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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Latest Vacant Chelsea Manager Hot Seat News




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Lippi Wants Chelsea Job?
According to the Sunday Mirror, Marcello Lippi has put himself forward for the vacant manager’s job at Chelsea.

The recent sacking of Avram Grant has led to a media frenzy over who will be replacing the Israeli on the bench at Stamford Bridge.A whole host of big-name managers have been put forward as possible candidates, including Guus Hiddink, Sven Goran Eriksson, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Roberto Mancini.According to the Sunday Mirror, legendary Italian manager Marcello Lippi is set to apply for the job at Chelsea.The 60-year-old has been out of the game since leading Italy to the World Cup in Germany in 2006, however he has stated on numerous occasions that he will be returning to management in time for the 2008/09 season.Lippi is one of the most successful coaches of the modern era having won five Italian championships during two spells at Juve.He also won a Champions League title, an Intercontinental Cup, a Coppa Italia, and a European Supercup.He finished as a runner-up in the Champions League on three occasions in 1997, 1998 and 2003, as well as losing a Uefa Cup final in 1995.

Anthony Sormani

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.Luca Capofranco

I want Chelsea job - Deschampsby Laurent Picard, 26 May 2008
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/05/26/Prem-Deschampslinked-to-Chelsea/

Didier Deschamps believes he is on Chelsea's short-list regarding the coaching role at Stamford Bridge, and the charismatic figure is ready for the big move to his old club.
Just two days after sacking Avram Grant, The Blues are working hard to name a new manager and France legend Deschamps is part of the short-list.
The tactician is a free agent since he parted company with Juventus in the summer of 2007, after having helped The Old Lady to gain promotion to the top flight.
Deschamps reckons he is one of the three or four managers that are in the frame to replace Grant, and the tactician dreams of taking over the reins.
“It would be hard to refuse Chelsea, unless I stop being a coach,” Deschamps told RMC. “I want to return to coaching.
“I needed to rest because I had no break between my playing career and coaching career. I feel capable of doing good things.
“The coach’s market is complicated, there are not only the players.
“Chelsea is different because the place is vacant. I am flattered to be a possibility.
“They are a very big club that I know. We will see in the next few days how it goes.
“Three or four managers are on the list, I am part of them.
“We speak about [Marcelo] Lippi as well but he does not speak English. All the famous managers who are free can interest them.
“We cannot forget that they sacked a manager not because of results but because they want to play a spectacular football, attacking, something different than in the next few years.
“[Roman] Abramovich and his directors decide, not the players."
Deschamps added: “I have played with John Terry, I know them [the players], you know, you only work with internationals at Chelsea.
“I would like to have the chance to choose [between Lyon and Chelsea].
“You have a very competitive team, they fought for the title and played the Champions League final but you have big pressure that forces you to win.”

Gift to Jose Mourinho hints at Chelsea return By Steve Wilson

Despite leaving the club under a cloud last autumn former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is still on good terms with owner Roman Abramovich - so much so in fact the Russian billionaire recently gave the Portuguese a £2 million car as a present.

And as the search begins for a replacement to the sacked Avram Grant, the intriguing possibility of Mourinho returning to West London no longer seems the fanciful possibility it once did.

Driven man: Mourinho is still on good terms with Abramovich
Frank Rijkaard, who has led Barcelona to domestic and European success, Guus Hiddink, who is already on Abramovich's payroll as Russia coach, and Mark Hughes have emerged as the leading candidates to replace the Israeli.
Mourinho, despite holding out for opportunities at Real Madrid, Barcelona or AC Milan, is some way down the road with negotiations to succeed Roberto Mancini - another possible Chelsea manager as the European managerial merry-go-round cranks up to full speed - at Inter.
However, news that the manager who delivered back-to-back titles in his time at Stanford Bridge has spoken regularly with Abramovich since his departure raises the possibility of a return that would be welcomed by fans of the club.
A week before Mourinho was sacked after an indifferent start to the season he had asked Abramovich to use his contacts to source a rare Ferrari he wanted to buy.
The 612 Scaglietti is Ferrari's only four seater and Mourinho wanted it so he could drive a sports car that was practical for a man with a young family. A special edition of the model was produced to commemorate the Italian company's 60th birthday and only 60 were made.
Shortly after his dismissal, Mourinho contacted Chelsea director Eugene Tenenbaum to reaffirm his desire to buy the car if it could be found.
Nothing was said for around 5 months, at which point Tenenbaum contacted Mourinho to say that a gift from Abramovich was on its way to him - three days later he took delivery of the £2 million car in the week following Chelsea's defeat to Tottenham in the Carling Cup final.
Mourinho called Abramovich to thank him and the pair quickly renewed an amenable relationship opening the way for a return at some stage for Mourinho. He has stated in the past that one day he would like to return to Stamford Bridge.


