Atlanta United currently find themselves at a crossroads. The franchise’s first two years of existence, characterised by investment in young South American talent and a free flowing, high pressing and devastating brand of football culminating in a 2018 MLS Cup win, set an impossibly high standard to follow in the near future.   As Gerardo…

Sampdoria were in a colossal crisis in the early stages of the 2019/20 Serie A season, but the Ligurian club slowly worked its way out of trouble and avoided relegation.   After losing six out of the opening seven league matches, the Blucerchiati replaced manager Eusebio Di Francesco with Claudio Ranieri, the man who had…

AC Milan have decided to confirm Stefano Pioli as manager for next season, a choice that, quite frankly, no one expected. Ralf Rangnick was supposed to become the new manager, as heavily reported in Italy during the last months.   However, the deal has fallen apart for unknown reasons, most likely the fact that there…

For much of the year, rumours have linked Ralf Rangnick to AC Milan as the Italian giants attempt to embark on yet another new era. The San Siro club have had plenty of false dawns, namely, the takeover by Chinese entrepreneur Li Yonghong and his subsequent extravagant spending in the summer of 2017.   In…

Denmark, a Nordic country that has seen years of talented footballers along the way. From the Laudrup brothers to Christian Eriksen, it has been a nation that has consistently produced magnificent players of the highest quality. However, when have we ever witnessed that same excitement about a Danish manager?    Perhaps our only recollection of…

When Marseille appointed André Villas-Boas as their head coach in the summer of 2019, there weren’t any high expectations surrounding him. In recent years, the French club have flattered to deceive, and this was believed to be another big-name appointment with inadequate results. Once touted as the most exciting young manager in Europe after winning…

Gernot Rohr’s announcement as Nigeria manager on August 9, 2016 was met with little fanfare as he was still an unknown quantity in West Africa at the time. It was understandable due to his relatively unsuccessful managerial stints at Niger and Burkina Faso prior to his appointment, but he has certainly made every Super Eagles…

José Mourinho dubbed himself ‘The Special One’ back in 2004, and no matter what, that nickname has stuck through the good and the bad. He won back-to-back Premier League titles at Chelsea, before winning the treble at Inter Milan, and then challenging arch rival Pep Guardiola’s conquering Barcelona for silverware in Spain. Everywhere he want,…

It’s often considered difficult to consider how a new manager will do at a club, particularly in the case of Mikel Arteta. A coach at Manchester City, the most successful English club of the decade and record breaking point holders, under the tutelage of one of the best managers ever, Pep Guardiola, but Mikel himself…

The day is January 30 1994. Sir Bobby Robson had just arrived at the Estadio das Antas (Porto’s 3rd & longest occupied stadium) to take charge of FC Porto. It was the year the life of a 16 year old Portuguese teenager – Luís Andre Villas-Boas – would change forever. Alongside him in the FC…