Sven Goran Eriksson in line for Aston Villa Job
With O’Neill’s widely publicized exit from Aston Villa, a coveted position has come up for grabs. A lot of recognizable names have been so far linked with the management job at Villa but one thing is for sure - whoever takes up the task of handling the affairs at Aston Villa, will face a tough challenge.
Villa’s most valued player James Milner looks to be on his way to Manchester City as the cash cows of Northern England have successfully lured the youngster away from midland’s obscurity. Another special talent at Aston Villa in the shape of Ashley Young also seems to be on his way away from Aston Villa as Tottenham are all set to approach the Birmingham club for their young winger’s services.
O’Neill was tasked to take Aston Villa to a UEFA Champions League spot along with a top four spot in the English Premier League - a challenge that was never completely met by the former Celtic manager, who resigned his post after financial differences between him and the management at the club.
Villa’s new manager will also have to deal with a shortage of transfer money as Aston Villa’s owner Randy Lerner and the club’s Board of Directors look to bring a balance between the revenue that the club is generating and the wages that the players are earning. But the situation is still volatile. There are other players at the club who are all set to depart for better opportunities. These players include names such as Gabriel Agbonlahor who has been instrumental in Villas bid to at least earn a Europa League spot in the English Premier League.
Any new manager at Aston Villa will also have to do one better than O’Neill who led the club to a League Cup final in 2010 and also led the club to three consecutive top six spots in the last three Premier League seasons.
One of the favourites to take over at Aston Villa’s empty managerial throne is Svenson Goran Eriksson. He is a renowned tactician but has been blamed by several football pundits for being too defensive in his approach to the game. His past record as a manager is admirable as well. He was in-charge of the English national team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2006 FIFA World Cup and European Championships in 2004 as well. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he led England to the quarter-final stage where they bowed out after a two goals to one defeat against eventual champions Brazil.
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Erikson’s England went out on the quarter-final stage yet again after losing a penalty shootout to the Portuguese national team. In the European Championships of 2004, England lost out to Portugal once again on a penalty shootout after Portugal converted six out of their seven penalties in comparison to England’s five.
Sven has also managed the Serie A side Lazio; the Swedish football manager guided the Rome based football club to a Coppa Italia title, an Italian league title and a European Cup Winners Cup triumph. He has also had experience of managing an English club side as he managed Manchester City in the 2007/2008 season.
Other candidates for the Aston Villa job are Martin Jol and Bob Bradley. Jol has been a favourite in the English Premier League because he managed Tottenham Hotspurs from 2004 till 2007 but the former Hamburg manager is currently under contract with Ajax Amsterdam. As far as Bob Bradley is concerned, the American soccer coach has risen to fame after his command of the U.S men’s soccer team made which made it till the round of sixteen stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
It is widely believed that if Bradley takes over at Villa, he will be followed by his son Michael Bradley who currently plays as a defensive midfielder at Borussia Monchengladbach in the German football league. Bradley has caught the attention of several top European clubs such as Manchester United and A.C Milan after his impressive performances for the U.S. national soccer team in the recently concluded World Cup in South Africa.
Aston Villa will be aware of the risks that come with an inexperienced manager’s appointment. However they will also be looking to secure a tactically gifted man for one of the top club management jobs in the English Premier League. Villa’s owner Randy Lerner is under pressure by the club’s fans for an immediate replacement for Martin O’Neill. However Lerner might wisely take his time in deciding what might be the best for the club.
Tags: