It appears we’re going to have vacancy at the Chelsea FC managerial position yet again. The current incumbent, Maurizio Sarri, is set to leave and take the open gig at Juventus. Yes, the revolving door that is the Chelsea manager gig will likely keep spinning.
It’s one of several negative factors that surround the club right now, and could see the west London outfit head into a significant down turn in the next couple of seasons. Whomever takes the gig next will have plenty of adverse consequences to deal with, as Stamford Bridge is facing both a transfer ban and the departure of the best overall player, Eden Hazard.
Then you have owner Roman Abramovich, who has been a lot more absentee lately amidst rumors he wants to sell the club. For now though, it will ultimately fall on the Vladimir Putin BFF to make the call on this hire, so let’s take a look at five of the leading candidates.
Frank Lampard, Derby County Manager
As a club legend, this idea is getting a lot of traction right now. It’s similar to the Ole Gunnar Solksjaer hire at Manchester United in that you have a former player who knows the club culture first hand, but also lacks major experience.
He has just one year of management on his CV, where he finished sixth in the Championship and then lost the playoff final to Aston Villa.
Jose Mourinho, two time former Chelsea Manager
While this might seem a bit far-fetched at first (because it is), you can’t argue with his track record. No one else has accomplished at Stamford Bridge what he has, and he is currently available. (that doesn’t look to be changing any time soon)
A third go around? Well, the way he left last time wasn’t optimal, and it’s hard to imagine a lot of supporters getting excited about this idea, but crazier things have happened.
Javi Gracia, Watford Manager
He’s one of the leading candidates to get the gig, according to ESPN, who also claim that the club is hesitant to hire a third straight Italian (which casts severe doubt on the next candidate below), given how the last two didn’t exactly gel with how they do business in west London.
Gracia has impressed during his year and a half in charge at Vicarage Road, and now might be the time for him to move on up.
Massimiliano Allegri, former Juventus Manager
Left Juventus, reportedly, because he wasn’t granted as much power as he felt he deserved. Don’t think he would get that at Chelsea either, so he might be best served by taking a year off of football. Fresh to the managerial job market, Allegri has the most impressive resume of anyone out there having won Serie A five straight times.
Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Has done an amazing job in such short a time, securing promotion with Wolves and then European football the very next season. He’s also shown a consistent ability to beat the big six, and perhaps that quality will compensate for his overall lack of experience.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.