PAUL TENORIO ON MAURICIO POCHETTINO ADDRESSING RUMOURS LINKING HIM TO TOTTENHAM

 

20! MANAGERS WITH THE MOST POINTS IN PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY

 

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MAN UNITED MANAGER RÚBEN AMORIM

Manchester United have agreed to a deal bringing Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim in to replace Erik ten Hag, but what type of manager are they getting?

In only his third senior job, Amorim, 39, guided Sporting to two Portuguese league titles after arriving from Braga in 2020. Prior to his appointment, the Lisbon giants had waited 19 years to end their title drought.

Usually favouring a defensive back three with attack-minded wing-backs, Amorim's sides are attractive to watch. Starting play from the back and interchanging positions -- with centre-backs even joining the buildup -- Sporting are incredibly flexible and one of the most aggressive sides in Portugal without the ball.

Amorim was considered by Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and West Ham for their vacant managerial roles last season before he committed his future to Sporting at the end of last season. But now he has opted to test himself in the Premier League. So what can Man United expect?

A studious thinker

As a player, Amorim was seen as a studious, methodical thinker, enjoying a respectable career that saw him amass more than 100 games for Lisbon side Belenenses before rejoining Benfica, where he'd come through the youth ranks.

A tactically astute and technically gifted central midfielder who was particularly good at keeping the ball and building play from deep, he also proved valuable as a utility player, occasionally deputising at right-back. Though unusual for a top-level Portuguese footballer of his generation, he had to wait until he was 30 years old to move abroad, spending a season in Qatar at the tail end of a playing career that saw him win 14 senior international caps. -- Karlsen

Rúben Amorim has had only a few years experience as a manager and is now in charge of Manchester United. (Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images)

A coaching rise reminiscent of Jose Mourinho

Amorim's rise as a head coach in Portugal is so spectacular it can only be rivalled by Jose Mourinho, who went on to great things in Serie A, the Premier League and LaLiga after winning the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto early in his managerial career in 2004.

In 2018, perhaps too eager to get his coaching career off the ground, Amorim was suspended months into his first job at third-tier Casa Pia as he was deemed to have taken an active role on the touchline without having the appropriate UEFA badges. Initially the club were threatened with a points deduction and Amorim was handed a 12-month ban from the dugout. Although the proposed punishment was eventually lifted, the young coach resigned, next taking a post with Braga's B-side nine months later once he had the appropriate qualifications.

The job may have been designed for Amorim to gradually learn his trade, but those plans went out the window after three months as he was unexpectedly promoted to head coach of the Braga first team in December 2019. In 13 games, he led them to two wins against Porto (including a League Cup title), a double against Sporting CP, and an away win at Benfica for the first time in 65 years. The three-month spell convinced Sporting's management that Amorim was a coaching prodigy and, controversially due to his playing career at rivals Benfica, the club moved swiftly to secure his services, paying his €10 million release clause in March 2020.

Sporting's decision to pay a Portuguese record transfer fee for a manager was soon justified. In his first full season (2020-21) Amorim led the club to its first league title in 19 years and repeated the feat last season. This season, he has overseen nine league wins from nine games with 30 goals scored and only two conceded. -- Karlsen

'Nothing fake about him'

Amorim is detailed-oriented, which is how he is able to get his message across on the training ground. But one source close to the manager told ESPN that his willingness to learn and awareness of his own strengths and weaknesses are particularly useful.

Another source close to the manager highlighted his general likability and easy manner with other people. "I think the thing that impresses me the most about Ruben is that he's genuine. There's nothing fake about him. And everyone can feel that -- players, other coaches, or the average person. He's not big-headed or boastful in any way -- just a nice person -- and people trust him because of that."

While niceness alone might not get you very far in football management, a quick glance at how Sporting operate as a unit indicates that he also possesses some authority to go with it. Similarly, his record in promoting young players (Gonçalo Inacio, Ousmane Diomande, Geny Catamo) or getting the best out of his squad players would never have materialised without a high level of empathy and understanding of human nature. -- Karlsen

How Amorim ended up on Man United's radar, and how they signed him

Manchester United had been ready to fire Ten Hag at the end of last season, following the team's eighth-place finish in the Premier League, but a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the FA Cup final kept Ten Hag in a job, albeit after a two-week review period in the wake of the cup final.

United spoke to several managers at the end of last season, including Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Roberto De Zerbi and Kieran McKenna. Gareth Southgate, then England manager, had strong internal support but was ruled out because of his determination to focus solely on his Euro 2024 commitments. Sources familiar with the situation have told ESPN that United "got pretty far down the road" with Tuchel before the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach backed out of the running, telling United he was not ready for a return to work after leaving Bayern in May and would instead wait until the autumn. Tuchel was named as England manager in October.

While Amorim was not on the short list at the end of last season, sources familiar with the situation said his credentials began to be assessed by United during the summer as part of contingency planning in the event Ten Hag, who had been given a one-year contract extension, failed to take the team forward. And after United lost 3-0 at home to Tottenham at the end of September, the Old Trafford hierarchy actively stepped up their research of Amorim -- along with other coaches, including Xavi and former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic -- as Ten Hag's position became increasingly tenuous.

Sources around the team have told ESPN, however, that while the Spurs game raised alarm within United, a decision to fire Ten Hag was not made at that point. Instead, the team decided to make plans to replace him if the loss of form continued.

