Change is Good?
June 12, 2008
by Liam Johnston
Chelsea Football Club has secured Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari—manager of the Portugal squad that won Group A in Euro 2008 despite losing to hosts Switzerland 2-0—to take over as Chelsea’s manager post Jose Mourinho. Okay, technically, Scolari is joining the club after the sacking of the more torpid Avram Grant. But Grant’s appointment was always intended as a stop-gap. Chelsea’s billionaire owner, Russian Oligarch, and nouveau riche art collector Roman Abramovich is attempting to match Mourinho’s charisma, charm, and celebrity—he dubbed himself “the special one”—by the appointment of Scolari. Ironically, Scolari’s style of football is notably a practical one, as was Mourinho’s. Yet, Mourinho was hounded by Abramovich to provide—and eventually run out for not—“a more stylish brand of football.” This, and rumors circulating as late as last week that Mourinho was on the short list for possible replacements for Mourinho, suggests that Abromovich understands his mistake of letting Mourinho go. Now, Mourinho is the manager of Inter Milan, some key Chelsea stars may follow, and other quality players will surely come and go, but nothing much will change in terms of Chelsea’s successful—albeit cautious—style of football. Similarly, Scolari will continue Mourinho’s tradition of off-pitch entertainment and controversy, and even if Scolari’s style in this regard is “nasty, brutish, and short,” he will continue Mourinho’s success at chipping away the ABC (Anyone But Chelsea) wishes of many English Premier League fans. The Moral of this story: “Change is good?”
The Fighter Versus The Special One
Wenger Welcomes Scolari Challenge
Luiz Felipe Scolari: In His Own Words
Scolari Takes Pride in Chelsea’s Workmanlike Victory
Scolari Sacked As Chelsea Manager
December 8, 2006
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