When you manage one of the richest clubs in football, failing to win a trophy can quickly see you handed with your P45 forms and looking for new employment.
Barring a complete collapse from Chelsea in the Premier League title race, Manchester City look set to have a trophy-less season and the last time that happened it was the end of Roberto Mancini’s tenure at the helm.
Manuel Pellegrini insists ‘other factors’ played a big part in Mancini being removed the year after he had helped the club win the Premier League title in spectacular fashion, but another early exit in the Champions League coupled with a less than impressive defence of the title they won last season (up to this point at least) means the Chilean is under pressure.
With the investment made into the club by the owners, Manchester City are not likely to accept second place easily and there are likely going to be ten leading names who could be set to take over from Pellegrini at the end of the season.
10. Roberto Mancini
They say you should never go back, but I think Roberto Mancini would jump at the chance to return to Manchester City having struggled in the next two jobs he has taken.
His time at Galatasaray was ended after a disagreement with the board regarding the ambitions of the club and Mancini subsequently returned to Inter Milan where he has tried to ‘capture magic’ for a second time having won Serie A three times in a row in his first stint as manager.
Unfortunately for Mancini, it hasn’t worked so well over the last six months back at the San Siro as Inter Milan sit in mid-table having been knocked out of both the Coppa Italia and Europa League in what has been a poor season.
Jose Mourinho may have settled his differences with Roman Abramovich to return to Stamford Bridge almost two years ago, but there has been no sign of Mancini mending the bridges he burned at Manchester City and he is unlikely to be courted for a return.They say you should never go back, but I think Roberto Mancini would jump at the chance to return to Manchester City having struggled in the next two jobs he has taken.
His time at Galatasaray was ended after a disagreement with the board regarding the ambitions of the club and Mancini subsequently returned to Inter Milan where he has tried to ‘capture magic’ for a second time having won Serie A three times in a row in his first stint as manager.
Unfortunately for Mancini, it hasn’t worked so well over the last six months back at the San Siro as Inter Milan sit in mid-table having been knocked out of both the Coppa Italia and Europa League in what has been a poor season.
Jose Mourinho may have settled his differences with Roman Abramovich to return to Stamford Bridge almost two years ago, but there has been no sign of Mancini mending the bridges he burned at Manchester City and he is unlikely to be courted for a return.
9. Brendan Rodgers
One surprising name that has been linked with the Manchester City job, if it becomes available of course, is Brendan Rodgers of Liverpool.
Rodgers’ stock rose considerably last season when coming close to leading Liverpool to their first top flight title in 24 years, but he might feel it is not the time to move on with the job half done in his rebuild of the Reds.
His lack of real European experience could also work against Rodgers, while the Liverpool board have played hard ball with players that have looked to move to teams they consider rivals (read Suarez’ attempts to join Arsenal at the beginning of last season) and I don’t believe Manchester City would even get permission to talk to Rodgers.
8. Frank De Boer
Frank De Boer has previously turned down the opportunity to speak to Liverpool about their managerial role and he has been linked with the vacant job at Tottenham Hotspur last summer as well as the currently unfulfilled manager seat at Newcastle United.
Having played at the highest level with Ajax and Barcelona, De Boer rejoined the club he first entered in 1984 and took over Coaching at a Youth level. He progressed to take over as the manager of the club initially on an interim basis, but De Boer has been nothing but a success for Ajax with four consecutive League titles won, the first time in the history of Ajax that they have achieved that.
Ajax have yet to make a real impact in European competition though which could be a black mark against De Boer’s name and this job at the highest level has perhaps come a little too soon in his career.
Being a success at another club beside Ajax could see De Boer become one of the most sought after managers in Europe, but perhaps not quite yet.
7. Ronald Koeman
Another Dutch manager with a stellar playing career could potentially find himself on the shortlist for the top job at Manchester City, especially as Ronald Koeman has proved capable of adapting to the Premier League in his first season with Southampton.
Koeman hasn’t been shy to move on very quickly during his managerial career if he feels the opportunity is too good to miss and he has won three Dutch titles with Ajax (twice) and PSV, while also having some success at Valencia and Benfica.
However, Manchester City might be thinking of a manager with more experience in one of the ‘big four’ European Leagues and Koeman’s style of play might not be the most appealing to the owners.
If Koeman continues progressing as a manager in his time with Southampton, bigger job offers are likely to come, but this might be a season too early for that to happen from Manchester City.
6. Unai Emery
Take out an awful sixth month period in charge of Spartak Moscow and Unai Emery’s achievements with Valencia and Sevilla would have to make him a dark horse to be offered the Manchester City job.
Under huge financial constraints, Emery continued to get the best out of his Valencia team and led them to a number of top four finishes in Spain before deciding he couldn’t do much more for them.