Omar Berrada, the United CEO whom they recruited from Manchester City last season, was a strong advocate for Amorim, team sources said, and he quickly became the favoured option because of his track record in Portugal, his communication skills and the relatively inexpensive £8.3 million release clause at Sporting. Discreet discussions with Amorim and other candidates continued during the October international break, and a decision was made to move for the Sporting coach following Sunday's 2-1 defeat at West Ham, which proved to be Ten Hag's final game in charge. -- Ogden

A 3-4-3 with aggressive pressing

Amorim has stayed loyal to a possession-based 3-4-3 (3-4-2-1) formation while occasionally fielding two central strikers. This unwavering allegiance to a set formation has seen him labelled a dogmatic coach -- sources close to the manager told ESPN's Mark Ogden that his insistence on a back three was one factor that may have cost him the Liverpool job in the summer -- but his tactical concept is a well-drilled, collective approach born out of hours of meticulous work on the training ground. There may be some room for individualism, but first and foremost he expects tactical discipline and loyalty from his players.

Defence: Inviting the opposition to press high to open space in his midfield, Amorim wants his three centre-backs and goalkeeper to be comfortable on the ball in order to start attacks.

Midfield: He tends to prefer a balanced pair who are positionally cautious rather than impatient box-to-box types -- though half of the duo is given the liberty of making deeps runs into the box.

Attack: Amorim has been known to field out-and-out wingers as wing-backs, with the emergence of 17-year-old Geovany Quenda this season a case in point. Up front, he favours something akin to a "double No. 10" to tuck in behind the central striker in order to invite combinations with his attacking wing-backs. The key, however, is to create movement and space around this striker, who tends to operate very centrally.

Ranking the top 50 best men's club managers in Europe

No. 16. RUBEN AMORIM, 39

Coaching acumen: 13/20
Style: 15/20
People management: 14/20
Communication: 14/20
History/achievements: 3/10
X factor: 7/10

Total: 66/100

In quotes

Man United captain Bruno Fernandes: "Since Coach Amorim arrived to Sporting they became one of the teams that play better and most consistent football. I think the signings have been right, and they are in a very good moment. They've won last year and this season have started leading in the standings. It's a very well-prepared team," he said at a news conference with Portugal earlier this month.

"Regarding Mr. Amorim, I spoke about him several times and I said that at this moment he is well-prepared because it is not easy to win titles at Sporting. Sporting was 20 years without winning trophies. Mr. Amorim came and won two and that proves his work has been good. Now, if he will be able to do the same in England or Spain or anywhere else? We'll never know until he gets there but I'm sure that Mr. Amorim qualities are there in everyone's eyes."

How might Manchester United line up if everyone is healthy?

Is Amorim a good fit for Manchester United?

While it's been proved time and again that bringing in a new manager offers no guarantees, there are plenty of signs that point to this being a highly intriguing appointment for a club in dramatic decline.

The most obvious topic is whether Amorim's 3-4-3 formation is the immediate remedy to produce short-term results for Man United. While he might find himself short of ball-playing centre-backs (though having 18-year-old Leny Yoro back to fitness, estimated to return around Nov. 24, should help), the picture is not too grim with Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf, Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.

The United stars who might suffer most are classic wingers Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo. But Amorim has used players like this before to great effect and with an improved work-rate and willingness to track back, a wing-back role might work for them, or they could be moved inside. Meanwhile, the likes of Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui could thrive in a more advanced wing-back position.

Whether Amorim can get 15-20 goals from Manchester United's centre-forwards (Joshua Zirkzee, Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Højlund) is another question, but he needs to implement more structured attacking patterns than what has come before and teach them how to collectively break down low blocks. Though his floating double No. 10 roles could suit the likes of Fernandes, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen, with Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo as the midfield pivot behind them.

Plus, could a Portuguese speaker with such a positive mindset help get the best out of the struggling Casemiro and Antony? The former could work well in the double pivot; the latter may be more productive as a "False No. 10" -- but that may be a stretch.

Perhaps the most immediate challenge is to bring positivity and new energy to a club that have been a permanent building site for a decade.

Though the United fans have proved extremely patient, Amorim will know that talk of transition periods, solid work at academy level, culture building and "trusting the process" won't suffice. The new manager has some outstanding skills and that should offer them some hope for the future. -- Karlsen

Why didn't Amorim end up at Barca/Liverpool?

Liverpool's interest in Amorim during their search for a successor to Jurgen Klopp last season intensified following Xabi Alonso's announcement that he'd be staying with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen this season. With Alonso out of the running, Liverpool shifted their focus to Amorim and Arne Slot, who was then in charge of Feyenoord.

Amorim's 3-4-3 philosophy was not regarded as a deal-breaker by the Liverpool hierarchy, who were impressed by the 39-year-old during discussions, but sources close to negotiations told ESPN that a close race between Amorim and Slot was settled in the Dutchman's favour when Liverpool became aware of Amorim assessing options at other clubs. Club sources have said that Amorim's public flirtation with West Ham, when he flew to London to speak to the club, was regarded by Liverpool as a play to put them under pressure to accelerate a deal and agree to a pay structure beyond what they had budgeted for. As a consequence, Liverpool moved instead to hire Slot.

Barcelona also had Amorim high on their list of Xavi replacements at the end of the 2023-24 season, but a combination of his release clause at Sporting and the potential cost of reshaping the club's squad to suit Amorim's tactical approach led Barca to hire former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick instead.

And although Amorim held face-to-face discussions with West Ham, who were planning to part company with David Moyes, the coach quickly made it clear that he would not be moving to the London Stadium and instead said he would stay at Sporting for at least one more season. -- Ogden

Was Amorim ever on Man City's radar as a Guardiola replacement?

Manchester City have insisted this week that Amorim was not lined up to replace Pep Guardiola, citing the coach's tactical approach as one significant reason for their lack of interest. Also, perhaps more importantly, Guardiola is still in charge and the club hope to extend his stay beyond the expiration of his contract next summer.

