got the job.

The Blues have inspected Klinsmann’s contract with Bayern in search of any loopholes or clauses that could be exploited, but the paperwork is typically watertight.

Roberto Mancini's sacking from Internazionale leaves him as a contender to take the reins, and his agent said recently: "Roberto Mancini is not a person or coach who likes to propose himself to a club, he waits for a club to look after him so we are in that position right now.

"We are not proposing Mancini to any club, but Chelsea are one of the top five clubs in the world so it is more likely, if there will be any talk, for it to happen now rather than then."

[dlan4327]

Nice work Versa. You done a mighty job of taking over thread I only created as a distraction from the tedium of the off season. Kudos. :)

[versa]

Nice work Versa. You done a mighty job of taking over thread I only created as a distraction from the tedium of the off season. Kudos. :)

I didn't take over the thread. Just sharing relevant articles as and when. Service with a smile. :)

[versa]

the independent

Hughes is poised to become Manchester City's new manager after the club agreed a compensation package with Blackburn.

Manchester City, who opened talks with Mark Hughes in London last night, remain highly optimistic that they can unveil him as manager tomorrow, despite the receding chances of Milan's Carlo Ancelotti joining Chelsea, which creates the chance of the London side gazumping them.

At the end of a day of high tension for City, in which the hierarchy is known to have closely followed developments at Stamford Bridge, the club felt their chances of securing Hughes were well above 80 per cent after talks got underway and those privy to discussions with Hughes found him surprisingly undistracted by the prospect of Chelsea offering him a job.

Since Chelsea sources suggested early yesterday, long before Ancelotti appeared to rebuff them, that Hughes and an unnamed foreign manager were their top two candidates, the fallback options remain of significance. Reports from Turkey last night suggested a deal with Zico might be on the cards; Roberto Mancini is seen as a more realistic second choice.

But City were not even discussing second choices last night, despite the physical risks posed by their prospective manager spending the night in London. Hughes, free to talk to City and their new executive chairman Garry Cook after a £5m compensation deal was agreed with Blackburn Rovers yesterday, has given the strong impression that he believes City to represent a challenge in themselves, rather than a stepping stone to a Chelsea or Manchester United.

Whether the former Manchester United player, a boyhood Chelsea fan and former legend at Stamford Bridge, might place Roman Abramovich's side above Thaksin Shinawatra's remains to be seen. The threat of such an outcome was certainly what prompted Cook to fly in from his previous base in the US yesterday intent on wrapping things up within 48 hours.

The only certainty is that Hughes is leaving Blackburn,with Paul Ince emerging as a prime candidate to replace his former Manchester United team-mate last night and possibly a more likely successor to Hughes than Sam Allardyce, who has abandoned a family holiday in Spain to put himself in the frame.

City have been at pains to point out that they are seeking to install a manager earlier in the close season than they delivered Sven Goran Eriksson on 7 July last year. What now remains unclear is whether they are prepared to accept any indecision from Hughes – or proceed straight to their alternative options later this week.

The predicament City find themselves in may raise a justifiable wry smile from Eriksson – who last night agreed a deal that will make him Mexico's national coach.

If Hughes is lost to City, Mancini would appear to be the back-up option. His 17-year-old son, Filippo has been in City's academy since January and both Mackintosh and the club are well known to him.

With Portugal's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari well out of the picture, the manager Thaksin would consider the next best option is Avram Grant – though there are serious questions at City about how able he is to begin coaching in Britain once again, so soon after what he has experienced at Chelsea.

Little did Hughes imagine when he slipped out of the running for the Newcastle United job last season the kind of dilemma which was awaiting him, post season. He is understood to have made it quite clear that he wishes to bring David Bentley with him from Bentley, though not Roque Santa Cruz, as has been suggested.

In the plus column is the near certainty that CSKA Moscow's £18m Brazilian forward Jo will be signing on for next season. The even more extraordinary prospect for a manager well accustomed to moulding talents on a low budget is Cook's intent to pursue Thaksin's interest in Ronaldinho. The view from the Thaksin camp on the player is by no means clear cut: there is a fear that after such a period on the sidelines at Barcelona that the player might not be ready to step in and deliver. In the words of one source, City do not want a "Thierry Henry situation" – an allusion to the Frenchman's poor season at Barcelona – on their hands. But discussions are ongoing and the prospect of the player signing a genuine one.

