All-change at Sevilla

By David Lee Wheatley

Major reconstruction underway 

Sevilla set about recharging their squad for the 2013/14 season with several changes taking place at Rámon Sánchez Pizjuán recently and the promise of more to come.

A long list of players located the exit door swiftly after the end of last season, including some important members of the side. Speculation surrounds many of the other squad members, with prize asset Álvaro Negredo apparently on his way shortly.

Head coach Unai Emery has his work cut out during the summer to put together a team from the broken fragments of last year's line-up.

Outgoings already confirmed include Bernardo Espinosa and Andrés Palop on free transfers, Emir Spahic and Antonio Luna returning from loans before completing permanent moves elsewhere and more important squad members in the form of Luis Alberto to Liverpool and star winger Jesús Navas to Manchester City in a mega-money deal. The loss of Spanish international Navas will leave the biggest void thus far, with the task of replacing his jinking runs and crossing ability providing Emery with a huge headache.

Incoming players who've signed up feature goalkeeper Beto from Braga, following on from a season-loan in Seville last season, Steaua forward Rusescu, Racing Santander right-winger Jairo and Chelsea's German left-winger Marko Marin on loan. The new introductions may not be up to the level of footballer that Sevilla have lost and the club will have to push harder in the transfer market to make sure that they don't begin taking steps in a backward direction. Los Rojiblancos finished a disappointing ninth in La Liga last time around; the loss of Navas and potentially Negredo would be devastating to a team in desperate need of an injection of quality.

English Premier League heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Everton have been credited with a strong interest in 31-goal striker Negredo, while the Sevilla club president José Maria del Nido admitted that his most saleable asset wants out earlier this week. Having just experienced his most successful season date, now is the optimum time for the Spain striker to move on. He'd leave behind a massive hole in the forward line that the Andalusians would find mighty difficult to fill.

It's an uncertain time for fans of Sevilla and there will be serious concerns at all levels of the club as to their chances of improving on a disappointing 2012/13 campaign. Coach Emery will hope any influx of cash from the probable sale of Negredo will come his way for team strengthening, otherwise it's going to be an impossible task to put Sevilla back in contention for a Champions League qualifying spot next term.

Ninth place was nowhere near good enough and the faithful supporters won't be happy with the current upheaval. They'll expect two or three marquee signings to supplement a squad suffering from serious depletion and nothing less will do.

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More than a number

By David Lee Wheatley

What it means to be Juve number 10

Following the furore surrounding Carlos Tevez being handed the iconic number 10 at Juventus after his switch from Manchester City, I look a selection of stars that’ve held that feted position in an attempt to illustrate why it means so much.

There are clubs all over the world that hold a particular number dear due to the illustrious performers that have worn that jersey. In the case of the number 10, it’s often the symbol of the flair player, the playmaker, the Fantasista. He’ll invariably be the fulcrum of the side, the heartbeat, the one that makes the whole team tick.

Famous number tens of the past and present include Maradona, Messi, Kaka, Hagi and Pele to name but a few. Many fantastic players have donned the black-and-white of Juventus and the club have been blessed to have had more than their fair share of extraordinary footballers throughout history who’ve had the numero dieci bestowed upon them.

Going back to the 1980s, one of the greatest ever to play the role was French superstar Michel Platini. His arrival coincided with a trophy-laden period for the club, as they grabbed the European Cup, two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia and the European Cup Winners’ Cup during five splendid years that he spent in Italy. His supreme balance, passing ability, dashing runs and sublime finishing made Platini the complete attacker; an archetypal number 10.

A forerunner to Platini was Irishman Liam Brady, who enjoyed a two-year stay in Turin. The left-footed midfielder was renowned for his passing skills and close control on the ball. He won the Italian championship in both of his seasons with Juve, before moving on in the summer of 1982 when Monsieur Platini came to town. An elegant footballer, Brady moved on to Sampdoria, Inter and Ascoli before eventually returning to English football.

Roberto Baggio, The Divine Ponytail, ruled the roost for club and country in that number 10 shirt for many years and quickly became an adored figure with the Delle Alpi faithful. After Fiorentina made the decision to sell Baggio to Juventus for a world record fee in 1990, full-scale riots broke out on the streets of Florence.

He was unfortunately injury-prone throughout his career, but when at his pinnacle he was a world-beater. Highly skilful and displaying almost balletic control of the ball, Baggio was capable of taking opponents apart on his own. He would set the tempo, against the greatest of opposition teams, and make them look ordinary. His record of a goal every two games for Juventus proves his worth in front of goal, too.

Alessandro Del Piero became the new kid on the block when joining from Padova in 1993, two years before Roberto Baggio left for arch-rivals Milan. Unlike the other protagonists mentioned previously, Alex was often employed as an out-and-out centre forward, though he could play as a second striker. Once Il Divin’ Codino chose to move on, the young Del Piero was handed the huge responsibility of the number 10 jersey.

He gave 19 seasons in total to the Bianconeri, featuring in over 500 games and scoring just a tad less than a goal every two appearances. A fact that endeared him even further to the fans was that he stuck around to help the team gain promotion after they were demoted to Serie B due to the 2006 match-rigging scandal.

Del Piero featured an astounding 91 times for his country and went down as one of the all-time Italian football greats when bowing out to try a new adventure with Sydney FC in Australia.

Controversial Argentine Tevez, fresh from a tumultuous seven years in English football, is the latest in line for the honour. Some fans are happy, most are not. They’ve witnessed from afar the manner in which Tevez has conducted himself throughout his career and doubts prevail as to whether he has the style and grace to fill such an important role for their beloved club.

Carlos has some work to do before playing his way into the affections of the Juve faithful; starting off with a hatful of goals next season would be a great idea! He will simply need to keep his head down and let his football do the talking from this point on. Should he manage to score regularly and perform to the upper limit of his capabilities, then he’s sure to win the hearts of the vociferous fans.

One thing he MUST always bear in mind...10 is more than a number!

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From the school gym to the Bernabeu

By David Lee Wheatley

 

An Englishman abroad

 

Now a trusted aide of Carlo Ancelotti, Englishman Paul Clement joined Real Madrid this week to assist the Italian at the Bernebeu on a three-year deal.

Having helped Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title last season alongside Ancelotti, as well as being part of a Chelsea set-up that delivered the double under the former Juventus and Milan man, Clement tackles another major challenge at the most glamorous football club on the planet.

