Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has shared his thoughts on the potential candidates for the vacant managerial position at Chelsea following Liam Rosenoir’s recent dismissal, Footynaija.com reports.
Chelsea have seen a lot of chopping and changing at the dug-out in recent years, with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and most recently Rosenoir all managing and getting axed from the club within the last five years.
As Calum McFarlane occupies the hot seat on an interim basis until the summer, attention has already turned to likely candidates for a permanent role with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Como’s Cesc Fabregas and Flamengo’s Filipe Luis all linked to the job.
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Iraola, whose contract at Bournemouth expires at the end of the season, is currently mooted as the leading candidate but Mikel, who spent 11 years at Chelsea, believes the higher-ups at Stamford Bridge should be considering one of his former teammates instead.
Fabregas or Luis: Who is Mikel Obi’s preferred choice?
“Andoni Iraola for me, I’m not saying he’s a yes-man, but he’s a guy that does not want to get involved with who comes in and who goes out. He just wants to get on with what happens on the football pitch which is coaching. They will sign the players and he’s going to coach the players”, the former Nigerian captain said via his Obi One Podcast.
“I think for me, it’d be too early for Fabregas. I like Fabregas and we can all see the success he’s having with Como in the Italian league, but I think it’s a bit too early. Give him a couple more seasons to establish himself and gain more experience.
“On Filipe Luis, he is a fantastic manager and his team played fantastic football in the Club World Cup and had an objective of how they wanted to play. There was a clear structure, playing with purpose, that’s how you know someone can become a top manager.
“Maybe he doesn’t have the experience right now, but from the job he did with Flamengo and the way his team plays, there is something to be excited about. There’s an expectation of what you feel you can achieve and that’s what I like about Filipe Luis. Maybe it’s too early, but of all the three managers mentioned, if they go with any of them, I’ll probably say Filipe Luis.”
Whether Chelsea will eventually go for any one of these promising managers or decide on someone entirely different, only time will tell. In the meantime, McFarlane will be looking to end his temporary reign in the best way possible with an opportunity to guide the Blues past Manchester City in the FA Cup final come May 16.
