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Will Capello be Chelsea’s next manager?

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Since purchasing the club in 2003, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has had nine managers at the club in one way or another, has made six managerial appointments and has seen his short termism clash with his desire to build what most recent boss Andre Villas-Boas described as a “project.” The 34-year old Portuguese boss just happened to be compared to the finest appointment to date and whilst he may’ve reached the same supremacy, his reputation preceded him, expectations exceeded him and the players didn’t believe in him – allegedly.

Statistically, Villas-Boas was Roman Abramovich’s most costly mistake to date: firing the Portuguese top flight and Europa League winner just 8 months into his contract will cost the club up to £27.8m and when his return was a mere 50% win ratio, conceding more goals than Avram Grant’s Blues side, which played sixteen more games than AVB’s, that’s a high price to pay.

His departure has seen his first team coach Roberto Di Matteo take the reins on an interim basis until the season is out and with Champions League football eluding them at current, much of his success between now and Sunday 13th May, will form the largest determining factor of just what calibre of manager Chelsea can lure to Stamford Bridge for next season.

Former Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, whose length and record at the club is starkly similar to that of Villas-Boas’, has forewarned any potential candidate for the post by stating that, “it will be hell for whoever succeeds [Villas-Boas.]” But, whoever does indeed succeed the failed manager, will either require the strength to carry out the much-called for transition, or possess the people skills needed to keep such players with reducing game time on side for the greater good of the team.

Supposedly Villas-Boas was unable to do either and when Abramovich is pay-rolling such an expensively assembled side, his departure is no surprise. But, who are the likely candidates for the Chelsea post?

The Usual Suspect – Jose Mourinho

Many men arrive in London every week; however, not many men arrive in London every week amidst doubts of their long-term future at their current club and during their former club’s slump in which their manager’s tenure had been questioned in recent weeks, culminating in his sacking Sunday afternoon. Add to that, Jose Mourinho has made it clear that his business in English football is not over and you have the perfect recipe for a bad romance.

Whether a return would be wise is another question. At current, his status as “The Special One” is intact: in fact, it’s so intact that it overshadowed and ultimately led to the demise of Mark II. However, as fairy tale as a comeback would be, is Mourinho likely to return to a club where he’s remembered as the greatest, when he could join any other club and leave his reputation at Stamford Bridge preserved?

One pulling factor that Jose will always have from the club, though, is his shared want of Champions League success with Chelsea. Unfortunately, the threat of a lack of it may well be what rules the Special One out.

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Budding Football journalist who blogs at www.maycauseoffence.com/ daily as well as writing here for ThisisFutbol and on www.onehellofabeating.com/ the England fan's page. Outside of writing is more football. I work at Southampton F.C and I manage a men's football team on Saturdays.