While Hughes appeared looking relaxed yesterday at his home in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, before heading to London, those supporting his potential appointment by City included the club's former boss Joe Royle.

"He certainly has the character you would think to go and try one of those big jobs if he feels it's right."

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telegraph
By Ian Winrow and Richard Morgan, 04/06/2008


Manchester City have appointed Mark Hughes their new manager on a three-year contract, the club have confirmed.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra had claimed last night that Hughes had already agreed to take over at Eastlands following the departure of former coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

City are believed to have paid Blackburn Rovers £4.6 million in compensation to land the Welshman on a four-year contract, reported to be worth £3m a year.

Hughes, 44, steered Blackburn to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season on limited resources, two places higher than where his new employers finished, and will become City's 13th manager in 22 years.

"He's an outstanding manager who has achieved many things with Blackburn," Thaksin said. "Mark was always the first choice of our new chairman, Garry Cook. Together they will make a great team. They will both prove to be excellent acquisitions, I'm sure.

"These are exciting times for Manchester City and I hope the supporters can understand that I share their goals. That sometimes means making ruthless decisions. Now we can go forward to a new era, with a new management structure and great hope and ambition."

Thaksin is convinced he had to make a change to ensure City can compete with the Premier League's so-called 'top four'.

Hughes, who will be presented to the media at a press conference tomorrow morning, agreed to the move after meeting executive chairman Garry Cook yesterday evening.

Cook himself has only just had his appointment confirmed by owner Thaksin and flew in from the US to seal the deal.

"He made it clear to us from the moment we met that he shared our vision and ambition to make Manchester City one of the top sides in the country," Cook said.

"It's a privilege to join Dr Thaksin here at Manchester City. There is no better opportunity in world football.

"The club intends to invest in new players as well as securing the long-term services of key members of the current first-team squad.

"Mark has already identified some of the players and backroom staff that he wants to see here at City, and we will begin the process of recruiting them immediately."

Hughes will take up his new position with immediate effect.

Monday's dismissal of Eriksson, after less than a year in charge, triggered a formal approach for Hughes who had three years left to run on his Blackburn contract. Rovers chief executive John Williams yesterday reluctantly gave permission for negotiations to begin.

Hughes will take with him four backroom staff: assistant manager Mark Bowen, first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki, goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitch****, and reserve team coach Glyn Hodges.

Hughes, though, will face a much tougher task if he attempts to make David Bentley, the Blackburn winger, one of his first transfer targets. The manager will undoubtedly want to sign the £12 million-rated player but, having previously insisted players should be held to their contracts and been given assurances by the Blackburn board that Bentley would be going nowhere this summer, Hughes will discover that Rovers' officials are determined to offer the same guarantees to his successor.

Hughes is less likely to attempt to lure Roque Santa Cruz from Ewood Park, largely because of the impending £20 million arrival at Eastlands of CSKA Moscow's 21-year-old striker, Jo, with whom negotiations have been proceeding for some weeks. Hughes is also aware of Thaksin's unlikely pursuit of the two-times world player of year Ronaldinho, who is believed to be demanding a world record salary of £10 million a year to leave Barcelona.

City officials believe a combination of sponsorship deals and other commercial spin-offs can be put together to help cover the Brazilian's enormous wage demands, but there remains the underlying belief that, at 28, the Brazilian's ambitions extend beyond the Uefa Cup.

Hughes will hope to benefit from a change of heart from club captain Richard Dunne, who has put on hold his plans to quit Eastlands until the new manager is in place.

Dunne, who has one year left on his contract, had grown disenchanted following the handling of Eriksson's departure, but will welcome the arrival of a manager like Hughes and is now expected to reject overtures from Tottenham and Portsmouth and pledge his immediate future to City.

The speed of Hughes' departure has caught Blackburn off-guard and, while the Lancashire club are anxious to make a speedy appointment, as yet no clear favourite has emerged in the Ewood Park boardroom.

