Summer is a time of change, especially for football clubs. Past mistakes are forgotten and the transfer market brings much hope. New season, new players, and most importantly, new managers. Some teams need a stylistic change, some just need refreshment while some are forced into a change. Here are five top teams who will be in the market for new bosses in summer 2021 –
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Jose Mourinho, the ‘Special One,’ was sacked by Tottenham on Monday for not producing the required results. Currently, the man in control at White Hart Lane is 29-year-old ex-Spurs midfielder, Ryan Mason. The man who was forced to quit the game of football because of severe injury problems has returned to his former club but as a manager this time out. He had constantly been improving Spurs at the grass-root level before getting a call up to manage the first-team following Mourinho’s departure.
Mason has been handed the reigns until the end of this campaign which means Spurs will be looking for a new manager in the summer. For sure he could be the right choice for Tottenham but an ex-Super League team would require a more experienced boss than a 29-year-old novice. As a result, Tottenham Hotspurs are inclined to make a transition.
The interim manager might be well ‘prepared’ for the remaining six matches that he has to manage his side for it seems very difficult he can change the fortunes at White Hart Lane. The Lilywhites are 7th in the Premier League and are five points short of a Champions League spot and their talismanic striker, Harry Kane has been linked to different clubs after all these years at White Hart Lane. A summer of major upheaval could be on the cards and the new man coming in will not have it easy.
BARCELONA
Against all odds, Ronald Koeman has done a good job at Camp Nou. He’s taken a club that wasn’t supposed to do much and guided them from a rocky start to third spot in the table and kept them in the title race. The Catalans will be confirmed holders if they win their final eight matches of the campaign. This will be in line with their recent Copa del Rey victory, in which they thrashed Athletic 4-0 in the decider to lift the trophy.
After all these victories, Koeman could still be relieved of his duties. In the most crucial matches, the strategic frame and strategy have been less than ideal, and Koeman’s propensity to make bad changes to the team has indeed damaged the team. For example, they dropped points against arch-rivals Madrid twice due to self-committed mistakes and ineffective game management.
Koeman has accomplished, an excellent task but, like Ernesto Valverde in 2017/18, he has taken on more and more responsibility. Just like Valverede’s reign, there is an overwhelming feeling that the success is more due to Lionel Messi’s ingenuity than the manager’s tactics. Koeman has resurrected Barcelona and restored their status as a major team, but he perhaps lacks the edge to lead a top team like Barcelona.
JUVENTUS
Juventus had claimed nine consecutive Serie A trophies heading into the campaign. The lack of Champions League success however felt they were right in dismissing Maurizio Sarri. Promoting Andrea Pirlo, the slender poseur king with no managerial exeperience, and handing him an outdated hotchpotch of a team was maybe not the best way to improve upon their season.
30 July – Appointed Juventus Under 23s boss
8 August – Reportedly set to become Juventus first team boss
Andrea Pirlo must've impressed in his first week 😂 pic.twitter.com/ahIy1OEIQZ
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) August 8, 2020
Juventus have been quite behind the mark for the majority of the year never actually taking on the two Milan clubs. And after they took a step off the gas, Inter turned up to the Serie-A party leaving the Old Lady far behind in the title race. Napoli is breathing down Juve’s neck as they are just two points off the fourth place spot which Pirlo’s side occupies.
They also got knocked out of the Champions League by FC Porto which was unexpected. The loss led people to believe that their marquee player, Ronaldo is the problem and should be sold off by the club. However, Ronaldo’s goals have kept Juventus relevant and without him, Pirlo would already have been gone. Juve have the opportunity to correct their mistakes and build a side with a proper
BAYERN MUNICH
Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick had mentioned that he wants out with the Bavarian club on the verge of winning their 9th consecutive Bundesliga title. “I told the team that I informed the club during the week that I want out of my contract at the end of the season,” he said.
The Champions League-winning manager had reportedly informed the club that the time had come to bid farewell to Allianz Arena. After a trophy laden two years, including a treble last season, it will not be easy to replace Flick but Bayern will not be wont of options.
Any manager would love to train a squad possessing the quality that Bayern do. With Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller in the prime of their career, supported by a young trio of Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, the side is built for success. They sit comfortably atop the Bundesliga table and with just four matches to play. They could be crowned champions of Germany for the 31st time on Saturday itself if they secure three points against 15th placed Mainz.
Flick might be replacing a modern-day great in Joachim Low in charge of Germany post the Euros and his successor at Bayern will have an equally difficult time replacing him.
RB LEIPZIG
Another club that will be keeping a close eye on the list of potential managers in Europe is RB Leipzig. With their coach, Julian Nagelsmann linked to a move to Allianz Arena as well as to the Premier League with Tottenham, the German team will surely look to fill in his place. The 33-year-old who joined the club in 2019 is on top of Bayern’s list after Flick’s announcement. The time has perhaps come for Nagelsmann to take control of a bigger team in Germany and this could be the perfect move for the manager who joined in July 2019.
The astonishing fact is Leipzig is second on the table with 61 points and could replicate the heroics of the 2016/17 season. They are 10 points behind their German rivals who might bag their 9th successive title if they defeat Mainz on Saturday. But the team couldn’t reproduce the same form in Europe.
Julian Nagelsmann is understood to be interested in the Tottenham Hotspur managerial vacancy. [The Times] #THFC pic.twitter.com/zDqkEXPDWx
— Talking THFC (@TalkingTHFC) April 21, 2021
They lost to Liverpool with an aggregate score of 4-0 over the two legs. The ‘Die Roten Bullen’ are also alive in DFB-Pokal as they face Werder in the semi-finals. Winning the DFB-Pokal is the only way the Red-Bulls can take any kind of silverware home.
A change in managerial structure could give the new talents more time to showcase themselves on the big stage and the club might get an injection of energy which might help them succeed more in the Champions League.