Ultimately, the Amorim connection with City was rooted in the Premier League champions' hiring of Hugo Viana as replacement for Txiki Begiristain, who will step down from his post at director of football at the Etihad at the end of this season. Viana, who spent four years in England as a forward with Newcastle United between 2002-06, has been director of football at Sporting since 2018 and he hired Amorim from Braga in 2020. The 41-year-old has also been credited with developing Sporting's highly regarded scouting network which has seen them sign and develop players such as Gyokeres, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes and Ugarte, who signed for United this summer, a year after leaving Sporting for Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite his close connection with Viana, Amorim will not be heading to City. Instead, he has chosen to take his next step in the red half of Manchester with United. -- Ogden

- - Tor-Kristian Karlsen and Mark Ogden

SIR ALEX FERGUSON, ARSNE WENGER & THE 25 BEST PREMIER LEAGUE MAMAGERS OF 21ST CENTURY SO FAR - RANKED

As we approach the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, GOAL runs through the best coaches to have graced the division in the last 25 years.

To date, the 21st century has been transformative for the Premier League; the most popular division in the world, England's top flight has grown exponentially to become a commercial behemoth - powered by incredibly lucrative TV rights deals, unprecedented investment and big-money transfers that have ensured it is home to some of the best payers in the world.

And the best players need the best managers. Some of the all-time greats have graced the Premier League since the turn of the millennium, from Jose Mourinho, to Carlo Ancelotti, to Pep Guardiola.

So as we approach the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, GOAL looks back on the greatest tactical minds to have managed in the Premier League since the year 2000. Here they are, ranked...

25. Sean Dyche

There is a sense that Sean Dyche will be the modern-day manager clubs turn to when they are in crisis, given he is seen as an expert at getting results with limited resources at his disposal.

After getting Burnley promoted, Dyche remarkably kept the Clarets in the Premier League for six long seasons as they rarely flirted with relegation and even secured European qualification with a seventh-placed finish in 2017-18. Now fighting fires at Everton, he avoided the drop in consecutive seasons despite a precarious financial situation and two points deductions.

24. Steve Bruce

Among the 10 managers to have taken charge of the most Premier League games, Steve Bruce has had a storied managerial career at the highest level of English football and takes his place on this list through sheer longevity and commitment.

Former Manchester United defender Bruce has overseen a whopping 476 matches across spells with Newcastle (84 games), Hull City (76), Sunderland (89), Wigan Athletic (62) and Birmingham City (165). He has had varying degrees of success, but you can't understate his love for the trade.

23. Martin O'Neill

After reviving Leicester City and guiding them to an eighth-placed finish in 2000, Martin O'Neill returned to English football in 2006 after a successful spell with Celtic as he took charge of Aston Villa.

The charismatic Northern Irishman turned the Villans into consistent top-six challengers, helping the club to qualify for the UEFA Cup and just falling short of reaching the Champions League. Getting the best out of players like Gareth Barry and Gabriel Agbonlahor, O'Neill's 1.55 points-per-game record in the Premier League with Villa is second only to current boss Unai Emery.

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22. Eddie Howe

Long regarded as one of the best up-and-coming English managers, Eddie Howe made his name at Bournemouth - whom he kept in the Premier League for five years on a shoestring budget after securing a first-ever top-flight promotion in 2015, including a remarkable ninth-placed finish in 2017.

Howe has, of course, since joined Newcastle, whose fortunes he has completely changed alongside their new, incredibly wealthy Saudi owners. In the space of less than two seasons, the 46-year-old took the Magpies from battling relegation to the promised land of the Champions League, and there is the sense that they are here to stay as top-six challengers.

21. Sam Allardyce

Although his style of play has never been popular, Sam Allardyce has become renowned as an expert Premier League firefighter, swerving relegation after being brought in at struggling Blackburn, Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

It wasn't always that way, however; 'Big Sam' enjoyed his first foray into the top flight with Bolton Wanderers and guided them into Europe courtesy of a club-record, sixth-place finish in 2004-05, snaring a UEFA Cup place with a team full of 'streets won't forget' names like Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo and Stelios Giannakopoulos. His highest recent finish came at Everton in 2018, with whom he claimed eighth place.

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20. Unai Emery

Emery had unfinished work in the Premier League after his ill-fated spell with Arsenal, but boy has he set about completing it. Succeeding Arsene Wenger was never going to be an easy task, but the Spaniard will feel he deserved more time after being sacked a little over a year into his tenure in November 2019.

Returning to English shores with Aston Villa in 2022, Emery has demonstrated what he is all about - propelling the Villans from relegation-threatened to European qualification in the season he took over and securing a historic top-four place in 2023-24 as Villa returned to the Champions League for the first time in 42 years. Impressive transfers and a distinctive, high-octane style of play mean the club is only looking upwards.

 

20. Unai Emery

Emery had unfinished work in the Premier League after his ill-fated spell with Arsenal, but boy has he set about completing it. Succeeding Arsene Wenger was never going to be an easy task, but the Spaniard will feel he deserved more time after being sacked a little over a year into his tenure in November 2019.

Returning to English shores with Aston Villa in 2022, Emery has demonstrated what he is all about - propelling the Villans from relegation-threatened to European qualification in the season he took over and securing a historic top-four place in 2023-24 as Villa returned to the Champions League for the first time in 42 years. Impressive transfers and a distinctive, high-octane style of play mean the club is only looking upwards.

 

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19. Sir Bobby Robson

The late, great, Sir Bobby Robson only managed in the Premier League for four years of the 21st century at Newcastle, but that was all he required to earn the freedom of the city. He thrust the club from the lower reaches of the Premier League to consistent top-five finishes, securing Champions League football two years in a row and taking them as high as third in 2002-03.

One of the greatest football managers of all time, Sir Bobby will always be remembered particularly fondly on Tyneside for those heady years in the early 2000s, reflected in the fact he was granted the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne in March 2005. He has been immortalised with a statue outside St James' Park.

