Managerial Merry-Go-Round

Pep Guardiola has really put the proverbial cat amongst them this week as it was confirmed that he'll be joining Bayern Munich for next season. This after the Catalan manager had cheekily proclaimed his dream to work in England, a dream he couldn't fulfill as a player but hopes to as a manager he says.  

Now Chelsea's plan, and maybe that of Manchester City, has been thrown into disarray. 

To be fair, if the Bayern deal was done before Christmas, the Blues' hierarchy probably knew the Pep dream was over for them, for now at least. A lot of their suddenly disillusioned fans had also realised Pep might not go for their club, who despite signing a very Barca style of player in recent times haven't done a lot to make a manager believe he'll get time to put his shape on things. Or choose who he signs. Or choose who he plays.  

The question they'll be asking is Who will they be able to get? 

You expect Ambramovic will want a big name with a history of success. But you have to ask who he hasn't already had and who he hasn't already put off the club. And who in a job at one of the top European clubs would want to leave what they have.

Well, there are obvious 'never going to happen' guys like Fergie and Wenger. Anchellotti won't be an option either, despite the success he has shown in his career - what's that Roman, he won you a league and a cup? Well, he can't be any good for you now can he. 

The time has probably now passed for others who've reportedly been in the frame in the past. Sven - not any more. Hiddink - doesn't seem to want to be Roman's full time fall guy. Harry - was that ever a real possibility? Frank Rijkaard - a forgotten manager, now coaching Saudi Arabia national team, doubt he's in the picture anymore at the top level. 

Roman might go for a talented young up and coming manager with a knowledge of English football...but then again, that will only lead to a Champions League victory and three points off the top of the league. 

No, I'm expecting him to look around the top clubs in Europe. So who are the options?

Jose Mourinho has been there before, has fallen out with Roman before. Now all his boys has left or are on the way out of the club. But the likelihood is he'll be available. He'll probably go back if he doesn't get another offer. His ego will want to go in and finish the job he left behind and win a Champions League with Chelsea. His stock may has fallen with his further antics including eye-gouging and upsetting the Real Madrid legend and club captain Iker Casillas.  

If Mourinho isn't available, this may mean another man has become available. Roberto Mancini probably needs to mount a comeback in the league to save his job after more Champions League disappointment this year. Even that might not be enough. If he gets the axe, Jose is the overwhelming favourite to succeed him with Pep in Munich now. 

Who else? Jurgen Klopp's stock has risen considerably with what he has done at Dortmund in the last few years. He may see more of the team he has built head off around Europe to bigger named clubs. That might encourage him to take on a 'new challenge'. The type of player Chelsea now have might well suit his style.  

In Italy, there is Andrea Stramaccioni at Inter and Massimiliano Allegri at AC. A bit of experience at clubs like that will potentially put them in the frame. Allegri has a league title under his belt and is in the process of making the Milan side younger. That might give him some assets Roman might like. Antonio Conte has done a great job in getting his Juventus team back in European contention and they almost unbeatable in Serie A. His team also knocked Chelsea out of Europe this season. Whether his defensive mind will be what Roman wants is questionable. Whether Conte would want to leave a club very close to his heart at this stage in his career is questionable too. Walter Mazzarri at Napoli may be ready for a new job, and his team gave Chelsea a big scare on the road to the 2012 Champions League final. 

An outsider I would throw into the mix is Manuel Pellegrini. He is going well at Malaga, who aren't afraid to splash the cash themselves, and he must be spending it well to be showing the progress in Europe they have. He has experience at a big club in Real Madrid and did a great job at Villarreal. 

Of course they could keep Rafa Benitez in place, but he hasn't got the support of the fans and can't win a game at home. He didn't help himself by not lifting the Club World Cup either.

As a Manchester United fan what I would want to happen is Klopp to Chelsea, Mourinho to Dortmund to resume battle with Guardiola for a few years, and then when Fergie hangs up his stopwatch and chewing gum in two or three years we'll have our choice of the two. And I think now Pep is off the market Klopp is a realistic shout for Chelsea, but I also think Jose will be at City next year, so my ideal won't come through, but it'll be interesting to watch it unfold.