EPL Managers 2008-09

[The Coon Dog]

I'm going to keep a track of Manager movements from the end of the last season & including the upcoming EPL season.

Arsenal: Arsene Wenger
Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill
Blackburn Rovers: Mark Hughes, Paul Ince, Sam Allardyce
Bolton Wanderers: Gary Megson
Chelsea: Avram Grant, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Guus Hiddink
Everton: David Moyes
Fulham: Roy Hodgson
Hull City: Phil Brown
Liverpool: Rafael Benitez
Manchester City: Sven-Goran Eriksson, Mark Hughes
Manchester United: Sir Alex Ferguson
Middlesbrough: Gareth Southgate
Newcastle United: Kevin Keegan, Joe Kinnear, Alan Shearer
Portsmouth: Harry Redknapp, Tony Adams, Paul Hart
Stoke City: Tony Pulis
Sunderland: Roy Keane, Ricky Sbragia
Tottenham Hotspurs: Juande Ramos, Harry Redknapp
West Bromwich Albion: Tony Mowbray
West Ham United: Alan Curbishley, Gianfranco Zola
Wigan Athletic: Steve Bruce

It will be interesting to see how many of these are still in the position at the end of the season.

[The Coon Dog]

Blackburn Rovers have appointed Paul Ince (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7457696.stm) as their Manager.

[whythelongface]

QPR have recently signed Iain Dowie as their Manager. Ah the thread states EPL Managers 2008-09 - just getting ahead of myself by one season. It has been over 10 long years; 10 long years I'm telling you.

[The Coon Dog]

Curbishley quits as West Ham boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7596106.stm)

Alan Curbishly has quit as manager of West Ham citing lack of control over transfer policy. I like Curbs even though there was a section of Hammers fans who weren't too keen on him.

Newcastle and Keegan hold talks (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7593683.stm)

There appears to be some confusion on Tyneside with reports that King Kev has quit or been sacked.


*And the season is just 3 weeks old.

[hujsh]

Curbishley quits as West Ham boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7596106.stm)

Alan Curbishly has quit as manager of West Ham citing lack of control over transfer policy. I like Curbs even though there was a section of Hammers fans who weren't too keen on him.

Newcastle and Keegan hold talks (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7593683.stm)

There appears to be some confusion on Tyneside with reports that King Kev has quit or been sacked.


*And the season is just 3 weeks old.

If sacked he gets 10 mil compensation and if he quits he must pay 8 mill (or there abouts)

[The Coon Dog]

Keegan resigns as Newcastle boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7593683.stm)

Kevin Keegan has resigned as manager of Newcastle United after just eight months in charge.

The announcement follows lengthy talks between the 57-year-old and the board.

"I've been working desperately hard to find a way forward with the directors, but sadly that has not proved possible," Keegan said in a statement.

"It's my opinion that a manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want."


Di Canio wants to be Hammers boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/7598744.stm)

Paolo Di Canio has contacted West Ham about succeeding Alan Curbishley as the club's manager, according to his agent.

The 40-year-old Italian is a fans' favourite at Upton Park after spending four years as a player at the club.

A shortlist of 30 candidates has been drawn up for the job and Di Canio's agent Phil Spencer said his client would "love to be considered".

The bookmakers' favourite Slaven Bilic is thought to be reluctant to quit as Croatia coach before the start of 2009.

[The Coon Dog]

Zola agrees to take West Ham job

http://images.sportinglife.com/08/09/330/Gianfranco-Zola-West-Ham-scarf_1188944.jpg


West Ham have agreed a three-year deal with Gianfranco Zola for the Italian to become the club's new manager.

The former Chelsea striker, 42, held talks with the Hammers last week about succeeding Alan Curbishley, along with Roberto Donadoni and John Collins.

But, as revealed by BBC Sport, West Ham opted for Zola over the former Italy coach and ex-Hibernian boss, and he should be unveiled before the weekend.

"Gianfranco was our first choice," a senior club source told BBC Sport.

"We were very comfortable with the three options we had - Zola, Donadoni and Collins - but Gianfranco came out on top."

West Ham interviewed the current Italy under-21 coach last week, while chief executive Scott Duxbury then travelled to Rome to talk to him on Sunday.

The 42-year-old is currently preparing Italy to face Croatia on Tuesday in their final qualifier for the European Under-21 Championship, which they need to win or draw to qualify for the tournament in Sweden.