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18. Brendan Rodgers

Probably a consequence of what followed, it feels like an absolute age since Brendan Rodgers was the man in the Liverpool dugout - but he arguably laid the groundwork for their future success. After cutting his teeth at Chelsea and catching the eye with his attacking brand of play at Swansea, he came agonisingly close to ending Liverpool's wait for a Premier League title in 2013-14 with a team comprising a prime Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard.

Although they fell (or slipped) two points short, this was one of the most entertaining sides in Premier League history. Rodgers would go on to enjoy success with Leicester, winning the FA Cup and twice qualifying for the Europa League via fifth-placed finishes in 2020 and 2021.

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17. Harry Redknapp

Among the top-five managers to have taken charge of the most Premier League games with a total of 641, Harry Redknapp has certainly been around the block. Since the turn of the century, though, his greatest achievements have come at Portsmouth and Tottenham.

After initially steering the former away from the threat of relegation in 2005 and establishing them in the top flight, Redknapp was appointed at Spurs in 2008 after winning the FA Cup with Pompey. He then guided a middling side into the Champions League in less than two seasons at the helm with a scintillating style of play, overseeing a thrilling run to the quarter-finals as Gareth Bale starred.

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16. Roy Hodgson

The oldest manager to ever work in the Premier League, Roy Hodgson was actually something of a late bloomer in the English top-flight, enjoying a nomadic career before taking charge at Fulham in 2007 aged 60. Hodgson miraculously kept the Cottagers up after a tough start before incredibly securing Europa League football in his second season as he earned the club's highest-ever finish.

After reaching the final of the European competition, Hodgson would have an ill-fated spell at Liverpool, before turning relegation-threatened West Brom's fortunes around and being appointed by England (we all know how that went...). Hodgson is a hero at boyhood club Crystal Palace, too - keeping the club in the Premier League twice across two spells in south London and equalling the Eagles' record points total in 2018-19.

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15. Gerard Houllier

The late Gerard Houllier had a huge impact on Liverpool, instilling discipline and helping to revitalise and modernise the club in the early 2000s as he delivered tangible, incremental improvement in the league standings. He would make academy graduates Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen important members of his first-team setup and signed others who would become keys parts of the club's longer-term success.

Despite battling a heart condition, Houllier guided Liverpool to what was their highest-ever Premier League finish at the time in 2001-02, as the Reds came second behind Arsenal, while he had plenty of success in the cup competitions.

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14. David Moyes

David Moyes' Premier League career has been a rollercoaster, but he didn't let his ill-fated spell at Manchester United define him. He turned Everton into a consistent top-eight side over the course of his 11 years at Goodison Park despite a restrictive budget, even securing a fourth-placed finish in 2004-05 as he made shrewd signings like Tim Cahill and Steven Pienaar and set a long-term vision.

Although his tenures at United and Sunderland were unsuccessful, Moyes has rebuilt his reputation across two spells with West Ham - first keeping them in the Premier League in 2017-18 before returning to repeat the trick in 2019-20 and securing the Hammers' record points tally the following season. They would become European contenders and Conference League winners, and at the time of writing, the Scot is third in the list of those to have managed the most Premier League games with 697.

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13. Mikel Arteta

A man with the potential to climb this list as time goes by, Mikel Arteta has turned Arsenal into genuine, consistent title contenders for the first time in a very long time - now it is just a matter of landing that elusive first title.

The Gunners have had to be patient, but over the last five years Arteta has overseen incremental improvement - climbing from eighth place to second - and built a young squad capable of challenging, playing a distinctive, high-intensity brand of football, and now they look like the side most likely to loosen Man City's vice-like grip on the trophy.

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12. Mauricio Pochettino

One of the Premier League's nearly men, newly-appointed United States boss Mauricio Pochettino will always be a firm favourite at Tottenham, whose fortunes changed significantly after his arrival - although they would fall short of winning a trophy. He was named Spurs manager having guided Southampton to eighth place and their highest-ever points tally in 2013-14, in what was just his second job in management.

11. Rafael Benitez

Rafael Benitez was the man Liverpool chose to build on the groundwork laid by Houllier, and he delivered - especially in Europe, where the Reds famously won the Champions League in 2005.

Liverpool would become a thorn in the side of the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal under the Spaniard without landing a league title themselves, consistently finishing in the top four before mounting a title challenge in 2008-09 with Gerrard and Fernando Torres at their peaks. They would ultimately finish four points behind United.

Benitez would go on to have mixed spells elsewhere at Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton, entering the top 10 for games managed in the Premier League.

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10. Claudio Ranieri

The Premier League's ultimate comeback king. Claudio Ranieri was unceremoniously sacked by new Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in 2004 despite leading the Blues to a second-placed finish, signing Frank Lampard and nurturing John Terry.

The Italian would not return to England until 2015 as he was appointed at Leicester, with his reputation at its nadir following a terrible spell as Greece's national team boss. Charged predominantly with keeping the Foxes in the top flight, he would pull off what was nothing short of a miracle as Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Co. fired the club to a simply incredible league title, ultimately finishing the campaign 10 points clear of Arsenal. Dilly ding, dilly dong.

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9. Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini remains the only non-European winner of the Premier League as his well-oiled Man City machine saw off the stiff competition of Rodgers' Liverpool in 2013-14, thanks in no small part to that slip from Gerrard.

Known for their mesmerising, geometric patterns of play, City were certainly easy on the eye under Pellegrini's stewardship, scoring more than 100 league goals in record time on the way to claiming that title. Having been replaced by Pep Guardiola in 2016, the Chilean returned to English shores with West Ham two years later, but he was unable to deliver similar success and was sacked with the club in the relegation zone.

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8. Antonio Conte

A manager who wins things (almost) wherever he goes, Antonio Conte will always be a popular figure in one part of London, at least. After a dire start to the 2016-17 campaign as Chelsea's new manager, the Italian switched up his tactics by reverting to a back three - a setup that would be widely copied in subsequent years - and would reap the rewards.

Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses shone as wing-backs, while they had the guile of Eden Hazard, the vision of Cesc Fabregas and the goals of Diego Costa in central areas. It proved to be the perfect formula as the Blues recovered from their early-season blip to win the league at something of a canter, eventually finishing seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham and setting a new Premier League record for the most wins in a single season with 30.

Having been dismissed by Chelsea after a disappointing second season, Conte would, of course, return to the English top flight when he took charge of Spurs in 2021, and although he guided them back into the Champions League, things would soon turn sour.

7. Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini will always be remembered as the manager who oversaw arguably the greatest moment in Manchester City history, as Sergio Aguero's last-gasp winner against QPR secured the title in the final seconds of the 2011-12 campaign. Up until that point, his City tenure had been a slow burn, with the newly-moneyed Citizens finishing fifth and then third in his first two seasons at the helm.

That all changed in 2012, as he set City on course for this period of unprecedented success by claiming their first-ever Premier League title in the most dramatic fashion. It was a moment that secured Mancini's legacy forever.

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6. Carlo Ancelotti

You can't help but wonder what might have been had Chelsea held on to Carlo Ancelotti... The legendary Italian tactician led a rampant Blues side to the title in 2009-10 in his debut campaign, as the west Londoners became the first Premier League team to score more than 100 goals in a season (103) with Didier Drogba and Lampard at the peak of their powers.

After finishing second in an inconsistent second season, Ancelotti fell foul of Abramovich's ruthless streak and was dismissed. When his time at Chelsea ended, he had a record of 67 wins, 20 draws and 22 losses in 109 matches, with a win percentage among the highest in Premier League history.

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5. Jurgen Klopp

The man who has restored Liverpool to the very top of the English and European game, Jurgen Klopp was the perfect fit when the club turned to him in 2015. It was a gradual process, but Klopp's Reds eventually emerged as the main challengers to Man City's dominance as a modern rivalry was born between the two clubs and their managers in the late 2010s.

With his high-tempo, Gegenpressing tactics, Klopp would eventually end Liverpool's agonising 30-year wait for a top-flight title in the Covid-affected 2019-20 season, with captain Jordan Henderson hoisting the trophy aloft at a near-empty Anfield.

That would prove to be Klopp's only league title before he shockingly stepped down in 2024, but his deep understanding of the club and connection with the fans, as well as his multiple triumphs in the cup competitions, mean he will go down as one of Liverpool's greatest-ever managers.

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4. Jose Mourinho

'The Special One'. Jose Mourinho disrupted the established order and propelled Chelsea to become regular challengers in the Premier League. With the swaggering, sneering manager in the dugout, the Blues were utterly dominant in his first two seasons as they claimed back-to-back league titles - including their first for 50 years - and sent out a message that their Abramovich-backed success would not be a flash in the pan.

Things would, of course, go awry, but Mourinho returned six years after his initial exit in 2007 and guided a brilliant Chelsea side to another league title in 2014-15, with Fabregas and Hazard among those to play a starring role.

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3. Arsene Wenger

Arsenal may have struggled in the latter part of his tenure, but Arsene Wenger remains one of the greatest managers to ever grace the Premier League. A man who arguably singlehandedly revolutionised the approach to football in England with his stylish, attractive brand of play and focus on a healthy lifestyle, the Gunners teams of the early 2000s absolutely oozed class.

The Frenchman's greatest achievement was undoubtedly the unbeaten season of 2003-04, as Arsenal's 'Invincibles' won the league title without losing a single game - a feat that may never be repeated. Wenger had claimed a first title in 2002, ending a period of Manchester United dominance.

He will always be revered in the red half of north London, with his technical philosophy now part of the fabric of the club and the benchmark for Arsenal teams ever since his arrival. Wenger has managed more Premier League games than anyone else with a ridiculous 828 - another achievement that is unlikely to ever be matched.

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2. Pep Guardiola

A modern-day football revolutionary, Pep Guardiola has overseen an era of utter dominance for Manchester City as the club has consolidated its place at English football's top table since the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008.

With the caveat that they have been bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour's near-limitless wealth - signing the likes of Aguero, David Silva and Erling Haaland down the years - and the fact that 115 charges of financial misconduct hang over them, Guardiola has built the Premier League's latest dynasty at the Etihad Stadium to follow in the footsteps of legacy managers Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson.

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1. Sir Alex Ferguson

Arguably the greatest manager football has ever witnessed, Sir Alex Ferguson remains the best in the modern history of the Premier League. The legendary former Manchester United boss won eight of his 13 league titles after the turn of the century, successfully adapting to respond to the respective rises of Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City to ensure United continued to challenge.

Fiercely competitive, Ferguson was box office, too. His rivalry with Wenger was particularly bitter as two footballing philosophies clashed, producing some of the most iconic matches of all time on the pitch. The Scot's teams were often greater than the sum of all their parts, especially in the latter years of his reign.

- Krishan Davis

MAURICIO POCHETTIINO NAMED NEW USNMT HEAD COACH

Mauricio Pochettino is the new manager of the United States men's national team, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday.

Pochettino, 52, signed a two-year contract that will take him through the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico. He succeeds Gregg Berhalter, who was fired after the USMNT's poor showing at this summer's Copa América.

Pochettino will be introduced Friday in New York.

"Mauricio is a serial winner with a deep passion for player development and a proven ability to build cohesive and competitive teams," USSF sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement. "His track record speaks for itself, and I am confident that he is the right choice to harness the immense potential within our talented squad. We are thrilled to have Mauricio on board as we embark on this exciting journey to achieve success on the global stage."

