Will Mourinho's departure from Madrid start a chain reaction?
The Real Madrid job is the equivalent of a bug zapper - managers are drawn to the light and the rest of us watch in anticipation for them to get burnt. For a while, Andre Villas-Boas was the favourite but he is likely to stay at Tottenham at least until next season especially if they manage to get a spot in the Champions League. A more likely candidate for the Madrid job is Carlo Ancelotti, a man who has proven his ability across Europe and carries the necessary gravitas and experience for the job while being markedly more diplomatic than his current Madrid counterpart. Ancelotti could well be the man to achieve the Decima at Real Madrid.
Ancelotti to Real Madrid
Another name that has been repeatedly linked with the Madrid job over the years is Arsene Wenger. Honestly, after 17 years at Arsenal, the last 8 of which have been trophyless, it is time for a change for both Arsenal and Wenger. Wenger is an immense manager and I doubt that many other managers could have kept Arsenal in the top four consistently considering their limitations but whether or not they succeed this season, both club and manager need some fresh air. The Madrid job, however, comes with intense scrutiny and a crushing pressure to get results. What Wenger seems to crave more than anything is building an identity for a club, something that Madrid don't particularly need or want. On the other hand, a club like PSG is looking to do just that. Imagine Wenger free of the shackles of budget - one of the great French managers at the biggest club in France - creating a club in his image.
Wenger to PSG
How do Arsenal replace Arsene Wenger? The club is in the strange place of being a 'big club' that probably lacks the resources to compete for elite managers. What's more, any manager that arrives has to be willing to work with relatively limited transfer funds. Arsenal need look no further than David Moyes. The grim-faced Glaswegian manager has a proven track record in the Premier League, overachieving with a tight-fisted budget and out of contract in the summer. The shoe fits.
Moyes to Arsenal
Finally, who takes the Everton job? Firstly, let me apologize to Wigan fans but your club is terrible and I mean that in the best way possible. A quick look at the team roster suggests very little in terms of Premier League quality. Catch Wigan on one of their bad days and one wonders how this isn't a Championship team. But on their day Wigan can beat anyone and the fact that they have avoided relegation these past seasons is testament to the skills of Roberto Martinez. Let us not forget that while Brendan Rodgers deservedly received adulation for his work at Swansea and Michael Laudrup gets credit for sustaining that, it was good ol' Bobby Martinez that laid the foundation for Swansea's technique-based game. Give the man a chance, he deserves better than Wigan.
Martinez to Everton
Mourinho has won silverware in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain as well as two Champions League trophies. As one of the most gifted managers in the game he has nothing more to prove. Nevertheless, if he does feel the need to prove something what better way than to take charge at Wigan? Relatively penniless and unfashionable, success at Wigan would elevate Mourinho beyond all others. He has always said that he fancies a return to England...
Final Twist: Mourinho to Wigan?
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