As football fans across the country wake to the sound of clanging bells, the gallows wait for yet another Chelsea manager. The passing of Villas-Boas will mark the eighth manager in nine years to have seen his head roll across the Stamford Bridge board room and its beginning to become an embrassement for Chelsea owner Roman Ambrovich.
In truth though, the Russian billionaire’s failure wasn’t in the premmature sacking of Villas-Boas – it was in his appointment.
Abramovich has been all too quick to show the door to his managers and sifting through a wealth of managerial talent has shed the blue’s owner in a villianous light. Now the club is left in an unusual predicament. With a host of opportunity, money and potential success, who really wants to work for Ambramovich?
As talented as Villas-Boas might have been at scout level, his appointment at Stamford Bridge was over-hyped and a completely wrong fit. The 34-year-old’s inexperience seemed to be glossed over by the somewhat embryonic fact that he would be the second coming of the special one. Sure Villas-Boas was stylish and held a cool persona, but it stopped there. The unfortunate fact was, the only trait the newly appointed Chelsea boss shared with Mourniho was his nationality.
Having stepped out of Mourniho’s shadow back in 2009 to pursue a managerial career with Acadamica, Villas-Boas quickly bliped on the radar of world football. Dragging the portuguese side from certain relegation, the 34-year-old manager got the club to the saftey of 11th before moving straight on to a career at Porto.
There again he continued to share indisputable success, winning his first game in charge to claim the Super Cup in a 2-0 win over rivals Benfica. Porto ended the season undefeated, recording 27 wins and 3 draws, striding with ease to a domestic title. Villas-Boas also recorded european triumph, becoming the youngest manager ever to win the UEFA cup aged 33 years and 213 days.
But with every success, there were questions raised for loyality as on the 21st June, Villas-Boas resigned from his second club in as many years despite covinted success.
Chelsea saw a prodigy in the portuguese talent and made clear intentions in signing Villas Boas, dismissing the small sample size of managerial experience the 34-year-old possesed.
Things looked positive, as chelsea won all of the opening pre-season fixtures, conceding only one goal and taking home the 2011 Barclays Asia Trophy. But things quickly turned more troublsome, as Villas-Boas faced a resilient at Stoke to start is debut Premier League campaign with a goaless draw against the Potters.
Following a string of bad results and an exit from the champions league where he left Lampard, Essien and Ashley Cole on the bench, Villas-Boas lost the support of his most senior players prompting technical director Micheal Emenalo to ask questions on behalf of abramovich as to why the Chelsea boss had opted for such drastic tatics.
His aggressive moves though were to have no fledging success though and following a 1-0 defeat to West Brom, Villas-Boas was terminated as Chelsea manager.
Now Chelsea are left in fifth place, a distant Premier League title threat and adrift from Champions League qualification.
Step in caretaker manager and ex-Chelsea legend Roberto DiMatteo. How ironic that his previous employer would be so definative in his next job having seen the Baggies deliver the final blow to Villas-Boas Chelsea reign.
But this will not be the final flash in the pan for the portuguese manageral maestro. Villas Boas still possesses the sizzle, however whether that will be to be in the Premier League.
Related articles
- Chelsea Birmingham Odds : Birmingham look value for FA cup tie after Villas Boas dismisal (footybunker.com)
- Villas-Boas’ successor warned ‘hell’ awaits him, $100 miilion Abramovich error (3news.co.nz)
- Column: Chelsea’s Abramovich, Sugar Dad With Teeth (abcnews.go.com)