ESPN reported last month the former Argentina international had agreed to take the job after lengthy discussions with Crocker. Crocker, who previously worked with Pochettino at Premier League team Southampton, had been charged with recruiting a world-class coach to ensure the USMNT goes into the 2026 World Cup as a competitive nation, capable of reaching the latter stages of the competition.

Pochettino certainly brings with him a coaching pedigree that is unmatched in the history of the USMNT. The Argentine has coached at some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. In that time, he has coached some of the top players in the game, including Lionel Messi, Neymar and Harry Kane. In addition to Southampton, he has managed Spanish side Espanyol, where he also spent considerable time as a player.

"The decision to join U.S. Soccer wasn't just about football for me; it's about the journey that this team and this country are on," Pochettino said in a statement. "The energy, the passion, and the hunger to achieve something truly historic here -- those are the things that inspired me. The opportunity to lead the U.S. Men's National Team, in front of fans who are just as passionate as the players, is something I couldn't pass up.

"I see a group of players full of talent and potential, and together, we're going to build something special that the whole nation can be proud of."

Sources told ESPN that Pochettino would be paid a salary of $6 million per year. Though it's a pay cut from his previous job with Chelsea, it will make him the highest-paid coach in USMNT history.

Berhalter earned $2,291,136 in 2022, including $900,000 in bonuses when the Americans qualified for the World Cup and reached the second round, according to the USSF's 2022 tax filing.

In its announcement, the USSF noted Pochettino's appointment was supported in significant part by a philanthropic leadership gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and chief executive of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst. Additional support has been provided by Scott Goodwin, co-founder and managing partner of Diameter, and several commercial partners.

A message from Mauricio 🇺🇸

🗣️ ENG ➡️ 🗣️ ESP

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) September 10, 2024

The announcement completes a courtship that had dragged on in recent weeks. At issue was the amount of compensation Chelsea would continue to pay Pochettino and his staff. The fact the discussions with Chelsea took place around the close of the summer transfer window in Europe caused further delay.

Efforts to recruit Jürgen Klopp following his summer exit from Liverpool failed to get off the ground, and at one stage Hoffenheim manager Pellegrino Matarazzo was thought to be the leading candidate. But the federation eventually put its focus on Pochettino, and his willingness to take on the role is a major coup.

Pochettino is expected to bring on board longtime assistant coaches Jesús Pérez, Miguel d'Agostino and goalkeeper coach Toni Jiménez. He will take charge of the USMNT for this first time on Oct. 12 in a friendly against Panama in Austin, Texas, followed by a meeting with Mexico in Guadalajara three days later.

"Hiring Mauricio is a step forward in our mission to compete at the highest level and make a lasting mark on the global soccer landscape," said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. "His deep knowledge of the game, his commitment to developing talent, and his relentless drive for excellence are exactly what we need as we prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

"Mauricio understands the unique potential of this team and this country, and he shares our belief that U.S. Soccer is on the cusp of something truly special."

Pochettino takes over a team that is clearly at a low ebb. The USMNT was thought to be on an upward trajectory after its respectable round-of-16 showing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The U.S. has since claimed two subsequent Concacaf Nations League crowns.

But the 2024 Copa América was always viewed as a tougher test, and the U.S. underachieved, failing to get out of a group comprising Bolivia, Panama and Uruguay. The U.S. also suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Colombia in a pre-tournament friendly.

The USMNT's form hasn't improved since, with the U.S. suffering a 2-1 defeat to Canada Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas, with the team being led in an interim capacity by former assistant coach Mikey Varas. In that match, the U.S. was clearly second best in all phases, and was outshot in the first half 11-1. The U.S. drew 1-1 with New Zealand in Cincinnati in its second friendly of the international break later on Tuesday.

Pochettino will have a talented group of players with which to work, a team that includes AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, the Juventus duo of Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, as well as Monaco forward Folarin Balogun. Pochettino won't have much time to work with the players given that there are just eight windows left before the 2026 World Cup, including the 2025 Gold Cup next summer.

A native of Murphy, Argentina, Pochettino made 20 international appearances with two goals, and was part of the Argentina side that competed at the 2002 World Cup. At club level, he began his professional career with Argentine side Newell's Old Boys, before moving to Espanyol, Paris-Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, making over 500 appearances.

- - eff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent

IBIZA SHOCKS | MAN UNITED CHIEFS FUME AT ERIK TEN HAG FOR REVEALING DETAILS OF THEIR IBIZA SUMMIT IN BOMBSHELL INTERVIEW WITH DUTCH TV

Sir Jim Ratcliffe did not want the meeting made public Credit: ALAMY

 

ERIK TEN HAG is in hot water with Manchester United’s hierarchy after revealing details of their  Ibiza summit.

The Red Devils boss was on holiday there when officials from the club turned up on his doorstep to ask him to continue as the club’s manager.

 "They also informed him they had spoken to other candidates, including former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, but that they wanted to keep the Dutchman on.

Ten Hag was understandably angry with how he had been treated and the way in which this message was delivered when he was supposed to be on a relaxing break.

But new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are unhappy that what they thought was a private meeting was made public by the manager on Dutch television this week.

The club DO want Ten Hag, 54, to sign a new three-year deal but that is understandably some way from being agreed as yet.

Ratcliffe owns 27.7 per cent of United and has been tasked with looking after all football operations at the club.

He has Sir David Brailsford as his right-hand man and employed Jason Wilcox as technical director.

Meanwhile, incoming football director Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada are still seeing out gardening leave from their former clubs — Newcastle and Manchester City respectively.

It has not been a great start for the new regime as majority owners, the Glazer family, take a back seat.

What did Erik ten Hag say?

Here is a full transcript of Erik ten Hag's interview that upset Manchester United officials 

Interviewer: "Have you been able to recover a bit over the past few weeks? Obviously, it's been turbulent.

ETH: "It's been a tumultuous season, a very turbulent year of course.