Clement never played professionally, despite hailing from a family that includes father Dave and brother Neil, who both played top-level football. Instead, he got a degree in Sports Science before taking up a post as PE teacher at Glenthorne High in Sutton. He also did some work at Chelsea’s Centre of Excellence at the same time, but coaching the first-team stars at Cobham would have been a distant dream.

He started out working with Chelsea youngsters aged 10-12, before attaining his first full-time position with Fulham as Head of Education and Welfare. He returned to Chelsea in 2007, forcing his way through the ranks of the reserves and up to the first-team before helping to bring the league and FA Cup double to Stamford Bridge, a feat that saw his stock rise considerably. However, his mentor Ancelotti got unceremoniously dumped by Chelsea at the end of the following season and Clement lost his position, too.

Blackburn Rovers’ beleaguered boss Steve Kean took Clement on as his assistant in 2011 to provide some quality coaching support during those dark days at Ewood Park. However, Carlo Ancelotti remembered him and rated his abilities highly, taking him to France when presented as the new head coach at PSG around Christmas 2011.

The galaxy of superstars on the team sheet at Parc des Princes held no fear for the English coach after his successful spell working daily with similar world-class individuals at Chelsea. In the 18 months that he spent in Paris, another league championship was sealed last season which prompted strong interest in Ancelotti’s services from Real Madrid.

A new adventure beckoned for Clement when his boss made it abundantly clear that he wished to make the switch to Madrid and to take him along for the ride. It’s the pinnacle of Clement’s colourful career, which transported him from school teacher to assistant coach at the greatest club in the world.
 

It’s an uplifting story that proves you can do anything you set your mind to in this life and Clement has the opportunity to add another very impressive role to an already spectacular CV. If the new coaching team at the Bernebeu reintroduce attacking football that delivers results and trophies, then Clement and Ancelotti could be at the helm of Real Madrid for many years to come.

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Arsenal set sights on title shot

By David Lee Wheatley

After several years of thrift, Arsenal are finally ready to splash the cash to take their team on to a higher level just in time for a title tilt next season.

Under pressure boss Wenger is rumoured to be keen on acquiring the services of a plethora of stars, including Pepe Reina, Marouane Fellaini, Gonzalo Higuain and Wayne Rooney. Should he get his wish, an Arsenal ‘Dream Team’ to match the ‘Invincibles’ of 2004-05 could be in the offing.

Arsenal will also need to bring in a solid centre-back to complement their options in that department, but bringing in world-class players in the midfield, up front and in goal would surely bring about a renaissance of their title hopes.

For too long now, the club have stuck rigidly to their policy of bringing in young players to develop while ignoring the need to sign established footballers who command big wages and significant transfer fees. With the income from the Emirates Stadium and various sponsorship deals coming to fruition, it appears the time is right for the Gunners to finally shed their tight-fisted tag.

Bringing in an experienced head between the sticks would provide help and strong competition for the young Szczesny. Due to Simon Mignolet’s recent introduction at Anfield, it opens the way for a bid to tempt Liverpool to part with Spanish international Reina. Another possible target is veteran QPR man Julio Cesar, the Brazilian having made a big impression in the last Premier League season despite Rangers’ relegation.

The central midfield area has been crying out for a unit of Fellaini’s ilk since Patrick Vieira tootled off to Juventus and the big Belgian with the even bigger hair fits the bill perfectly. He is Wenger’s number one target for the midfield department and a reported £22 million asking price no longer presents a problem.

Up front is where the biggest excitement lies with the mouth-watering prospect of two world-class internationals joining forces in north London. Gonzalo Higuain was linked to Juventus, but the Gunners bounced them out of the race and the Turin club turned their attentions to Carlos Tevez from Manchester City instead. Arsenal and the player are said to be close to agreeing terms after Real Madrid allowed them to speak and the deal should be completed within days.

To complement the Argentine, it’s a widely-held belief that Wenger wants to snap up want-away England star Wayne Rooney from Old Trafford. The Manchester United man seems intent on leaving the club and it would be an absolutely massive coup for Arsenal should they beat off reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid. If any of those clubs make a concrete bid, it would make life very difficult for the Gunners to convince Rooney to come to the Emirates. However, with the concerted efforts they’re making to increase the level of talent within the playing squad, the former Everton forward might well feel happy to join up for the project on offer.

Should Arsenal manage to seal deals for all of their potential targets, plus a centre-back, they can look forward to next season with more optimism than recent years. If they capture the star names they’ve singled out, Wenger’s men will be in a fantastic position to mount a serious Premier League title challenge come the new campaign.

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Controversial Carlos calls time on English career

By David Lee Wheatley

Tevez booked for Juve medical

Juventus have offered Manchester City striker Carlos Tévez a route out of England by agreeing an initial £10 million fee with his club.

The Argentine international has experienced a love-hate relationship with the country during a seven-year stint on these shores, but finally it appears the end is in sight with a move to Juventus on the horizon.

The fee is believed to include several add-ons, with personal terms still to be agreed between Juve and the player. The hot-shot forward is set for talks in Turin today aimed at completing those potentially tricky details before Tévez undergoes a medical to put the seal on his switch to Serie A.

Having started out at Boca Juniors in his homeland, the stocky Tévez quickly made an impression and became a much sought-after player for clubs both in Europe and South America.

The emerging financial market in Brazil and the increase in revenue at football clubs in that country allowed Sao Paulo side Corinthians to break the bank for the up-and-coming star. His upper body strength, skill on the ball and deadly finishing had teams worldwide desperate to put together a deal for his services. However, it was Corinthians that stole a march on their rivals to capture the exciting forward.

His 17-month stay ended in acrimony when Tévez refused to play for the Brazilian club in an effort to force a move to Europe. Due to an extremely complicated ownership situation, several clubs turned down the opportunity to take Carlitos on. He eventually pitched up at Upton Park to join West Ham United in a shock double-deal with fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano.

Two sports agencies owned Tévez and the deal to take him to Corinthians had been investigated by the Brazilian authorities at the time. Most clubs didn't want to get involved with such an unusual set-up in which the club Tévez would play for didn't actually own his contract, but West Ham saw it as too good an opportunity to miss and snapped up the duo in 2006.

Tevez was instrumental in keeping West Ham United up in the Premier League at the expense of an enraged Sheffield United, who claimed they should keep their top-flight status due to West Ham's signing of Tévez being against Premier League regulations. The Hammers were fined £5.5m for the breach of rules, but were allowed to stay in the big league. West Ham later had to compensate Sheffield United for their perceived loss of revenue after relegation following a financial agreement between the clubs.