Abramovich has admitted that the experiment with employing his friend Grant has been a failure, despite Chelsea running Manchester United close in both the Premier League and Champions League.
And the Russian has privately conceded that a policy of installing a strong disciplinarian to manage the team whilst handing day-to-day running of the business over to the directors may yield the results he craves, both in terms of trophies and aesthetics.
Mourinho being part of that still remains unlikely but a serious shift in the Russian's thinking means that changes at the club are set to be wide and far reaching over the summer both in terms of coaching and playing staff.

Top target rules out Bridge move
Last Updated: Mon, 26 May 2008 13:10
The agent of Guus Hiddink has ruled out the possibility of the Dutchman becoming the next manager of Chelsea.
The search is on for Avram Grant's successor following his departure on Saturday and it was thought that Hiddink was on owner Roman Abramovich's list of possible targets.However, Hiddink is currently in charge of the Russia national side and has a contract that is due to run until 2010. Hiddink's agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen, insists Hiddink will honour that contract and has no intention of moving to Stamford Bridge. "There's no way Guus will go to Chelsea," he said in the Times. "It's not an option and has never been. Guus is the coach of Russia and will stay until the World Cup of 2010."Abramovich must now turn his attentions elsewhere and reports continue to link former boss Jose Mourinho with a sensational return to the Blues.


Portugal coach Scolari wants Chelsea job tribalfootball.com - May 26, 2008
Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari fancies the vacant manager's job at Chelsea.
The Brazilian is the type of no-nonsense, experienced gaffer Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is seeking to replace Avram Grant, who was sacked on the weekend.
The Times says having priced himself out of a move to Manchester City, Scolari is keen on the Chelsea post and has told friends that he would relish working with Abramovich.

Sunderland boss linked with Chelsea job
SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane is a shock candidate for the Chelsea job, according to reports today.

SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane is a shock candidate for the Chelsea job, according to reports today.
Writing in the Daily Express, respected sports journalist Harry Harris claims Keane could be on his way to Stamford Bridge as replacement for Avram Grant, who was sacked on Saturday.Keane is more likely to be seen as a potential successor to Sir Alex Ferguson, who has admitted he will retire from the Manchester United hotseat within three years.But Harris reckons Chelsea could opt to beat United to the punch with a move for Keane, or for Blackburn boss Mark Hughes.Luiz Felipe Scolari, Marcello Lippi and Didier Deschamps are also said to be in the frame. While Sven-Goran Eriksson could be a wild card choice.





Bookies' market on next Chelsea manager By Telegraph staff and agencies

As Avram Grant touched down in Israel at the weekend, Frank Rijkaard, Roberto Mancini and Gus Hiddink were heading the bookmakers' race become Chelsea's third manager in nine months.

Currently being tipped as favourite is ex-Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard, fetching odds of 5/2. He was sacked from Barcelona just weeks ago after a second disappointing season at the Nou Camp, and will now be looking for immediate employment as he reportedly faces money problems dating back to his playing career.
His links with Chelsea could prove useful (Henk Ten Cate was his assistant at Barcelona), while his adherence to beautiful football is a quality Roman Abramovich prizes. However, the Russian is looking for a manager to take a firm grip of the dressing room, and Rikjarrd is not known as a disciplinarian, adopting more of a laisse-faire attitude.

Roberto Mancini, 9/2, has just won his third consecutive Serie A title with Inter Milan, and has privately revealed that he will be leaving the club in the summer. Reports had suggested that Mancini had already been in talks with Chelsea, although the board have rejected these rumours.
His reputation for antagonising the press could prove a problem, however.

Gus Hiddink had at one point been regarded as a banker, but odds on the Dutchman have lengthened to 9/2 after he ruled himself out of the running at the weekend. However, Abramovich has serious influence over the Russia manager - Hiddink is already on the Abramovich payroll as the billionaire sponsors his wages in the international side.
His sides play the brand of "total football" that Abramovich desires and as for ruthlessness, Hiddink ticks that box too - he sent Edgar Davis home from Euro 96 after the player advised him to "take his head out of his players' asses, so he can see better."

Mark Hughes is another contender with odds of 16/1 at William Hill, although a search of the market will turn up odds of 9/1. Hughes fits most of the criteria: he has a proven talent on the transfer market, as well as a successful playing career at the club.
However, it is uncertain how much influence he would allow Abramovich to wield in the dressing room.

Sven Goran Eriksson, 6/1, is another manager that Abramovich has been linked with in the past. The "super agent" Pini Zahavi is promoting the Swede for the job, although Eriksson's reputation to kowtow to senior players could prove to be a stumbling block.
Michael Laudrup, the current Getafe coach, is a surprise contender, fetching odds of 16/1.

Laudrup has said that he will leave Getafe this summer after guiding the Spanish club from the relegation zone in La Liga to the Uefa Cup semi-finals.
Odds on Jose Mourinho returning to Stamford Bridge have shortened since last month to 12/1 after it emerged that Abramovich had presented the Portuguese with a £2 million Ferrari after Mourinho had been fired.

However, Inter Milan remain his most likely destination.
Other contenders are Phil Scolari at 16/1, Marcello Lippi at 20/1, and Didier Deschamps at 25/1, although at this stage these managers are looking like also rans.

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