NEW BOSSES IN TOWN
It’s not just about big player transfers, some of the top clubs in Europe have also opted to make a change at the top of the order. HT highlights the biggest managerial signings of the summer:
THOMAS TUCHEL PSG
Replacing Liverpool’s current manager Juergen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund in 2015, Thomas Tuchel can be credited with ending the club’s barren run of five years when they won the German Cup in May 2017 after defeating Bayern Munich in the semi-final.
In his two years at Dortmund, many youngsters such as Ousmane Dembele (now with Barcelona) and Christian Pulisic flourished. Gabon and Arsenal striker Pierre-emerick Aubameyang also transformed into a world-class striker under Tuchel, notching up 40 goals in 46 games in all competitions in the 2016/17 season.
CARLO ANCELOTTI NAPOLI
Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti will take over from Maurizio Sarri, whose Napoli missed out on Serie A title by just four points. The experienced Italian will be tasked with ending Juventus’ domestic dominance.
Boasting three Champions League trophies from his time at Italian giant AC Milan and Real Madrid, Ancelotti could be the right man to inspire a small-pocketed Napoli side that has big ambitions.
JULEN LOPETEGUI REAL MADRID
Julen Lopetegui was discharged from his duties with the Spanish team for taking up the Real Madrid job just two days before the 2018 World Cup in June. In the 20 games that Lopetegui had served as head coach since his appointment in 2016, La Roja remained unbeaten.
His initial tasks
will include rebuilding a team without Cristiano Ronaldo and bringing back domestic laurels to the capital club — something that was lacking during Zinedine Zidane’s two-and-half-years in charge.
NIKO KOVAC BAYERN MUNICH
Replacing Bayern Munich’s
iconic and successful manager Jupp Heynckes was always going to be tough ask. But Niko Kovac, himself a Bayern player from 2001 to 2003, seemed a perfect fit in terms of familiarity with the club and its people.
Croat Kovac took over the reins of his national team for two years before signing with the relegation-threatened Eintracht Frankfurt in 2016. At Frankfurt he delivered a German Cup title in May 2018, trouncing his new club Bayern Munich in the final. He now has to take the work forward in Munich.
ARSENAL
As a manager Unai Emery
made his name in Spain, guiding Almeria to top flight in 2009 and ensuring Valencia a third-place finish in La Liga for three years running. He rose to world-wide fame by guiding Sevilla to three back-to-back Europa League titles.
Despite his failure to guide PSG to European glory, Emery’s character and spirit are the main reasons that Arsenal opted for him to continue after Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign.
MAURIZIO SARRI CHELSEA
Italian manager Maurizio
Sarri led Napoli to two second-place and one third-place finishes in three seasons in charge but could not get his hands on any silverware.
Under Sarri, though,
Napoli have been credited with playing entertaining and attacking football. The 59-year-old will be expected to bring in the same brand of football to Chelsea, where he replaces another Italian Antonio Conte.