Controversy surrounding the Buenos Aires native continued when his representatives attempted to engineer a move away from West Ham to Manchester United. The Hammers attempted to fight the case, but were compelled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to release Tévez from his contract due to the complicated terms of the deal between the parties. He moved to Old Trafford on a two-year loan, which was structured with the beady eyes of the FA firmly fixed on every detail to ensure there was no repeat of the West Ham saga.

His spell at Old Trafford was full of ups-and-downs, especially when it came to the crunch near the end of the two years with United obliged to either sign him permanently or release him. The Red Devils showed an intention to keep him when agreeing a fee for the transfer, but Tévez and his representatives decided they no longer wanted to stay after several instances of the player losing his place in the starting line-up.

Despite strong interest from arch-rivals Liverpool, the impudent Argentine made an equally controversial choice for his next move when completing a deal with cross-town upstarts Manchester City. The now infamous billboard advertisements displaying Tévez in a blue shirt with the words 'Welcome to Manchester' emblazoned upon it only served to stoke the flames of the fire.

During four years on the blue half of Manchester, Tévez scored some fantastic and important goals, while causing more trouble than enough with comments about the city, the country and numerous disputes with his manager Roberto Mancini. It blew up in extraordinary fashion in 2011 when Carlitos refused to go on to the field from the subs' bench during a Champions League fixture with Bayern Munich. Mancini requested that his player warm-up in preparation to come on in the second half, but Tévez had other ideas and insisted repeatedly that he would not get ready. Several players and coaching staff tried to cajole the arrogant striker into getting up off the bench, but to no avail.

Mancini insisted after the match that Tévez wouldn't play for the club again under his leadership, while the player himself took off on a 'holiday' in Argentina. While there, the forward made a lot of damning comments about Manchester and his boss, pushing him further towards the point of no-return. He eventually returned to the club after five months and several weeks' worth of fines, but it was a tough road to redemption after all the loose talk to the press while he was away.

However, he did help the club clinch the Premier League title that year, only to start waving around a sign exclaiming 'R.I.P. Fergie' at the championship celebrations. It was as if Tévez simply couldn't help attracting attention to himself for all the wrong reasons.

This past season has seen Tévez play a bit-part role in City's campaign in which they claimed the runners-up spot in the league and the club feel the time is right to cash in with only one year remaining on his contract. The move suits both parties and Juventus believe they can get the best out of the 29-year-old for the next few years.

Barring problems with the talks or medical, Tévez will move to a Mediterranean nation where he'll feel more comfortable and happy; it is a point that suggests he can produce his very best form in Turin upon the resumption of the football season.

Juventus beat off stiff competition from Milan for the signature of the Argentine and that will add further spice to the fixtures between the two clubs next season. Should Juve help Tévez display his mesmerising best once again, then chances are he'll help his prospective new team to retain Lo Scudetto ahead of their many illustrious rivals.

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Europe's 10 most wanted

By David Lee Wheatley

Summer transfer special

With the transfer window set to fly into overdrive, the biggest clubs across Europe have their eyes firmly set on a clutch of superstar signings to join up with them in time for the new campaign.

Here, I list the top ten targets in European football and attempt to predict which clubs will clinch the deals to stun the football world this summer.

Name: Mario Gomez                     Position(s): Striker        Current club: Bayern Munich

German international Gomez was the golden boy at Bayern until Mario Mandzukic was introduced last summer, causing the former Stuttgart striker to play second fiddle as his club stormed away with a fabulous treble of the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League under veteran head coach Jupp Heynckes. The incoming Pep Guardiola suggested Gomez could have a future at the Allianz Arena under his leadership, but Chelsea and Fiorentina are amongst a host of clubs linked to the tall forward. His agent has suggested he’ll be moving on shortly and a move to Spain or Italy will appeal greatest of all.

Favourites to sign Gomez: Fiorentina

Name: Alvaro Negredo                 Position(s): Striker                   Current club: Sevilla

Negredo’s current club seem intent on engineering a major clear-out this window, having already parted with defender Antonio Luna and forward Luis Alberto. Prize-asset Negredo is next in line for the exit door with a queue of clubs waiting to pounce, including teams from England and elsewhere in Spain. The player himself recently indicated his intention to quit the Andalucía-based outfit for a Champions League participant, thus ruling out the likes of West Ham United, Everton and Spurs, who’ve all made enquiries within the last few months. One option that would present him with the opportunity to feature in Europe’s elite club competition is to join Atletico Madrid as a replacement for the departed Radamel Falcao and they appear in pole position for his signature.

Favourites to sign Negredo: Atletico Madrid

Name: Roberto Soldado                        Position(s): Striker           Current club: Valencia

Soldado has long struggled for continent-wide kudos due to his inability to score against major opposition in La Liga. He’d often bag a hatful of goals against mediocre foes, but then fail miserably against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, that has all changed in the last couple of seasons and Soldado appears ready for a move to another league at the age of 28. His lethal finishing from inside the penalty box illustrates a predatory instinct to rival the best strikers in the world and the likes of Spurs are said to be very interested in benefitting from that unerring ability to find the net; Atletico Madrid also like the look of Soldado, who looks odds-on to leave Valencia after they missed out on a top-four finish.

Favourites to sign Soldado: Tottenham Hotspur

Name: Thiago Alcantara          Position(s): Central midfielder   Current club: Barcelona

Son of Brazil World Cup winner Mazinho, Thiago made a big splash in La Liga last season with his current side FC Barcelona. He followed a fantastic season up with victory at the Under-21 European Championships recently, starring for Spain as they rode away with the title. He played a pivotal role in the final by scoring a hat-trick to help the young Spaniards overcome Italy 4-2. The eyes of Manchester United and Real Madrid scouts were stuck on the Italian-born midfielder way before that extraordinary performance and United have made a determined pitch to capture his signature. To muddy waters, Barcelona put forward a proposal for a contract extension that could scupper any potential move.

Favourites to sign Thiago: Manchester United

Name: Gonzalo Higuain           Position(s): Striker                 Current club: Real Madrid

A move to Arsenal is said to be at an advanced stage for Argentina international Higuain, but Juventus are still peering over from Turin in case it all falls through. The former River Plate star has long been an in-and-out pick for Real Madrid, never quite convincing the several head coaches he’s played under that he’s the best man for the job. That is despite an excellent goalscoring record and a fine campaign just gone. He feels now is the time to switch to a different league with new coach Carlo Ancelotti expected to bring in his own players. Should the Gunners clinch the signing of the 25-year-old, they’ll be gaining a player approaching his peak years and relishing the thought of a new challenge.