Since returning from a brief time in Russia, Emery has guided Sevilla to Europa League success and has them positioned to retain that trophy, while also making a real bid to bring Champions League football to the club via their League form.
Sevilla play attractive football under Emery which would be important for Manchester City, but even more appealing to the board has to be his success in European competition, even if it is the Europa League, as Manchester City look to make an impact in the Champions League having been knocked out before the Quarter Finals in their last four seasons.
5. Pep Guardiola
I am sure that Pep Guardiola will be a name linked with the Manchester City job but is there a real chance that he would leave Bayern Munich? Usually the answer would be no, but Guardiola can’t be ruled out for a couple of reasons.
The first is the rumblings of discontent between Guardiola and some of the Bayern Munich legends that have a place in the club’s hierarchy. Some of those have felt Guardiola’s footballing philosophy doesn’t sit well with Bayern Munich and failure to win the Champions League might see his time cut short.
The second is Guardiola’s own words from January when discussing his time at Bayern Munich in a past tense in a fan question and answer session. Reports in Germany indicate that he hasn’t wanted to open talks about a contract extension to the one that runs out in 2016 and Guardiola has made it clear the Premier League is definitely a League in which he wants to manage.
There is no doubting the CV that Guardiola would be able to present and Manchester City have Txiki Begiristain in position as Director of Football, a man who had the same role with Barcelona during the productive years under Guardiola’s management. It’s probably unlikely, but I wouldn’t want to cross a line through his name at this point in time.
4. Jurgen Klopp
His reputation has taken a dent with the struggles Borussia Dortmund have had in the Bundesliga this season, but Jurgen Klopp might be ready to move on and still has a CV that has to be admired.
It is incredibly hard work when you know your best players can be bought by ‘Hollywood FC’ Bayern Munich and there really isn’t a lot you can do about it, but Klopp has led Borussia Dortmund to two League titles and a German Cup as well as the Champions League Final.
His style of football would mesh well with what Manchester City have begun to expect and Klopp would also be in a position to really build a team and have little to fear financially from any other club in the world.
Winning League titles with Dortmund in back to back years is a remarkable achievement and Klopp’s success in the Champions League would be the envy of the owners of Manchester City. After a tough season with Dortmund, Klopp may also feel it is the right time to move on and take one of the biggest jobs in European football.
3. Rafa Benitez
One name that has been linked with the Manchester City post fairly regularly is Rafa Benitez who has plenty of experience in the Premier League having managed both Liverpool and Chelsea.
Benitez has been doing a good job at Napoli too, but the Spaniard’s lack of League titles would be an issue for the Manchester City ownership. He came close with both Liverpool and Chelsea, but the fact that Benitez missed out and hasn’t guided a team to a League title since his days as manager of Valencia in 2004 might be a negative that is tough to overcome.
However, he has won two UEFA Cup/Europa League titles and a Champions League which might appeal to Manchester City who clearly feel that is the next step needed in their progression as a club.
With the experience of being a manager in the Premier League and those successes in Europe, which are potentially added to with Napoli this season, Benitez could be someone that Manchester City turn to in the summer.
2. Diego Simeone
Much like Jurgen Klopp, Diego Simeone has perhaps taken his current club as far as he possibly can and could be tempted to make a move in the summer. There is no doubting the success Simeone has had as manager of Atletico Madrid despite the fact that he has regularly had to sell the best players at his disposal.
The likes of Radamel Falcao, Diego Costa, Felipe Luis and Thibaut Courtois have all left since Diego Simeone has managed Atletico Madrid, while Sergio Aguero and David De Gea were both sold just six months before he took charge.
Diego Godin, Miranda, Koke and Arda Turan are all being linked with a move away and Simeone may decide the time is right to do the same.
Simeone has guided Atletico Madrid to success in the Europa League, European Super Cup and the Spanish top flight while also being seconds from winning the Champions League last May. If Manchester City really are looking for another manager, the Argentine has to be a leading contender if not the prime target to replace Manuel Pellegrini.
1. Carlo Ancelotti
The only reason Diego Simeone wouldn’t be the number one choice is if Carlo Ancelotti is available this summer with rumours that he will be sacked as manager of Real Madrid regardless of how their season finishes up.
If not for the last second equaliser from Sergio Ramos in the Champions League Final, the Italian could perhaps have been managing on the other side of Manchester already, and Ancelotti has the CV and experience that makes him the top choice.
Another factor may be the fact that Ancelotti has gotten the best out of an older squad which is what Manchester City possess at the moment and he might be able to revitalise a couple of the under-performing players from this season.
He has won the Champions League as manager of Milan and Real Madrid with League titles won in Italy and France and also has experience of the Premier League having won the title with Chelsea and there really isn’t a lot of reason why you would look elsewhere if you’re advising the Manchester City owners.
If the Manchester City job is available and Ancelotti is moved on from Real Madrid, it could be the perfect timing for the Italian to return to England.
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