#1 Jose Mourinho
Roman Abramovich seems very keen on bringing Jose Mourinho back, although it might not be that simple. The Real Madrid manager is reportedly demanding £12 million a year, control over transfers and a release clause if Chelsea don’t qualify for the Champions League.
If Chelsea do find a way to bring him back, it will be the perfect reunion for the manager who left the club in 2007 for Inter Milan. Mourinho has unfinished business at the Bridge. CFC love him, and he loves CFC.
Mourinho’s managerial ability sometimes gets overlooked by his brief moments of insanity. His Chelsea teams took an average of 2.216 points per game, largely due to the effectiveness of his midfield triangle. The 4-3-3 was unseen in England at the time, and gave his team an advantage to those playing the 4-4-2. It would be interesting to see how Mourinho would line up the current Chelsea squad, as he now prefers a 4-2-3-1 at Real Madrid.
Chelsea need someone to be the face of the team. They need someone who can turn the Bridge into a fortress again. Is Mourinho the right man to do it?
#2 Manuel Pelligrini
Pelligrini would be an interesting choice for Chelsea, and maybe with more of a risk/reward than people realise. The disciplinarian gets his teams playing the Brazilian style of football he prefers. The 59-year-old Chillean has been coaching this style at Malaga since leaving Real Madrid in 2010.
The attacking style Pelligrini plays is essentially a 4-2-2-2, with narrow midfielders and wing backs, such as Eliseu, providing the width.
Pelligrini would be a solid option for Chelsea, but he’d bring a philosophy that’s largely untested in England. Chelsea will definitely be an interesting watch if he ends up managing next season.
#3 David Moyes
Everton only recently found themselves out of the race for a Champions League place – a remarkable feat for a team with such a small budget.
They have had no room to make a mistake in the transfer market in recent seasons, and David Moyes hasn’t. His English style of football may be more standard compared to Mourinho and Pelligrini, but he’s just as inventive.
The downside to Moyes is that he will have to get used to a whole new side of the transfer market – one with top class players earning top class wages. Does Moyes have a big enough ego to take over the position that frankly requires one?