Favourites to sign Higuain: Arsenal

Name: Isco         Position(s): Attacking central/left midfielder       Current club: Malaga

The young midfielder starred for Malaga under new Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini last season, stirring up a two-way fight for his services between his mentor’s new club and Real Madrid. Initially, it appeared City were in the driving seat, but recent reports suggest Real have put on a charm offensive to grab Isco from Champions League quarter-finalists Malaga. The skilful, probing midfield man helped Thiago Alcantara and his compatriots to the Under-21 European Championship title and is imminently set to choose between the blue half of Manchester and the Spanish capital as his next destination.

Favourites to sign Isco: Real Madrid

Name: Wayne Rooney       Position(s): Forward          Current club: Manchester United

Three years after reportedly slapping in a transfer request before backtracking, Rooney indicated once again that he’s ready to leave at the end of this past season. A whole host of suitors have come to the fore, but only a handful of teams have the finances to realistically afford his wages plus transfer fee. Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Arsenal threw their hats into the ring early, while Barcelona and Real Madrid have been mentioned in connection with the versatile forward more recently. Should Manchester United identify a replacement, it’s likely the England man will be granted his wish to jump ship, though it’s expected they’d be keen to push him in the direction of mainland Europe, as opposed to a rival Premier League outfit.

Favourites to sign Rooney: Paris Saint-Germain

Name: Edinson Cavani                  Position (s): Striker                  Current club: Napoli

Uruguay star Cavani is set for a £49.3 million transfer to Chelsea according to reports in Italy, but the saga of his move may not end there. Real Madrid and Manchester City are both interested and ready to make a play for the talented forward, while Manchester United have been faintly linked in the English press. New Napoli boss Rafa Benitez will be loathe to let slip of his star man, but accepts it is inevitable. The Spaniard’s first signing since moving to Naples occurred today in the shape of Belgian goalscoring winger Dries Mertens from PSV to make up some of the shortfall between the posts that Cavani’s departure would cause. If Benitez can add an out-and-out striker to the squad, then Cavani will be off.

Favourites to sign Cavani: Chelsea

Name: Cristiano Ronaldo          Position(s): Forward              Current club: Real Madrid

Real desperately want Ronaldo to pen a new deal and eventually retire at the Bernabeu, but Spain’s increased taxes could push the Portuguese superstar to seek pastures new. A move back to former club Manchester United could be in the offing, a switch that would simply astound observers. Talk of interest from PSG, Monaco and oil-rich Russian clubs all go into the mix, making it difficult to pinpoint a possible next destination for the ‘second best player in the world’. The potential loss of his guaranteed glut of goals and assists would leave a huge void in the Madrid line-up and president Florentino Perez will be doing all he can to ensure he sticks around.

Favourites to sign Ronaldo: Manchester United

Name: Gareth Bale       Position(s): Left winger/central mid.  Current club: Tottenham

Bale burst on the European scene with a hat-trick for Spurs in the San Siro against Inter back in 2010 and a star was born. Envious eyes were cast in the direction of White Hart Lane from Serie A, La Liga and several of Spurs’ rival Premier League clubs as they witnessed Bale develop into a world-class player. His powerful, lung-busting runs from midfield have become his trademark and Bale crucially added an invaluable commodity to his game during the last campaign in the form of 26 goals in all competitions. Comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo have become common place and it may well be that Bale goes on to break Ronaldo’s world transfer fee record should he leave Spurs this summer.

Favourites to sign Bale: Real Madrid

New York City FC win 20th MLS franchise

By David Lee Wheatley

Orlando miss out as NYC get a second club

MLS commissioner Don Garber recently announced New York City FC as the 20th club to play in the league, ahead of a rival bid from Orlando.

Although Florida remains a state of interest to the MLS for the future, the possibility of creating a cross-town rivalry between the new franchise and New York Red Bulls was too good an opportunity to miss.

English Premier League side Manchester City and Major League Baseball legends New York Yankees have gone into partnership with NYC FC to help create a powerful new force in US soccer. Former Sunderland, Manchester City and New York Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna was installed last month as the club's director of football, in charge of player and back-room staff recruitment. One of the biggest names in USA soccer history, Reyna has been charged with the task of bringing in the best players he can muster, while putting in place a coaching and scouting network to put NYC FC in contention for MLS glory as quickly as possible.

The new club won't begin competing before 2015 and may need a temporary home in which to play their matches. They are currently exploring the option of building a new stadium in the Flushing area of the city, but clarification of such a step is yet to come. If permission is granted for the build, it'd likely take until at least 2016 for the ground to open.

In the meantime, the club will be afforded the expertise of Manchester City and Yankees officials during the set-up of the new team. The intention is place NYC FC at the top of the MLS tree from the beginning and Reyna's work is already well underway to do just that.

Fan reaction globally and locally is one of excitement at the prospect of seeing the new franchise in action, with many New York soccer fans happy to finally welcome a team to their city having seen NY Red Bulls play over in New Jersey for many years. Now, fans have a NYC-based club to follow and with millions of residents in one of the world's great cities to reach out to, the new side will hope to swiftly garner a strong level of support.

It's a huge development for the leaders of soccer in America as they aim to enhance their competition further, having already made MLS one of the most-watched sporting events in several cities across the US. A local rivalry in the New York metropolitan area can only be good for the league and should see interest in the sport rise considerably. The hope is that the Red Bulls and NYC FC can begin a journey together that will eventually help replicate other footballing arch-rivalries across the world, such as Celtic versus Rangers and Liverpool versus Everton.

Those that doubted the country's capacity to firstly accept and then cultivate a successful soccer league have been made to eat their words, as MLS continues to expand and become stronger. New York City FC is another giant leap in the right direction for commissioner Garber and Major League Soccer in the quest to put soccer firmly in the limelight in the USA.

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Blanc back in the big-time

By David Lee Wheatley

Frenchman set for PSG role

Former France national coach Laurent Blanc is said to be on the verge of signing a two-year deal to take over at Paris Saint-Germain, thus allowing Carlo Ancelotti to finally move on to Real Madrid.

