With the European leagues all now under way for 2011/12 – EPL is already onto round 5 this coming weekend – the crazy managerial “fire and hire” season in English football is about to set in.
You know us here at Fast Track and how we like put our own precious balls on the line and make educated guesses where the lobs and jobs may fall.
There are a number of top-rated manager/coaches currently out of work (be it forced or self-inflicted), who are waiting to find their next job in the top tier of English football.
Here’s what we think will happen …
Mark Hughes
Managerial Experience: 12 years (Wales / Blackburn Rovers / Manchester City / Fulham)
As a player, “Sparky” was a legendary strike force for Man Utd, Chelsea and for his country Wales.
As a young manager – still only 47-years-old – Hughes has been given great management opportunities which he has duly done well at, with his only minor blip being his ousting at Man City by their new multi-billionaire owners at the time, who preferred to go with the more glamourous, higher profile and media-friendly Italian Roberto Mancini.
After a successful first season at Fulham, he resigned in the Summer thinking that he would be the top-candidate for the more prestigious Aston Villa job – only to lose out in the end to Brian McLeish.
Blackburn has started this campaign abysmally with only one point to show for the first four games.
We think Steve Kean’s days as Manager at Rovers are numbered and that a second stint with “Sparky” at the reigns at Ewood Park is on the cards.
Martin O’Neil
Managerial Experience 24 years (Wycombe Wanderers /Norwich City /Leiceister City / Celtic / Aston Villa)
Has been out of the game for over a year since walking out on Aston Villa due to transfer strategy differences with club owner Randy Lerner.
But him not working is not due to a lack of offers. It’s very much by choice.
Success and silverware have followed him to the clubs he has managed.
We are sure he’s waiting for the “right” big fish to come along before he jumps into the water again.
He is a much sought-after commodity and has reportedly received job offers from Fulham, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and also, in the last few days, a big-money offer to return to Leiceister.
We think the canny Northern Irishman has got his eye set on North London – and is waiting to either replace Harry Redknapp at Spurs when he finally takes-over the England national team hot-seat after next summer’s Euro Championships – OR if the unthinkable happens before that, replace Arsene Wenger (who’s stock at present is at an all-time-low with Arsenal fans) if and when he exits Arsenal.
Also floating around, chanting publicly that they are “taking a break” from the game at present, but no doubt have their agents wheeling and dealing 24/7, are the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Gus Hiddink, Alan Curbishley and Roy Keane …
The bookies in the UK have Steve Kean (Blackburn) and Steve Bruce (Sunderland) as first and second favourites to be the next manager to leave their job in the EPL …
Who do think will be the first to go this EPL season?
Brucie out and Keano back at the Stadium of Light?
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