SOCCER
Which managers are available in summer? Who will go to Chelsea, Spurs? Will Galtier and Ancelotti leave?
There are plenty of free seats on the managerial merry-go-round, come and join the ride!
Some are saying there’s an earthquake coming. After Bayern sacked Nagelsmann last week and appointed the hilariously fun Thomas Tuchel instead, the rest of the big European clubs are starting to shake things up and get ready for the final stretch of the season. The first to pounce after the Nagelsmann decision was Spurs’ sacking of Antonio Conte; but the German is in no rush to sign a new deal with anyone after his breakup and will wait until the summer to decide on his next romance.
Another team in search a new coach is Chelsea, who put an end to Graham Potter’s attempt at magic in London after he lost to Aston Villa, making it a near-impossible feat to make it into the Champions League. It’s a good thing, then, they didn’t spend €300 million in the winter market. Ah, they did. As such, Todd Boehly cut the cord and put an end to a simply unsustainable situation.
Chelsea’s poor form means the Champions League is almost impossible
The only realistic way The Blues could make it into the Champions League next year is by winning the tournament this season, which is why they have asked Bruno Saltor to take charge. Here is all the information about him so you don’t have to use your favourite search engine. His first task is to eliminate 14-time Champions League winner Real Madrid and then get past either Manchester City or Bayern Munich. For the Chelsea job, Nagelsmann is the favourite along with Zinedine Zidane and Luis Enrique, but reports in England say a decision will not be made until the summer.
We continue: Tottenham and Chelsea are not the only teams looking for a manager; Carlo Ancelotti’s future is far from secure as he sites 12 points behind FC Barcelona and has lost the last 3 Clásicos. Only winning the Champions League would see the Italian save his place as head of the team and allow him to fulfil his contract with the club. The Copa del Rey semi-final, this Wednesday against FC Barcelona, will also be key in determining what happens to Carletto.
Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso, Zidane, Raúl and Mourinho are names that are on the table for Los Blancos in a parallel world in which Florentino Pérez decides to put an end to Ancelotti’s second stint at the club. For now, all is calm (at least until the end of the season).
Which other teams want to change their manager?
If Ancelotti does leave Madrid, the most likely scenario would be for him to join Brazil, that are actively pursuing the coach. The Italian and Pep Guardiola are the two that the CBF like the most and are willing to wait until June to sign a new manager, depending on what happens in Madrid and Manchester.
PSG are also looking for a new manager (again). The French side crumbled in the Champions League (again) against Bayern and Galtier is standing blindfolded on one leg atop a precariously poised Jenga tower. They will not do anything until the season is out, as they are still in the race to win Ligue 1 without having to get rid of the coach or change the dressing room members. Zidane is the dream.
Other teams, like Leicester City, who also made late moves to sack their coach, or Inter, who are not reaching the heights of last season, could make changes to their benches; Rafa Benítez and Graham Potter are the favourites for the Leicester job. Even Liverpool, who are not having a great season, have been mentioned in the managerial merry-go-round conversations, although they are not thinking of getting rid of Klopp.
Who are the main candidates for Europe’s top clubs?
Amid the chaos and destruction and knocking-over of Jenga towers, three names stand out: Zidane, Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique are wanted by most of Europe’s top clubs, and are all out of contract. They do not need to negotiate with any club to release them, although none of the candidates want to talk mid-season, preferring to wait until the end of the campaign to sort out their futures.
Mourinho and Ancelotti are also on various wish-lists, but they are currently tied to teams, unlike the previous three. Conte is well-liked in Italy and is on the radars of both Inter and Roma. A lot of spinning and criss-crossing is expected in summer among the big benches of Europe’s top stadiums and the merry-go-round is getting ready to start its engine. Don’t miss out, get your ticket now.
LaLiga Santander 2022/2023
| Classification | PTS | WM | TM | LM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Barcelona | 71 | 23 | 2 | 2 |
| 2Real Madrid | 59 | 18 | 5 | 4 |
| 3Atlético de Madrid | 54 | 16 | 6 | 5 |
| Upcoming matches | |
|---|---|
| Real Madrid - Villarreal | S-08/04 15:00 |
| Cádiz - Real Madrid | S-15/04 15:00 |
| Real Madrid - Celta de Vigo | S-23/04 12:00 |
*Data updated to date Apr 3rd, 2023