FURTHER – Maresca stops being Chelsea coach
Candidates are starting to appear in various reports and below we take a look at some of the names who could receive a very attractive position that also comes with high expectations given the level of talent on the team.
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Who will be the new Chelsea manager?
Roberto De Zerbi
According to a report from bbcThe Italian coach is admired by Chelsea officials and they met him in the summer. He has done a wonderful job in Marseille and RDZ has experience in the Premier League after taking Brighton to Europe playing an intense and exciting brand of football. But like Maresca, he does not hesitate to speak out if he does not agree with the decisions made by the club’s hierarchy. That could be a problem. But it’s a risk worth taking.
Liam Rosenior
It would be a bold move, but you can’t argue with Rosenior’s record. The young English manager did a great job at Hull City to get them closer to the Championship playoffs, then did wonders at Strasbourg to lead them to European qualification in Ligue 1. Strasbourg is owned by the same BlueCo group as Chelsea, so Rosenior is well known and highly valued by those running the show. Such a big job may be too early in his coaching career, but he deserves to be in the conversation and his style of football is similar to Maresca’s.
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Kieran McKenna
Chelsea previously spoke to McKenna when they signed Maresca and he is doing a great job at Ipswich. Their relegation from the Premier League last season was less down to him and more down to resources, while he has them on a great run in the Championship this season as they push for an immediate return. McKenna is a great manager and will enjoy getting the best out of so many top young talents. But many Chelsea fans may regard his appointment as disappointing.
Andoni Iraola
If we mention a couple of names when it comes to current Premier League managers who are doing a great job, Iraola should be there. The Spaniard has gone through a rough patch with Bournemouth recently and although his high-pressure style of play is totally different to Maresca, it may be helpful for Chelsea to go in this direction to achieve success over a longer period of time. Iraola’s tactics need a young, big and hungry team to be successful and Chelsea have it.
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Eddie Howe
Once again he has done a wonderful job at Newcastle and it is not known if he will be available. But Howe might be ready for the next step. It would be risky for him as he basically got a job for the next five years (and probably more) at Newcastle based on what he achieved there. But Howe has his back and his track record of working and developing young players, while creating winning and exciting teams, is undoubted.
Unai Emery
See above. He is doing wonders at Aston Villa and has whatever support he wants. Why would I stop that? Perhaps for a new challenge in a team that knows it has greater resources. It would be difficult for Chelsea to lure Emery away from Villa, but he is certainly worth a try. The Spaniard is one of the best managers in the game and has thrived with underdogs in Villarreal, Aston Villa and Sevilla. But after a mixed spell in charge of PSG and Arsenal in the past, it is only logical that he would try again at a monster club like Chelsea.