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.
The reigning Russia boss only agreed to a contract extension up to mid-2010 as recently as on March 24. But the newspaper reports that the deal is only a provisional one, much to Hiddink’s frustration, and will only be ratified after the European Championship – obviously only in case the Russians do well.
The Guardian goes to reveal that Chelsea have been secretly talking to Hiddink, who may have denied these negotiations time and again in recent months, but is perhaps not feeling too secure in Russia these days.
“We will evaluate his work after the European Championship,” said recently Vitaly Mutko (pictured on the left), head of the Russian Football Union and newly-appointed sports minister. Striking detail? Hiddink’s salary, a reported 2.5 million euros plus bonuses, is actually funded by Abramovich via his National Academy of Football.
Hiddink was introduced to the Russian tycoon by fellow Dutchman Piet de Visser, a Chelsea (and ex-PSV Eindhoven, one of Hiddink’s former clubs) scout and widely considered as Abramovich’s close personal transfer advisor.
go for lippi. he has all the track records that RA needs.