A host of names have been linked to the PSG post since it became abundantly clear that current incumbent Ancelotti was desperate to accept the challenge at the Bernebéu. André Villas-Boas and Fabio Capello were both favourites for the job recently, but AVB is committed to the project at Spurs and Don Fabio reportedly feels he'd simply be warming the seat at the Parc des Princes for somebody else, namely Wenger of Arsenal. It's been an ongoing saga for weeks now, but finally the Parisians seem ready to show their hand.

Laurent Blanc has a envious record from his previous experience of Ligue 1 with Girondins Bordeaux. Having given up a glittering playing career at the age of 37, the elegant centre-back waited four years before taking on his first top-flight coaching appointment in the south-west of France. Blanc impressed with his leadership qualities, leading Bordeaux to second place in the league and sweeping up the Manager of the Year award in his first year. He followed that up with an even better second campaign in which his side clinched a double in the form of the title and League Cup.

The national side came calling for his services shortly afterwards in 2010 after an awful World Cup tournament in South Africa. Numerous disciplinary issues arose during the competition and Blanc set his stall out by taking the extraordinary decision to suspend all 23 World Cup squad players from his first match in charge. The former Barcelona and Manchester United defender was in no mood to tolerate egotistical behaviour from his mutinous bunch and made an early statement of intent by banning them all from the national side.

His strict approach paid dividends initially when helping the French qualify for Euro 2012. However, a less than glorious tournament unfolded and Les Bleus were dumped out of the competition at the quarter-final stage by eventual champions Spain. Blanc stepped down from his role that summer and a year on it looks likely that he will step back into club management at the highest level.

With a playing career encompassing clubs that read like a who's who of European football and a successful coaching career thus far behind him, Blanc would be a sound appointment for the PSG hierarchy at this stage of their progression. The ambitious club have the French league title in the bag and now European success is high on the agenda.

Laurent Blanc proved he can find a diamond in the rough at Bordeaux, but the test will be markedly different in Paris. He will be presented with a team full of superstars (and with more on the way) who he'll need to cajole and mould into a bonded unit.

Blanc's experiences with the 'big-time Charlie's' of the national side will stand him in good stead when facing up to the prospect of handling the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. If he gets the players singing from the same hymn sheet, then he certainly has the talent and financial muscle at his disposal to deliver Champions League glory to Paris and thereby fight off any pretenders to the throne at PSG in the near future.

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Crunch time for Royston

By David Lee Wheatley

Drenthe joins Reading

Reading completed a coup with the signing of Dutch left-sided midfield player Royston Drenthe yesterday on a free transfer.

The former Feyenoord, Everton and Real Madrid man was once rated one of the best budding prospects in European football when starring for Holland under-21's. Now 26, his fortunes have faded badly having cost Real Madrid a whopping €14m in 2007. Unable to force his way into the starting line-up regularly enough at the Bernebéu, the Dutchman took in loan spells with Hércules and Everton without finding a permanent home at either club.

A lucrative offer to join Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz presented itself in December 2012, five months after the end of his Real contract. Despite making a fine impression during his short spell at the club, Drenthe couldn't help keep Alania in the top-flight as they suffered relegation disappointment come the season's end.

The La Liga winner took a surprising next step in his career by signing up with Championship promotion hopefuls Reading. Manager Nigel Adkins will feel the powerful Drenthe can bring experience and creativity to his team, while the player can showcase his talent at a club where he's likely to feature week-in, week-out.

Once-capped Netherlands international Drenthe did reasonably well at Goodison Park throughout his loan stint in the 2011-12 campaign and many believed he'd done enough to clinch a full-time switch to Merseyside, but it didn't come to fruition. Now, he gets a second opportunity to build a solid career in the English game and he'll be determined to lead the Royals back to the Premier League as quickly as possible following the club's drop from the big league last season.

The Rotterdam-born star is ready to get his career back on track, having witnessed a decline in recent years. The early promise that saw Drenthe cause waves in Feyenoord's first-team at the age of just 18 can be recaptured. It isn't too late for the versatile left-footer to recall those days and to cement a legacy with the Berkshire club over the two years of his initial contract and beyond.

Meanwhile, the fans will be pinching themselves at the prospect of a former Real Madrid footballer coming into the club at an age when he should be entering his peak years. If boss Adkins can get him fit and firing, while allowing him plenty of game-time, the recently-relegated side can expect a glorious return from a player ready to finally make his mark in the game.

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A new era dawns at the Etihad

By David Lee Wheatley

What does Manuel bring to the table?

Incoming Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini stamped his authority on the squad even before his official arrival at the club thanks to the signing of Jesus Navas from Sevilla. A nifty winger, Navas will form part of Pellegrini’s new City as they strive to clamber back to the top of the Premier League above their near neighbours Manchester United, also undergoing a journey into the unknown without their mainstay Alex Ferguson in charge of team affairs.

A former Chile international, Pellegrini had to work hard to overcome adversity in his homeland when first taking on the coaching role at Universidad de Chile. The club were relegated in his first season as head coach and he had to switch to Ecuadorian side LDU Quito to finally forge a reputation as a top-level boss. He won the league title with Quito in 1999 and several South American clubs sat up and took notice of his work.

San Lorenzo in Argentina was his next stop and he led them to their first international title when clinching the Copa Mercosur; the Clausara (closing) league title also came their way in 2001.

Buenos Aires giants River Plate took Pellegrini as their head coach in 2003 and they soared under his stewardship, thanks in a large part to the form of emerging forward Andres d’Alessandro. However, when German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg pinched d’Alessandro for around 9m euros, the team’s form faded and ‘The Engineer’ Pellegrini quit his post.

Despite that setback, Villarreal were interested in taking him as their next coach and he duly signed in 2004. It was the Chilean’s first step into European football as a player or coach and it was deemed a gamble in some circles for the La Liga side to install him in the role.

He swiftly dismissed all doubts with an astonishing first campaign in Spanish football, leading Villarreal to third in the league and therefore qualifying for the Champions League. For a small town team it was a remarkable achievement and much of the credit was handed to the new man at the helm. Pellegrini’s cool, calm demeanour and commitment to attractive football led to plaudits from journalists and fans alike.

The following year the Spaniards reached the Champions League semi-finals and ended seventh in La Liga. Villarreal finished fifth and second in the league in next the two seasons, as a team led by Pellegrini and marshalled in the middle of park by the slow-burning midfield maestro Juan Roman Riquelme tore opposition sides to shreds.

Real were suitably enamoured with the Chilean to take him to Madrid, but he lasted only a solitary year in the hot-seat, having finished runner-up to Barcelona in the title race.