Interviewer: "But it is never dull right?

ETH: "No, never a dull moment at Manchester United."

Interviewer: "But have you been able to have a little vacation?

ETH: "Yes, but this week, they really threw a spanner in the works because then, out of nowhere, they suddenly showed up right on our doorstep.

Interviewer: "At your place?"

ETH: "Mine, yes. They wanted to continue with me."

Interviewer: "How did that go? How did you experience those weeks, then? Because your position was unclear, they were considering whether to continue with you.

ETH: "Yes, I think as in any organisation I think that is very wise that you evaluate and draw conclusions from there that's what Manchester United did.

"The leadership, the new leadership, who are in football for the first time have taken extensive time to evaluate things.

Interviewer: "The men of Ineos, actually, tell me everything because, for example, the story goes that Thomas Tuchel was also approached during that period. Do they tell all that, or is it also just go ahead now, and we don't look back?"

ETH: "No they did indeed tell me that. But anywhere I don't think that is a secret either because everyone got to know that they talked to several candidates."

Interviewer: "How did that come across to you?

ETH: "Well, look in the Netherlands that is still thin we have CDV here and that's not allowed at all.

"You are not even allowed to talk to another club the moment the trainer is an incumbent.

"Well, the rules are a little different, and they did that, but in the end, they came to the conclusion that they had the best trainer."

Interviewer: "And in between they were at the door or they called? 

ETH: "Yes, they came to Ibiza.

Interviewer: "You yourself still had the idea of, well, I don't know if I want to go on then myself?

ETH: "We had a good talk and various topics were discussed and the conclusion was that we will continue with each other but also the conclusion is that we are going to sit down to renew the contract."

Interviewer: "Okay, so the air is cleared, and you go because you have another year's contract, and you're going to renew now?

ETH: "Well of course, we absolutely have to come to some sort of agreement."

Interviewer: "Well, congratulations, already almost then, right? Or you say, well, that's not done one, two, three just yet?"

ETH: "No that's not one, two, three done yet, we still have to talk about that".

Ratcliffe and Co have angered staff behind the scenes with criticisms in emails, while also offering redundancy packages. They wanted to give Ten Hag one of those, too, after the club finished a record low of eighth in the Premier League last season.

But United’s surprise FA Cup final win over champions City saw a wave of support from fans swing behind Ten Hag.

This rattled Ratcliffe and his team and they bought themselves time by claiming a season’s review was needed before making a final decision.

Then, after no new suitable candidate wanted the job or could be found, they decided to keep Ten Hag.

It all adds up to a mess with the clock ticking down to United’s first pre-season game against Norwegian outfit Rosenborg in Trondheim on July 15.

And the spotlight will be on them at full beam as they get the new Prem season under way at home to Fulham on opening night, August 16.

 

Ten Hag was met by officials during his holiday in Ibiza Credit: BACKGRID

 

Nine managers Man United Considered before keeping Erik ten Hag 

ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.

Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.

Gareth Southgate

Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn't talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.

Kieran McKenna

Talks were opened with McKenna's representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag's Wembley win.

Roberto De Zerbi

Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.

Thomas Frank

Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.

Marco Silva

Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.

Mauricio Pochettino

Fell out of Man Utd's thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Thomas Tuchel

Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.

Ruben Amorim

Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.

Roberto Martinez

Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.

 - Neil Curtis, Football Writer 

MAURICIO POCHETTINO OUT AFTER 1 SEASON INCHARGE

Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea despite winning his last five league games. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

 Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after just one season in charge, the club confirmed in a statement Tuesday.

Sources told ESPN that Pochettino, 52, departed following talks in the past 48 hours with co-owner Behdad Eghbali and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

Pochettino, who also publicly confirmed he had dinner with co-owner Todd Boehly on Friday, guided Chelsea to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup semifinals during his solitary campaign.

Sources insisted that although Pochettino had a year remaining on his contract, the decision was amicable on both sides.

Stewart and Winstanley said in a club statement: "On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career."

Pochettino said: "Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club's history. The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come."

Pochettino's coaching staff -- Jesus Perez, Miguel d'Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino -- have all also left the club.

Sources told ESPN that there has been a split for some time within the Chelsea hierarchy over whether to persist with Pochettino after a disappointing campaign in which they were languishing in midtable despite spending £1 billion ($1.27 billion) on new players since the Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover of May 2022.

Sources told ESPN that Boehly was keen on retaining Pochettino but Eghbali wanted to replace him with a new coach.

Pochettino's frustration at the ongoing uncertainty over his future had spilled into his recent news conferences, insisting it "would not be the end of the world" if he left Chelsea.

Sources told ESPN that the players held a gathering with families at the stadium in the hours after Sunday's final-day win over Bournemouth and nobody there was told that Pochettino would be leaving.

Tuesday's decision comes after the club held an end of season review. The Blues ended their campaign with five consecutive wins and just one league defeat from 15 matches but frustrations on both sides had already been well established.

Sources said Chelsea expected quicker progress under Pochettino given the significant investment on players while the Argentine had concerns about the day-to-day running of the club and the lack of clarity over forward planning.

It is unclear at this stage whom Chelsea will target as Pochettino's replacement. Sources told ESPN that the club will likely seek a younger profile of coach, with Kieran McKenna, who has guided Ipswich Town back to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years after back-to-back promotions, one name widely linked.

Roberto De Zerbi is a free agent after leaving Brighton, while Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim has previously attracted interest from several Premier League clubs including West Ham. Sources told ESPN that Amorim, 39, is admired at Stamford Bridge.

Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas insisted this week that Amorim would remain with the Portuguese club next season.

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

MBAPPÉ ANNOUNCES PSG EXIT AHEAD OF LIKELY REAL MADRID MOVE

Getty

 Kylian Mbappé has announced he is leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, after which he is expected to join Real Madrid.

