As a burgeoning fan (my roomie is a footy fanatic) I too am shocked. I had thought that he was going to be a crazed Chelsea manager for decades. And right before the Man U game? Sense make this not does.
The new man has been announced already as Israeli Avram Grant, who was director of football at Stamford Bridge. It's expected that he's just keeping the seat warm for Guus Hiddink, as Guus won't be available until Russia either fail to qualify for or are knocked out of Euro 2008.
Avram was brought in by Abramovich as director of football (what?). Mourinho had cautioned him to stay out of his business, but I can see now, Avram musta been Abramovich's eyes in the locker room and was another pressure point on Mourinho. Mourinho was never going to win this one, but, hey, looks like he'll get 25 million pounds severance and maybe even coach Portugal. Not a bad way to leave a job, eh?
I wish my last boss was so generous.
I think I want to revisit my prior prediction that Chelsea will finish top of the table.
Steve Bruce for Chelsea! Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaassssssssssssse
eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!
Dave Bassett's already working up his CV.
Well this isn't that surprising, considering Chelsea has failed to win the Champions under Mourinho despite an investment in players totalling hundreds of millions of euros. Rumor has it that Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is being considered for the job.
Isn't he up for every EPL job? The fantastic Guardian podcast was suggesting The Special One take over at Tottenham, now that Ramos seems to have turned them down.
Amusingly, Abramovich's man doesn't have the appropriate UEFA coaching licenses, which means he may only be able to manage Chelsea for 12 weeks while they find someone else. I don't think the Russians will be out of Eur08 by then.
Are you sure that's not intentional? From the sounds of his CV, he's not much of a long-term candidate. It might be a signal to other prospective managers the job is open.
I don't think anyone bought that he was a long term option anyway. As soon as Grant was mentioned talk went to who he was going to keep the seat warm for, with speculation settling on Hiddink who is in charge of Russia. Chelsea can apply for an exception, but these are usually only handed out in extreme circumstances, so now Grant has gone from not being a long term option to probably not being a short term option either. Of course, Fabio Capello is currently managing his cheque book and his vegetable patch and not much else and he wouldn't be a bad, immediate choice.
Spurs bid for Jose Mourinho: "Mourinho's severance package with Chelsea includes a clause which prevents him from joining another Premier League club this season, meaning Martin Jol can sleep a little easier in the knowledge that another potential replacement for his Tottenham job is unavailable."
How difficult would it be for Grant to get the necessary license in 12 weeks,or be close enough to get an extension?
Grant has coached all of one game and has done more bitching and moaning than even Mourinho. Grant furious as Chelsea appeals Wow, talk about a crybaby. Learn to take a loss like a man and get over it. Get the man a pacifier. Paranoid would be an understatement.