He set about the task of putting that experience behind him by joining Malaga in 2010 and leading them to the Champions League quarter-finals this past season, after a highly commendable fourth spot in La Liga the previous year.

Now, ‘The Engineer’ is back in the big leagues having been hired to fix the mechanism at Manchester City. Roberto Mancini’s poor communication issues with several players were well-documented, as was the fact that his tactical choices this past campaign often bordered on the outrageous.

The 59-year-old from Santiago will look to heal any rifts in the dressing-room while building an attacking team to entertain the watching public and to win football matches. His intelligence, knowledge and philosophies bear similarities to Arsene Wenger and with the correct players at his disposal he could well develop an invincible team of his very own.

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The Gretna fairytale

By David Lee Wheatley

From nowhere to the Premier League and back to oblivion

Founded in 1946, the club on the Scottish side of the border with England had long been a fixture in the non-league echelons of English football, reaching the first division of the Northern Premier League in 1992.

They unsuccessfully applied to join the Scottish Football League on two occasions in 1993 and 1999, but finally made it when admitted in 2002.

The Scottish border team took the place of the defunct Airdrieonians in the third division and this prompted significant investment from Sunderland-born businessman Brooks Mileson. His huge financial outlay (in Scottish Football League terms) led to a meteoric rise through the various tiers of Scottish football, prompting the beginning of a romantic story to rival those taking place in the town at the renowned Gretna Green, the home of eloping lovers from all over the UK.

Successive promotions from 2005 to 2007 led the little-known club to the promised land of the Scottish Premier League, presenting the opportunity to face the likes of Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers on a level playing field. Not only did Gretna win promotion convincingly, they did it with spectacular attacking style, banging in 297 goals over the course of those three campaigns.

Some success in the Scottish FA Cup arrived in 2006 when Gretna reached the final at Hampden, losing in heroic circumstances on penalties to Hearts after a 1-1 draw. Despite the disappointment of ending up as runner-up in the Cup, Gretna became the first side outside of the Scottish top-flight to gain a place in European club competition by virtue of the fact that Hearts had already booked a spot in Europe via their league position.

Having reached the Premier League, their form dipped alarmingly and they were forced to play at Motherwell's Fir Park stadium due to their own Raydale Park failing to reach the required top-flight standard to stage matches.

Even worse news was to come when it became clear that the financial situation at the club had hit the buffers. The rapid rise of Gretna to the top league had gone hand-in-hand with rising costs and it became an increasingly impossible task to keep the club afloat for ill owner Mileson, who completely withdrew his support due to worsening health.

The season was wracked with problems on and off the field, resulting in players and staff not receiving their wages on time and eventually redundancies came into force. By the end of the campaign in May 2008, Gretna had amassed the meagre total of 13 points and ended rock-bottom of the Premier League. With relegation confirmed, a buyer was sought for the ailing club and by 29th May there were no takers. The club were demoted to the third division due their financial problems and still no takeover plan emerged.

On 3rd June, Gretna were forced to resign from the SFL and by 8th August their total liquidation as a going concern was rubber-stamped.

The crazy ride under the late Brooks Mileson's leadership had lasted six years and encompassed all four divisions of the Scottish League. It was a fairytale for the majority of that time, but ended in bitter acrimony.

Out of the ashes came Gretna 2008, a supporter-run phoenix club that got voted into the East of Scotland League. After a year sharing a stadium with Annan, the club returned to Raydale Park to play their home games. With a distinct lack of monetary investment, it appears highly unlikely that such a tiny team could repeat the famous feat of the original Gretna F.C. ever again.

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You must be Joe-Kinn-ear?!

By David Lee Wheatley

Strange move leaves fans dazed and confused

Newcastle United today announced Joe Kinnear is to return to St. James’ Park as director of football on a three-year contract. It comes several days after the much-maligned Kinnear publicly stated that club owner Mike Ashley had agreed a deal to bring him back to the north-east, where he is remembered less than fondly by the majority of Magpies fans.

The move has already sparked a feeling of discontent and anger amongst supporters, whilst manager Alan Pardew must feel severely undermined, despite keeping his counsel on the matter so far. Recent reports suggest that Pardew is privately upset at the remarks attributed to Kinnear since the weekend when the story first broke and is set to issue the former Wimbledon man with a no-holds-barred dressing down when they next meet to show him who is boss.

The 66-year-old incoming director set about ranting on television and radio during the last few days, claiming that he’ll have the final decision on transfer policy and the style of football at Newcastle United will have to change. His new role at the club appears to make manager Pardew a mere bystander, who has little or no control over anything. The PR disaster of the Ashley era has stooped to a new low with it having taken days for the club to officially confirm Kinnear in his new position, while he’s been off making outlandish comments to the media.

The conspiracy theorists have gone into overdrive trying to get to the truth behind Ashley’s appointment of one of the most hated men on Tyneside. Is it an effort to rile the paying public once again due to their unified stance against Ashley’s ownership of the club since his dismissal of Kevin Keegan in 2008 and decision to install Kinnear in his place as manager at the time? Or, could it be to give Alan Pardew a hefty push in the direction of resignation from his job?

What it absolutely cannot be is an effort to improve the team, because Kinnear has a history of heart problems, confrontational issues with the press and a reputation for giving bizarre interviews, including calling his own players by the wrong names. He makes United appear a laughing stock, which isn’t an impression any club owner worth his salt would want for their organisation.

Mike Ashley believes the fans to be against him and would seem intent on getting their backs up at every opportunity. He even tried to get under their skins by appointing Alan Pardew as part of his entourage in December 2010, but it backfired somewhat when the former West Ham manager led the Magpies to fifth place in the Premier League the season before last, making him at least a tolerated figure in the eyes of most supporters.

Now, after a disappointing campaign just gone, Ashley has pounced to add fuel to the fire by appointing a man who only managed relative success in charge of the ‘Crazy Gang’ in the 90s; a football has-been from a bygone era.

Where Newcastle go from here in anyone’s guess, but it isn’t going to be pretty.

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Isco set to disco down to the city?



 

By David Lee Wheatley

 

Pellegrini ready to pounce for protégé

 

Young Malaga attacking midfielder Isco is set to decide between joining former manager Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City or taking on the challenge of overhauling the likes of Ozil and Khedira for a place in a star-studded Real Madrid midfield.

