Premier League
Chelsea’s turbulent recent managerial history
Chelsea have new ownership but the ruthless strategy employed by former owner Roman Abramovich when it comes to hiring and firing managers appears to have remained at Stamford Bridge.
Just over three months since a consortium headed by American Todd Boehly completed a 4.25 billion pounds ($4.86 billion) takeover of Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel has been fired.
Like many of his predecessors, Tuchel delivered silverware into the Chelsea trophy cabinet, winning the Champions League just four months after taking over in 2021.
But just like them that proved no guarantee of lengthy employment at the west London club.
Here is a list of Chelsea’s last six permanent managers and the circumstances of their exits.
JOSE MOURINHO (June 2013-Dec 2015)
Mourinho delivered the Premier League title on his return to Stamford Bridge and the League Cup but things went sour quickly for the Portuguese the following season.
A run of nine defeats in 16 league games left Chelsea 16th in the standings, one point above the relegation places, and Mourinho appeared to have fallen out with top players such as Eden Hazard and Diego Costa.
After a his last game, a defeat by Leicester City, he said his work had been “betrayed” by the players.
GUUS HIDDINK (Dec 2015-June 2016)
The popular Dutchman was installed as interim manager, having performed a similar role in 2009 in the wake of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s sacking.
He stabilised the club, going on a 12-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League although Chelsea could finish no higher than 10th. He left on good terms at the end of the season.
ANTONIO CONTE (July 2016-July 2018)
The Italian seemed like the perfect fit to revive Chelsea’s fortunes and did not disappoint.
He won the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season in charge but Chelsea were unable to maintain that level and the following campaign they finished fifth to miss out on qualification for the Champions League.
Conte had looked a disgruntled figure for much of the 2017-18 campaign, moaning about a lack of squad investment, and was sacked weeks before the start of the new season.
MAURIZIO SARRI (July 2018-June 2019)
Conte’s replacement enjoyed a record 12-match unbeaten start to the Premier League season to win over some of the sceptical fans but he was never popular with the Chelsea faithful.
His “Sarriball” tactics were often criticised as confusing for the players, yet Chelsea finished third and also beat Arsenal in the Europa League final.
Sarri’s exit was relatively harmonious as he took over at Juventus while Chelsea hired club great Frank Lampard.
FRANK LAMPARD (July 2019-Jan 2021)
The club’s record goalscorer was a popular choice as manager despite him having relatively little experience.
Lampard, restricted by the club’s transfer ban, offered opportunities to the club’s youngsters and managed to seal a top-four finish in the Premier League.
However, Chelsea appeared to be going backwards the following season despite some high-profile signings and was offered no special treatment as he was fired in January.
THOMAS TUCHEL (Jan 2021-Sept 2022)
While fans were shocked at Lampard’s departure, Abramovich acted quickly to hire the German who had taken Paris St Germain to the Champions League final before falling out with the club.
His impact was stunning as Chelsea reached the Champions League final four months later and beat Manchester City.
The following season he won the FIFA Club World Cup but could not challenge Manchester City and Liverpool domestically.
He looked aggravated during a patchy start to the new season despite huge squad investment, but his exit was a huge surprise.
-Reuters
Thomas Partey, who formerly played for English Premier League soccer club Arsenal, has been charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Partey, a Ghana international, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, with the charges relating to three women and the offences reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022, the statement said.
Partey’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
He is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Aug. 5.
Partey, 32, was signed by Arsenal from Atletico Madrid for 50 million euros ($59 million) in October 2020 and became a key member of Arsenal’s first team.
He was first arrested in July 2022, though he was not named at the time and continued to play for Arsenal while investigations were ongoing.
-Reuters
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Five players including England forward Marcus Rashford and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho have informed Manchester United that they wish to explore a future away from the Premier League side, a club source said on Friday.
Brazilian midfielder Antony, Dutch defender Tyrell Malacia and England international Jadon Sancho are also looking to leave the club, the source added.
Rashford, who has made more than 400 senior appearances for United, has fallen out of favour with manager Ruben Amorim, played for Aston Villa on loan while United had their worst-ever Premier League campaign, finishing 15th in the standings.
Amorim had called Rashford’s work rate into question, saying he would rather put a goalkeeper coach on the bench than a player not giving their all.
Rashford said he was feeling fitter and better since joining Villa, where he scored two goals in 10 league appearances.
United also failed to qualify for the Champions League as they lost the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. Garnacho, who was a late substitute in the final, voiced his displeasure on social media after the loss.
“Up until the final, I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know,” he wrote in a post . “The final will influence (my decision), but the whole season, the situation of the club.”
Sancho was on loan at Chelsea, where he made 31 league appearances last season. Antony, who joined United from Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for a reported initial transfer fee of more than $100 million, scored five goals in 17 LaLiga appearances on loan at Real Betis.
Malacia joined Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on loan in February.
-Reuters
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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes turned down the opportunity to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in order to keep playing “at the highest level”, he said on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder admitted that he had considered the move, which media reports said was worth four times his current salary, after being contacted by Al-Hilal’s president.
“There was that possibility, the president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask me about it,” Fernandes, who is preparing to face Germany with Portugal, told reporters on Tuesday.
“It was a big offer, very ambitious. There was a waiting period for me to think about the future.”
Fernandes ultimately decided to stay at United and said he was motivated by his desire to continue playing at the top level and encouraged by his family and the club’s coach Ruben Amorim.
“I would be willing to do it if Manchester United thought so,” Fernandes added. “I spoke to the coach Ruben Amorim who really tried to talk me out of it. The club said they would not be willing to sell me, only if I wanted to leave.
“I spoke to my wife and family, and she asked me what my personal goals were in my career.
“It would have been easy to move there but I want to keep myself at the highest level, playing in the big competitions and I feel capable of it. I am happy with my decision.”
The 30-year-old Fernandes scored 19 goals and provided 19 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions for United last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
However, it was a season to forget for the team, as they finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league finish in half a century, and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.
-Reuters
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