Former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce yesterday returned prematurely from a family holiday and is expected to press his claims, but Celtic's Gordon Strachan and Zenit St Petersburg's Dick Advocaat will also figure on a lengthy shortlist.

Sven-Goran Eriksson - Competitive Record at Manchester City 2007/08
Team Joined Left G W D L GF GA W%
Manchester City 01/07/2007 02/06/2008 44 19 10 15 51 58 43.18

Eriksson v Hughes - Premier League 2007/08
Manager Joined Left G W D L GF GA W%
Mark Hughes 16/09/2004 Current 38 15 13 10 50 48 39.47
Sven-Goran Eriksson 01/07/2007 02/06/2008 38 15 10 13 45 53 39.47

[versa]

the independent

A manager in the mould of the outgoing Mark Hughes – Paul Ince – has emerged as the early lead contender for the Blackburn Rovers job as the club begin their unenviable attempt to maintain top 10 status without the Welshman.

The club's chairman John Williams is known to value the idea of developing youthful managers, and proved as much in the Premier League break that he gave Hughes four years ago, and Ince's impressive work at Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town may have done enough to persuade Blackburn to gamble on recruiting him.

Sam Allardyce remains the bookmakers' favourite to return to Lancashire and his work on a low budget at Bolton demonstrates his credentials. Allardyce cut short a holiday in Spain to place himself in contention and though he is scheduled to leave the country again on Saturday to take up a broadcasting role at Euro 2008, he is understood to be prepared to alter his plans if Blackburn are interested in hiring him.

But the appointment of another of the Sir Alex Ferguson alumni would be the preferred option for many fans. The three consecutive top-10 finishes and Uefa Cup place Hughes achieved at Ewood Park demonstrated that a manager need not have a wealth of top flight experience to succeed and Ince would certainly be a promising prospect. Former England manager Steve McClaren is also understood to have made his interest in the job known, and another man linked to the post is Alan Shearer.

Williams, whose determination to dissuade David Bentley from joining Hughes at Manchester City may present him with a challenging task, has indicated that he will make stability the most crucial aspect of his search for a successor. He said: "We have enjoyed eight years of success and stability with Graeme Souness and Mark and now it is important that we build on our strengths."

Williams, who allowed Hughes to open talks with City last week, paid tribute to the Welshman. It was his success in the transfer market with the likes of Roque Santa Cruz and Ryan Nelsen that marked Hughes out as one of the brightest young managerial talents in Britain.

Williams added: "Mark leaves the club in a strong position with three consecutive top-10 finishes and an excellent squad of players. In turn, we have helped him to establish himself as one of the most sought-after young British managers in the business."

[versa]

the independent, Tuesday, 10 June 2008


A four-man shortlist for the job of manager at Blackburn Rovers was drawn up last night, with the club hopeful of having Mark Hughes' successor in place by the end of the week.

Though Alan Shearer has overtaken Paul Ince as the bookies' favourite, Rovers' chief executive, John Williams, indicated yesterday that the pair were neck and neck prior to the interviewing process and that he had no intentions of heading out to the European Championship to meet with the former Rovers striker. The Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat is also likely to be on the four-man list, though Sam Allardyce and Steve McClaren seem less likely candidates.

"We've had a good day discussing all interested candidates," Williams said after emerging soon after 3pm from four hours of talks with some of his board members. His club have demonstrated, in the employment of Hughes, as well as Brian Kidd and Kenny Dalglish before him, an inclination to take on youthful managers. This time seems likely to be no different, with Williams conscious that a big name is needed to keep attendances up.

Ince has considerably more experience in his favour and Rovers are only too aware what alumni of the Sir Alex Ferguson school can bring them. For his part Shearer, who is known to be interested, would be an even bigger draw having played a part in delivering Rovers the title in 1995. But he is untested and there is also the question of where his loyalties might lie should Newcastle United find themselves looking for a manager in the next year. The situation at St James' Park remains febrile to say the least.

Allardyce has made no secret of his attraction to the job but he may not be a popular choice among Rovers fans and Steve McClaren also falls into the category of managers who may turn off fans.