West Ham believe the Italian, who played for Chelsea from 1996 to 2003, has the attributes to be a big success at Upton Park.

"It's true that he has no experience of managing a club side, but he knows the Premier League very well," the source added.

"His English is very good and he can talk about football with English players and inspire them.

"He has a record of developing young footballers, which is very important to us, and was obviously a world-class player.

"Experienced players like to have a manager they can respect as a footballer."

And Chelsea and England captain John Terry suggested Zola would one day go on to manager the Blues.

"I'm sure one day he'll be back at Chelsea working with us," said Terry, speaking in Zagreb, ahead of England's World Cup qualifier against Croatia.

"He's got a little bit more experience after managing Italy's Under-21 side so it'd be great for him to get more experience at West Ham and hopefully one day be Chelsea manager."

The Hammers have moved impressively quickly to recruit a manager since Curbishley resigned last Wednesday.

They had been eager to interview Croatia coach Slaven Bilic, but discounted the former West Ham defender because he wanted to continue coaching his country part-time until the end of the year.

And Getafe boss Michael Laudrup joined Spartak Moscow before the Hammers were able to speak to him.

Collins, who has managed Hibernian, also impressed in interviews, while former Italy boss Donadoni had been among the front runners before withdrawing his application on Tuesday.

"I would like to thank West Ham for approaching and speaking with me," said Donadoni.

"I welcomed the opportunity of speaking with such a prominent Premier League club and of course, the opportunity of coming to the English Premier League.

"However, it does appear that the board have not yet, after some time, come to an agreement and a conclusion on who the successful candidate should be.

"It is important for me to feel that I have the full support of the club and I have therefore taken the decision to withdraw myself from the candidate shortlist for the club."

[Topdog]

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked Juande Ramos and brought in Harry Redknapp as his replacement.

[ledge]

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked Juande Ramos and brought in Harry Redknapp as his replacement.

Ouch that hurt, cant call us poor old Portmouth though, not with a 5 million cheque for it. Think i would let Rodney go for that price.
So i wonder who will take over.

[The Coon Dog]

So i wonder who will take over.

Joe Jordan & Tony Adams are both in the frame as current assistants. Former Chelsea Manager & Pompey Technical Director Avram Grant is also being considered. Have also heard Sam Allardyce's name mentioned in newspapers.

[The Coon Dog]

Looks like it's going to be the former Gooner.

Adams set to become Pompey boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7693323.stm)

[ledge]

Looks like it's going to be the former Gooner.

Adams set to become Pompey boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7693323.stm)

Yeah heard it on SEN this morning, seriously its a hard man to follow.

[The Coon Dog]

Tony Adams confirmed as Pompey boss.

[The Coon Dog]

Roy Keane has left Sunderland.


Keane resigns as Sunderland boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/7764671.stm)

[The Coon Dog]

Blackburn Rovers have sacked manager Paul Ince. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7784967.stm)

[The Coon Dog]

Allardyce named Blackburn manager (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/7787940.stm)

Blackburn Rovers have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a three-year contract.

He is the 8th managerial change already this season.

[Twodogs]

Tony Adams confirmed as Pompey boss.



Was it Tony Adams who was the Arsenal captain in 91/92? He managed to captain Arsenal to the championship and spend time in jail in the same season!

[Sockeye Salmon]

Was it Tony Adams who was the Arsenal captain in 91/92? He managed to captain Arsenal to the championship and spend time in jail in the same season!

And never sobered up the entire time.

[The Coon Dog]

Sbragia appointed Sunderland boss (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/7801108.stm)

Sunderland have appointed caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia as their new manager on an 18-month contract.

The Scot, 52, has been handed the job after an impressive spell which saw Sunderland win two games, draw once and lose just once to Manchester United.

Sbragia succeeds Roy Keane, who resigned on 4 December with the club in the bottom three of the Premier League.


* Ricky who?

[Twodogs]

* Ricky who?



And how long have the Scots been spelling their surnames with a string of three consonants running together?

[The Coon Dog]

Another one bites the dust!


Portsmouth confirm Adams sacking (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7878084.stm)

Portsmouth have sacked manager Tony Adams and first-team coach John Metgod following a run of poor results.

A Portsmouth statement confirmed: "This has been a difficult decision and Tony has worked tirelessly to arrest the slump in form."

