5 realistic contenders to replace Jose Mourinho at Chelsea

Modified Nov 01, 2015 05:00 GMT

Who would have thought this would be a question that everyone would be asking a quarter into the season? Brendan Rodgers getting fired wasn’t that much of a surprise, it was coming sooner rather than later. But if you had suggested that last season’s title-winning manager would find himself in such a situation, you would have been rushed off to the nearest mental asylum. But football being a great leveller, we are indeed in such a position where Mourinho’s sacking is more an inevitability than a mere possibility. So, if it does happen, that Abramovich does fire the ‘Special One’ again, who can take up the mantle?

#1 Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola

This is the go-to manager for success and every Chelsea fan thinks Abramovich would jump at the possibility of getting him to the club. While he is not available in the short term, his contract with Bayern Munich is up at the end of the season, and there are no signs that either party is pushing for an extension.

If Pep Guardiola fails to win the Champions League this season too, it would be curtains for him at the German club, and Chelsea would be a good destination for him, with the challenge of the Premier League as well as almost limitless money an enticing option for him.

For Chelsea and Abramovich, signing Guardiola would finally mean they can see the kind of tiki-taka football they always hoped for. Also, success and Guardiola go hand in hand, so it is a match that would be perfect for both parties.

#2 Carlo Ancelotti

At first glance, one would be tempted to think that Carlo Ancelotti would want nothing to do with Chelsea, seeing as how he was relieved of managerial duties despite winning the league and FA cup double in 2011.

But since it looks like there are no other top teams currently looking for a manager, Chelsea and Ancelotti seem to be a perfect match. Ancelotti already has tasted success with the club, he knows the setup and the expectations from the fans and the owner.

The major advantage for him and the club would be that he’s available now, and there would be no need for an interim manager. He would have ample time to get Chelsea to finish at a decent position on the table and even help them with the Champions League campaign.

#3 Laurent Blanc

The Paris St. Germain manager may not be readily available, but he would also be a good choice for Chelsea in the present scenario. With Blanc at the helm, PSG have been dominating the French Ligue 1, and the Frenchman even gave a first-hand show of his prowess when his team sneaked past Chelsea in the Champions League despite being down to 10 men.

However, France and England are leagues that are not exactly at a similar level, and so Blanc may not find it all that easy to cope with the tougher competition. It will certainly be a risky signing, especially as he wouldn’t have any time to settle in if he only comes next summer.

#4 Diego Simeone

Another manager who has certainly caught everyone’s imagination is Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone. Having beaten the duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid to take the league title in 2014, along with reaching the Champions League final that season, Simeone has shown he’s got the right stuff in him and is not averse to a tough challenge.

That will be exactly what he will face if he moves to Chelsea, a tough challenge in a difficult league.

Although his style of winning games is not exactly what Abramovich wants, his ability to handle tough assignments is something the Chelsea owner will look at with approval and would want him to steady this fast sinking ship.

#5 Ronald Koeman

Quite possibly the most unlikely option for now, Ronald Koeman is still a very good horse to place your bets on. Abramovich could look at the fantastic job he’s been doing at Southampton, and although Koeman may not have won any trophies, his team consistently punches above its weight with the limited resources it has.

And the teams that Koeman puts out also play the way Abramovich wants to see, so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched an idea.

And Koeman is already tuned to the Premier League and its challenges, so it wouldn’t be too big a step to take either.