5 instances of what would happen if managers swapped places

Allegri and Klopp have displayed contrasting styles of play

Massimiliano Allegri & Jurgen Klopp

The chances of Floyd Mayweather actually boxing instead of running in a boxing match are more than the chances of this happening. However, like we mentioned before, we like to imagine scenarios that please our minds. There couldn’t be a more elaborate description of personality difference like the one these two have.

The best example here would be that Allegri is like Kristen Stewart in Twilight – an emotionless face – when compared to Jurgen Klopp, who is more expressive than Jim Carrey.

When a goal is scored, Jurgen Klopp’s passionate nature makes him let go of all shyness and he plunges into animatic world of his own. Allegri, on the other hand, stays as calm as a Shaolin monk and only at very certain moments does he give way to celebrations.

With what we have seen of the former Milan boss this season, he wouldn’t bring much change to Dortmund, but would rather enhance the team and build on the good work of Jurgen Klopp.

He would also tighten things at the back, which has been the main cause of the Ruhr club’s sudden fall from grace – most Italian managers are great at that and Allegri is one of them. Also, more Italian players would find their way into the Bundesliga with Allegri on board.

The German, however, would turn Juventus into a machine gun with his direct approach and enthralling brand of ruthlessness. The transformation of Juventus under him would bring something new to Italian football altogether – something that other Italian teams would love to take inspiration from. Serie A, as a whole, would become more quick-paced than ever before.

Also, we will see more photobombing incidents in Italian football with the outgoing Dortmund boss on board.

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Rodgers and Enrique made similar switches from managing at smaller clubs to a bigger name

Luis Enrique & Brendan Rodgers

This one would be absurd, but might just work. Luis Enrique’s record before joining Barcelona was not-so-great to say the least. He had had spells with Roma and Celta and did nothing out of the ordinary with these two teams. But now with Barcelona, he has already won the League and is just two games way from winning a treble.

The same could also be said for Brendan Rodgers. After making Swansea a formidable mid-table team, while playing some very attractive brand of football, he joined Liverpool and shot them into the Champions League by the end of his first season.

No-one expected Enrique to take Barca to the heights they are at now. And no one expects Brendan Rodgers to do the same as well with the Catalans. But if they really swapped, the guarantee is that there would be little to no progress for both the clubs.

One might argue that Enrique could take the Reds to the next level, but the last time he was managing a Champions League aspiring club, he failed to take them to the said next level. He, however, with good support from the board in the transfer market, can make Liverpool more of a possession-based team than ever before.

Luis Enrique has also shown his ability at keeping his best players fresh for the crunch part of the season, by rotating early in the season, and the same would also happen at Liverpool.

If Rodgers was hired by Barcelona, the language barrier would be the first problem. However, it is almost certain that Rodgers won’t change a thing at the Camp Nou – except hang a huge portrait of himself on the wall of the dressing room – and just swim with the tide like any wise person would.

Or, the maximum he would do would be sign some average British players and try to fit them on the bench of Camp Nou

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Van Gaal and Blanc are managers with different temperaments

Louis van Gaal & Laurent Blanc

Another instance where the two managers are highly diverse from each other. Louis van Gaal is hailed as a visionary, someone who isn’t afraid to take bold decisions and definitely doesn’t like playing it safe. He is also ruthlessly outspoken and has a temper at the receiving end of which none would like to be.

Laurent Blanc, however, is as cool as a cucumber. If Zlatan Ibrahimovic happened to kung-fu kick him, he would smile back at the forward and still play him in the very next game. Blanc also isn’t someone who is known for tinkering around much with his system.

The first thing of interest with the Dutchman at the French club would be his treatment of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Van Gaal is someone who is known to have a commander type approach towards his players and doesn’t appreciate someone who doesn’t listen to him. And the Swede is someone who hates it when someone barks orders at him.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the star forward was sold as soon as the current United manager landed in France. However, it also wouldn’t be surprising if the former Bayern boss became the circus trainer that could tame the fierce lion. One thing is certain though, PSG’s performance in the Champions League would improve under him.

For Blanc, managing United would be like managing home. He was astute as a player for the Red Devils and has a good idea about the club already. With the French Ligue 1 being a one-team league, Blanc has had it quite easy there – which won’t be the case in the Premier League with the likes of City, Chelsea and Arsenal on board.

However, the Frenchman has the calmness and composure to succeed in the Premier League, but the only thing he lacks is the authoritarian approach – which could prove to be a great asset managing a team like United.