Portsmouth have won only two of their 16 Premier League matches since Adams, 42, took charge back on 28 October.

Former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley and ex-Chelsea boss Avram Grant have been touted as possible replacements.

Director of youth operations Paul Hart will take over as caretaker manager.

On Saturday, Pompey were beaten at home by Liverpool despite leading 2-1 with only five minutes to go.

Prior to the defeat by Liverpool - their seventh loss in eight games - Adams had insisted he had the backing of the club chiefs.

Portsmouth are currently 16th in the table, one point above the relegation zone, with 14 games to play.

The club's statement added: "The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period when results have been poor.

"The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions.

"The priority for the club is to remain in the top flight and we feel the appointment of a new manager will give us the best opportunity to enable us to do this."

Adams was appointed at the end of October when Harry Redknapp, who guided Pompey to FA Cup glory last season, decided to take the Tottenham job.

The former Arsenal and England captain was named as Redknapp's number two in 2006, after an ill-fated spell in charge of Wycombe and coaching jobs in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and Utrecht.

At Wycombe, the Gunners legend won only 12 of his 53 games in charge, losing 20

[The Coon Dog]

And another one's gone!


Scolari sacked as Chelsea manager
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7879638.stm)

Chelsea have sensationally sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The club's website revealed the dramatic move had been made "to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for".

World Cup winner Scolari had only been in the job since June 2008, when he became Chelsea's third boss in a year.

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League but remain in the Champions League and FA Cup, with Ray Wilkins in charge until a successor is appointed.

"Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club with immediate effect," read the statement.

"The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager."

Scolari's spokesman Acaz Felleger said it was Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who had run out of patience with the Brazilian coach.

"It seems that Abramovich made the decision," Felleger told Lance newspaper's website.

"Scolari was not in a comfortable situation despite having the support of the squad and Peter Kenyon."

Felleger added that Scolari had paid the price for not being given the backing to refresh the aging Chelsea squad.

"The Chelsea squad are old. Felipe tried to rejuvenate it, but unsuccessfully. He asked (the board) to sign Deco and Robinho, but they only brought Deco."

Scolari indicated he would give his version of events in the near future.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked for Chelsea and in English football," Scolari said.

"It was a very valuable experience. I am sorry that my time with everyone could not last longer. I wish Chelsea luck in the three competitions they are participating in.

"I want to take the opportunity to inform that I will keep living in London. I will respond to the media soon."

Scolari's former team travel to Watford in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

The tie at Vicarage Road is the start of a vital 11 days for Chelsea, with a crucial Premier League clash with third-placed Aston Villa on 21 February, followed by the visit of Juventus to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League four days later.

Chelsea's official statement indicated that the club were eager to get a new man in charge for that run of games.

"Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon," read the statement.

"Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.

"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now.

"The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to have someone in place as soon as possible."

Scolari won the World Cup as manager of his home country, Brazil, in 2002. He arrived at Chelsea following a six-year spell in charge of Portugal, who he led to the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.

The 60-year-old made an impressive start but results deteriorated and of his 36 games in charge, 20 were won, five lost and 11 drawn.

Chelsea, who were unbeaten in the league at home for 86 matches until Liverpool's 1-0 win in October 2008, have lost two home league matches and drawn on five occasions this season, and were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Burnley on penalties.

Their record against the so-called big four this season is poor - they drew 1-1 at home with Manchester United and lost 3-0 away, were beaten 2-1 at home by Arsenal, and home and away by Liverpool.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has now overseen the departure of four managers since his arrival in 2003.

Claudio Ranieri was sacked in 2004, Jose Mourinho in September 2007 and Grant in May 2008.

A banner unfurled during Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Hull at Stamford Bridge on Saturday called for the return of former Blues favourites Gianfranco Zola, currently in charge at West Ham, and Roberto Di Matteo, the MK Dons boss.

Chelsea were booed off the field at the final whistle and sections of the crowd could be heard chanting "you don't know what you're doing" at Scolari.

But a senior West Ham boardroom member told BBC Sport the club has had no contact from Chelsea regarding Zola or his assistant, former Chelsea coach Steve Clarke.

[The Coon Dog]

Chelsea close in on Hiddink deal
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7882135.stm)

Chelsea hope to appoint Russia boss Guus Hiddink as their new manager until the end of the season, and are keen to finalise a deal before Saturday.