It’s believed an offer of £30 million has been lodged by both parties and Isco stated recently it’s his intention to make a choice after tonight’s Under-21 European Championship final against Italy. Once he gets that fixture out of the way, he’ll show his hand regarding the next destination of what promises to be a fascinating career.

New City boss Pellegrini knows the former Valencia player well and will be desperate to add the 21-year-old to his squad for next season. Isco’s passing ability and drive from the middle of the park would be valuable commodities for the Manchester club as they enter a new era.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid fear the potential loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and will view Isco as a fine replacement should the Portuguese superstar up sticks anytime soon.

It was a reasonably slow start to his professional career when with Valencia, as he failed to make an impact on the first-team and spent much of his time with the ‘B’ side. Having gone back and forth between the two teams, Isco helped the second-string side to promotion to the third-tier of Spanish football with a 15-goal haul, prompting Malaga to trigger the player’s minimum fee release clause with a bid of 6m Euros.

It was after the switch to Malaga in 2011 that the skilful attacker improved immeasurably and this past campaign was perhaps his most impressive thus far. There are several clubs keeping tabs on the Spain international from all over Europe, but it appears to be a two-horse race going into the final straight for his signature.

 

Wherever Isco ends up, his ability will surely make him a global star.

 

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Difficult decisions await Mourinho

By David Lee Wheatley

Chelsea old guard must shape up or ship out

José Mourinho repeatedly proclaimed his contentment with returning to his spiritual home during the first official press conference since confirmation of his appointment as manager of Chelsea. His laid-back demeanour won't last long, though, once he gets down to the nitty-gritty of dealing with the players at his disposal.

The Portuguese coach made it crystal clear that the on-field protagonists of his previous successes at Stamford Bridge shouldn't expect any special treatment. However, the problems run much deeper than first meets the eye and there's no doubting several of the elder statesman in the squad aren't as important to the team as they once were.

The second coming of the über confident Mourinho began in earnest with the release of Yossi Benayoun, Paulo Ferreira, Hilário and Florent Malouda. The decision to jettison Ferreira was surely painful for the charismatic leader, as it was he that won the Champions League with the dependable right-back at FC Porto before bringing him along with him on his first switch to Chelsea in 2004. There will be many more awkward situations waiting to meet Mourinho head-on during the summer, including the start of the shiny new football season in August when he picks his first line-up.

Frank Lampard is still a top-class performer and will undoubtedly contribute heavily in the new season for his beloved boss, but others are waning and can no longer be relied upon to play week-in, week-out.

Ashley Cole has long been one of the best left-backs in Europe, but is beginning to lose some of his lightning pace, which he uses to great effect in getting forward along that left flank. Ryan Bertrand has shown great potential and waits patiently in the wings to take over in that position.

John Terry became increasingly injury-prone during the last campaign and others such as Cahill, David Luiz and Ivanovic offer more in that position these days. When he did play, Terry looked fallible under pressure unlike the dominant presence he presented previously. Revered by Chelsea fans, the club captain is expected to take on a peripheral role next season.

Meanwhile, Mourinho had Michael Essien on loan with him at Real Madrid last season, but he is now over the 30-year barrier and could be classed as no more than a back-up player for the younger men in the midfield department. The present day starters such as Hazard, Oscar, Mata and Ramires have fresh legs and boundless energy to offer in the middle of the park, possibly pushing the likes of Essien on to the sidelines.

Of course, the 'Special One' will want to add more quality to the side and that could hasten the demise of the older guys in the team. It would be excruciatingly difficult for a lot of managers to banish club heroes to the bench, especially considering the history between Mourinho and his men, but if anyone can do it without sentiment then it's the two-time Champions League-winning coach; he simply won't tolerate personal feelings getting in the way of trophy success at the Bridge.

It's a new era at Chelsea and the experienced members of the squad must up their game or expect to be unceremoniously dumped out of the future of the club.

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Torres ticks the boxes for Tito

By David Lee Wheatley

Is there something in the (Barcelona) air, Fernando?

Barcelona look set to tempt Chelsea with a £17 million bid for their forlorn striker Fernando Torres.

If accepted, the amount in question represents a massive £33 million loss on the transfer fee the Londoners handed Liverpool for the Spain international in January 2011.

It's been a difficult period in Torres' career since shortly before leaving Anfield, but it appears that the once-feared number nine is getting back to a level akin to his best, which he readily displayed while with Atlético Madrid and Liverpool.

Despite hitting 22 goals last season, only 8 came in the Premier League and doubts still hang over the troubled forward as he struggles to reach the peak of his powers once more. On top of that, Torres has struggled to hold on to his place in the Spanish national team due to the lean times he has experienced.

Many believed that a move to Stamford Bridge would reignite his appetite for the game after the latter part of his spell with Liverpool tailed-off horribly. However, things got even worse thanks to a crisis of confidence and no lack of injury troubles.

Torres has suffered numerous dark moments during his stay in west London, including some truly terrible misses in front of goal. However, it appears that an end is in sight with the Catalan giants reportedly ready with an offer to take the Madrid-born striker back to his homeland.

Tito Vilanova is desperate to add firepower to his side, bearing in mind that David Villa is likely to leave and Alexis Sanchez has been less than impressive at times during the campaign just gone. Brazilian superstar Neymar has already signed up, but head coach Vilanova still seems determined to add an out-and-out striker to the line-up. It's Barcelona's belief that the 29-year-old is back to somewhere approaching his best and that he can only flourish in La Liga after six years away in England.

Barcelona are all too aware what a fit and healthy Fernando Torres is capable of, as evidenced by his strikes for Atlético against the Blaugrana in the past. The opportunity to team him up with Neymar, Messi, Iniesta et al is a mouth-watering prospect and could provide the Chelsea man with the boost his career badly needs.

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Carlo edges closer to Madrid

 

By David Lee Wheatley

Ancelotti waiting patiently for Real switch

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Carlo Ancelotti informed his current employers last week that he wishes to join Spanish giants Real Madrid after witnessing José Mourinho’s heralded return to Chelsea. At the time of writing, permission hasn’t been granted for Real to speak to their number one target.

The special project embarked upon by the Italian in conjunction with the rich Middle Eastern owners of the Parisian club has only just begun, but Ancelotti apparently feels his leg of the journey is complete having clinched the Ligue 1 title in his first full season at Parc des Princes.