The announcement brings Real Madrid closer to ending their yearslong pursuit of the France international, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in world football.

PSG face Toulouse at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, which will be Mbappé's final home game. His final game for the club is scheduled to be the French Cup final against Lyon on May 15.

He said in a video posted to Instagram: "Hi everyone, it's Kylian. I wanted to speak to you. I've always said that I would speak with you when the time comes and so I wanted to announce to you all that it's my last year at Paris Saint-Germain.

"I will not extend and the adventure will come to an end in a few weeks. I will play my last game at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

"It's a lot of emotions, many years where I had the chance and the great honour to be a member of the biggest French club, one of the best in the world which allowed me to arrive here, to have my first experience in a club with a lot of pressure, to grow as a player of course, by being alongside some of the best in history, some of the greatest champions, to meet a lot of people, to grow as a man as well with all the glory and the mistakes I've made."

Mbappé thanked all five managers he has played for at PSG -- Unai Emery, Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Christophe Galtier and Luis Enrique -- as well as the club's sporting directors.

He added: "Despite everything that can happen on the outside, all this media hype that surrounds the club sometimes, there are some real club lovers who want to protect it and make it shine, and it's great, and I know that with all these people, this club is in great hands.

"It's hard, and I never thought it would be this difficult to announce that, to leave my country, France, the Ligue 1, a championship I have always known but I think, I needed this, a new challenge, after seven years."

That new challenge is likely to come in Madrid. Sources told ESPN Mbappé is still expected to join Madrid, having been in negotiations with the club since at least February.

In 2017, after starring for Monaco, Mbappé came close to joining Madrid, but he chose PSG instead after the club agreed a world-record deal for a teenager, worth €180 million.

Mbappé went on to become PSG's club captain and all-time top scorer with 255 goals, winning six Ligue 1 titles in seven seasons.

At international level, he won the World Cup with France in 2018 and scored a hat trick in their World Cup final defeat to Argentina four years later.

After the video was published, Mbappé went to the Parc des Princes with his family where he joined the club's Ultras in their end of the season BBQ and thanked them for their support.

"It's a club that I will keep in my memory my entire life. I will tell everybody, my whole life, that I had the chance to play here and I won't be a player anymore, but I will continue to watch every game of course, because it's a club that I will always be interested in and I will always closely follow up its news," Mbappé added.

"It was me, with my qualities and defects, but I tried to give the best version of myself during those seven years. But beforehand I want to say thank you because without you all I would have never experienced half of the emotions I felt. And just for that, I am grateful for life. Thank you all.

"I hope we will finish this year with a last trophy. We are going to have good moments for what's left, and believe that you will remain in my heart forever. Ici c'est Paris. Goodbye."

- ESPN

NOT THE END OF THE WORLD IF I LEAVE CHELSEA - POCHETTINO

Mauricio Pochettino has overseen an upturn in form and results at Chelsea since the turn of the year. Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

 Mauricio Pochettino has raised the possibility of walking away from Chelsea at the end of the season and said "it is not going to be the end of the world" if he leaves the club.

Sources have told ESPN that the Chelsea hierarchy are waiting for the Premier League campaign to finish before deciding whether Pochettino should see out the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have endured a disappointing season but back-to-back Premier League victories over West Ham and Tottenham have put them in seventh place with a chance of salvaging qualification for European football.

At a Friday news conference ahead of Chelsea's trip to Nottingham Forest, Pochettino revealed he was planning for next season but when asked if that was an indication he would be staying on, the 52-year-old pointed out his voice would also carry weight in conversations over what happens next.

"Look, it is not important," he said. "The most important thing is to keep going, working if we are all happy, not only the owners happy with us, the sporting directors with us, or us with the organisation the club is building here because then we are all under assessment.

"If we are happy, perfect. But it is not only if the owners are happy or the sporting directors are happy. If we are happy, you need to ask also because we said 'look maybe we are not happy with certain situations and maybe we are not happy and we need to split.'

"It is not going to be the first time that a coaching staff decide at the end of the season not to keep going. But understand that it is always the opposite way, always the owners or the sporting directors.

"They can say tomorrow 'until here, we arrive' or maybe tomorrow I can say 'look, I want to leave.' There are two parts who can take a decision. It is not only because Chelsea are not happy, the owners are not happy, the sporting directors are not happy, maybe we are not happy because we arrived here with some job to do but in the end it has not happened what we expect.

"Maybe we are not happy. I don't say that I am not happy but always it is lacking one side. Maybe the other side say 'OK, maybe until here' and we split. It is not a problem. It is not going to be the end of the world."

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly gave Pochettino public backing this week at a Sportico event in Los Angeles.

"We've seen, over the last two and a half games at least -- the second half of Aston Villa, Tottenham and West Ham - where we played just beautiful football," he said. "It was so fluid. It was exactly the way we drew it up.

"The number of shots we had on goal in those two and a half games, you could really start to see what we were working on coming together."

Responding to those comments, Pochettino said: "He described the reality, no? Yes, I think always Todd was very good with us. Even when there were tough moments, he was always very positive through the message in a private way but being public now.

"If the owner is happy, it is much better. We work for the club, for the fans, for the players but for the owners also."

Pochettino also said that Chelsea captain Reece James could make his long-awaited return to the pitch on Saturday five months after having surgery on his hamstring.

The defender has made eight appearances in the league this season and last played on Dec. 10 against Everton.

"We need to see today [at training] but maybe he can be available in the squad, yes," Pochettino said.

"The most important thing is Reece James is going to be there for us. We have an amazing relationship and of course he is an amazing player. "It is not easy when you comeback from a long-term injury.

"The most important thing is he can be available and be part of the squad. It is important to finish [the season] with good feelings."

Information from Reuters contributed to this report