The Russian Football Association gave Chelsea permission to talk to the Dutchman on Tuesday on the basis that Hiddink could combine both roles.

And Hiddink has hinted that a temporary move to Stamford Bridge would suit him.

"If it was any other club my answer would be a straight 'no', but Chelsea is different," said the 62-year-old.

"I have good relations with the owner [Roman Abramovich]. I would like to help them if I could.

"This would only be for the next two or three months until the end of the season. I will not leave my job with the Russian national team. It's out of the question.

[M.R.M]

Chelsea are a disgrace. I don't agree with salary caps entirly, but there has to be a threshold where it becomes a joke. Chelsea are essentially an organ through which Roman keeps pumping money. There's no care for profits. It's a joke! He'll sell Chelsea for a song down the track and leave it with wages bills that cripple the club.

[Remi Moses]

Chelsea will be back to getting 12,000 to home games ala mid 90's. gotta agree Sportsman getting 120,000 a week is an utter travesity. When is it all going to end?

[The Coon Dog]

Chelsea confirm Hiddink as coach (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7882667.stm)

Chelsea have announced that Guus Hiddink will take over as temporary coach until the end of the season.

The Premier League club have also revealed that the 62-year-old Dutchman will meet the players later this week.

"The club would like to take this opportunity to thank the Russian Football Union for their understanding and cooperation," said a statement.

Hiddink, who will continue to coach the Russian national side, replaces Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was axed on Monday.

The Blues currently lie fourth in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.

Hiddink said before his appointment that he only intended to help out until the end of the season.

"It's a favour for a friend," said the former Netherlands, South Korea and Australia coach, who has close ties to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

"Abramovich does so much for Russian football that I wanted to give something pack. he called me personally."

[GVGjr]

Has the EPL lured Hiddink before?
Given his reputation I would have thought he would have been well in demand.

[The Coon Dog]

Has the EPL lured Hiddink before?
Given his reputation I would have thought he would have been well in demand.

No, here is who he's managed:

1982–1984 - De Graafschap
1984–1987 - PSV Eindhoven (assistant)
1987–1990 - PSV Eindhoven
1990–1991 - Fenerbahçe
1991–1994 - Valencia
1995–1998 - Netherlands
1998–1999 - Real Madrid
1999–2000 - Real Betis
2000–2002 - South Korea
2002–2006 - PSV Eindhoven
2005–2006 - Australia
2006– Russia
2009– Chelsea

[GVGjr]

No, here is who he's managed:

1982–1984 - De Graafschap
1984–1987 - PSV Eindhoven (assistant)
1987–1990 - PSV Eindhoven
1990–1991 - Fenerbahçe
1991–1994 - Valencia
1995–1998 - Netherlands
1998–1999 - Real Madrid
1999–2000 - Real Betis
2000–2002 - South Korea
2002–2006 - PSV Eindhoven
2005–2006 - Australia
2006– Russia
2009– Chelsea

How did he do at Real Madrid?

I heard Tim Watson have a crack at him this because he has been hawking his talents to the highest bidder and all those brief stops sort of support that theory a bit.

[Chops]

How did he do at Real Madrid?

I heard Tim Watson have a crack at him this because he has been hawking his talents to the highest bidder and all those brief stops sort of support that theory a bit.

Sorry Gary but what does Tim Watson know about football(soccer)? F all.
Hiddink is like most other managers, no doubt he is very good, but he knows when its time to get out.
He was no good at Real Madrid, but its a nightmare place to coach(Capello won the Primera and still got sacked), probably worse than Chelsea is. He is certainly not stupid and only taken a short term contract at Chelsea.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Sorry Gary but what does Tim Watson know about football(soccer)? F all.
Hiddink is like most other managers, no doubt he is very good, but he knows when its time to get out.
He was no good at Real Madrid, but its a nightmare place to coach(Capello won the Primera and still got sacked), probably worse than Chelsea is. He is certainly not stupid and only taken a short term contract at Chelsea.

Alex Jesaulenko won the premiership and got sacked.

[The Coon Dog]

With Alan Shearer's appointment at Newcastle confirmed it makes them the 4th club along with Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea & Portsmouth to have their 3rd manager this season.

Post #1 in this thread has the complete list.

[M.R.M]

I've no idea why anyone would take the helm at Newcastle. They've done nothing since Keegan was their. You're basically doomed to failure.