Real Madrid have been linked with several possible candidates for the Bernebéu vacancy in recent weeks, but many have since ruled themselves out. Jupp Heynckes decided to take a break from football, while Rafa Benitez decided he couldn’t wait around for the call and joined Napoli. Michael Laudrup, meanwhile, seems reasonably settled in the English Premier League with Swansea City. However, that would likely change if Real made an offer to tempt him back to Spain.

If strong favourite Ancelotti gets the gig, it could set off a musical chair effect all over Europe. Currently out of work manager Roberto Mancini is in the frame for the PSG job should the current incumbent move on. However, a  rush of speculation surfaced within the last 48 hours about the prospect of Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas joining the revolution in Paris and turning his back on what would appear to be a stable job at Spurs.

AVB is a young coach with a wide array of admirers across the landscape of European football despite his less than happy stint at Chelsea. His re-emergence at White Hart Lane has certainly put the Portuguese firmly back on the map as far as other clubs are concerned. Should he choose to give up his role with the north London side, and the possibility of Gareth Bale opting to leave the club could have a bearing on the matter, then yet another managerial position would open up for potential suitors.

In terms of what Real Madrid would be getting if they complete the swoop for the hugely experienced Ancelotti, he’d bring a level of calm over the club that some of their more high-profile stars may well need in their lives. After several run-ins between Mourinho and his players during three turbulent years at Real, it would be a welcome change for much of the squad to see the former Italian international take the reins.

A Champions League and multi-league winner, the former Juventus, Milan and Chelsea supremo would possess all the credentials required to make a success of the job. A double-winner at Stamford Bridge, Ancelotti was harshly bombed out of the club by Roman Abramovich. In spite of it all, he got back into work with PSG and transformed them into the dominant title victors we see today. It’s surprising in some ways that he’s willing to leave Paris before helping them reach even greater heights, but the attraction to Real Madrid is huge and simply cannot be ignored.

Should Real finally get their man, it’s foreseeable that Barcelona would have a gigantic battle on their hands to retain the La Liga title next season. Ancelotti is the ideal candidate to take Real Madrid by the scruff of the neck and put them back on top domestically and in Europe.

A decision is imminent and expect a mad scramble for jobs in Europe’s biggest leagues once confirmation finally arrives as to the identity of Real’s new leader.

 

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Mou in the mood for love

By David Lee Wheatley

Chelsea greet returning hero

Yesterday's press conference with Chelsea manager José Mourinho was massively hyped-up all weekend, but what we found was a calm, collected and mature man currently experiencing a happy period in his life.

The 50-year-old was much more laid back than nine years ago when he first pitched up at Stamford Bridge to proclaim himself 'The Special One'. His demeanour suggests the Portuguese manager with the midas touch has finally found peace back at his second home after three turbulent seasons in charge of Real Madrid.

Mourinho's relationship with the Spanish media engendered a reciprocal feeling of intense mistrust and hatred in many cases. Very few in the press took to the experienced tactician and never allowed him off the hook throughout his whole tenure at the Bernabéu, some of which was brought on by the man himself.

Adversely, British journalists lapped up José's egotistical and forthright ways and will be glad to have him back in the Premier League after so long away from these shores.

Sport in general is starved of characters and the more outspoken individuals we have in the Premier League, the better. It's certainly going to be an interesting journey with Mourinho at the helm for the second time.

The former Inter supremo claimed five domestic trophies during his first spell in charge of the Blues and he'll be desperate to attach European glory to his Chelsea CV this time around.

His first and most important task, though, will be to overcome the two Manchester clubs at the top of the Premier League, which will be no mean feat.

The Champions League obsession of the club that hung heavily around Mourinho's neck was exorcised in 2011 when Roberto Di Matteo led them to European glory. That should buy the twice European champion the time to reclaim the league title, while also attemping to fight on the European front.

Mourinho claimed yesterday that he's appreciative of the love Chelsea fans have for him for what he achieved in the past, but he wants to be loved for what he can deliver now on his return. If he can bring as much success as the last occasion he managed in England, then the fans and owner Roman Abramovich will undoutedly be pleased.

Mourinho expressed his only regret is that the new season can't begin immediately, so anxious is he to get on with the job. It's a sentiment many will share with 'The Special One' back in town.

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White Feather flies into management

By David Lee Wheatley

Corsicans take chance on Fab Rav

Fabrizio Ravanelli, he of shirt-over-the-head goal celebrations, signed up with Corsican club AC Ajaccio over the weekend as their new head coach.

The former Middlesbrough striker spent the last two years working within the youth coaching set-up at Juventus and decided now to take on the challenge of taking Ajaccio up to new heights after they ended last season just one place and two points above the relegation zone in Ligue 1.

The White Feather won the Champions League with Juventus as a player in 1996 before a £7 million move to Middlesbrough. The deadly front-man fired 31 goals in all competitions (17 in the Premier League) and helped Boro to the final of both domestic cup competitions. The campaign was to end in heartbreak, though, when the Teessiders were relegated from the top-flight, alongside devastating losses in both the FA Cup and League Cup Wembley showpieces. Their fight against demotion was compounded by a 3-point deduction due to an unfulfilled fixture against Blackburn Rovers after Boro’s squad was decimated through illness and injury.

Only two matches into the new season, Marseille stumped up £5.25m to take the Italian international to the south of France, and now the inexperienced coach has returned to French football with Ajaccio.

The beautiful island of Corsica is classed as part of France, but is only slightly closer to French shores than it is to the Italian mainland. It will be a home-from-home for him as he makes his first steps in charge of a senior team and he’ll hope to give Ajaccio a boost in their quest to establish themselves in the top-flight and to become the pride of Corsican football above local rivals Bastia, who finished in 12^th position this past season.

The former striker inherits from outgoing boss Albert Emon a squad shorn of star quality, but with significant experience in the form of ex-Chelsea and Juve man Adrian Mutu. He also takes with him former Juventus and Siena assistant Giampiero Ventrone, who worked closely with Marcello Lippi and Antonio Conte in the past.

The new man in charge will have to inject some top-level experience, perhaps putting his contacts with Juventus to good use in the process, and he’ll surely need to lean on his experienced assistant for guidance on occasion. However, as Ravanelli said on his introduction as head coach, he may not have a lot of coaching experience, but he holds substantial knowledge of the game from a 19-year playing career. On top of that, he knows the language and culture intimately from his successful spell with l’OM.

The well-travelled 44-year-old is set to embark upon a new adventure and will find the going tough at times, but with his determination to succeed and knowledge of football in France, he is well-placed to lead Ajaccio to better times in the future.

 

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