The past, as they say, is another country. They do things differently there.
They certainly did not make a habit of hiring assistant managers before they’ve got a new man in place for the top job. Burnley’s eyebrow-raising appointment of Henrik Jensen as their first-team assistant coach took many by surprise.
It is definitely not everyday a club builds their new coaching staff from a bottom-up perspective. But, now that we know what we know now, perhaps Jensen’s arrival at Turf Moor makes a little more sense.
Tipsbladet reports that Bo Henriksen, the man heavily linked with the job recently vacated by Vincent Kompany over recent days, knows Jensen well. They were part of the same coaching set up at Danish outfit FC Midtjylland, after all.
But if Burnley hired Jensen with the hope of bringing in Henriksen alongside him, then those best-laid plans went rather awry today. After those rumours were put to the man currently in the Mainz 05 hotseat, Henriksen wasted little time in reaching for a bucket of ice-cool water as he immediately doused the speculation.
Mainz boss Bo Henriksen reacts to Burnley rumours
“I am not commenting on any of that at all. I am super happy in Mainz and I am happy to be there,” says the 49-year-old Dane.
“(Mainz) is a great club. My family has settled in well. That is the most important thing. Then I will leave all other speculation to agents and others.”
Henriksen was only appointed by Mainz in February after two years in Switzerland with FC Zurich. A remarkable nine game winless run to end the season saved a hitherto doomed outfit from relegation, all the while catapulting Henriksen’s reputation.
His contract at the Bundesliga outfit, meanwhile, still has another two years left to run.
It is nearly a month now since Bayern Munich surprisingly offered Kompany the main role at the Allianz Arena. Burnley appear to be no closer to finding a replacement either. While Henriksen is keen to stay in Mainz, Ruud van Nistelrooy looks set to be lured back to his beloved Old Trafford with the chance to join Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff at Manchester United.
Options running dry for Burnley after Vincent Kompany exit
There is still the Frank Lampard option.
Out of work since his departure from Everton over a year ago, the former England international is certainly keen on a return to the dugout.
A team in Burnley’s position – relegated from the Premier League but one of the Championship’s pre-season title favourites – could be a pretty sensible next step for a man who could do with a bit of positive PR.
“Some opportunities have come my way. They didn’t feel right for the time,” Lampard told talkSPORT (7 June, 11am). “But now I feel ready so we will see what opportunities come up. I’m certainly ready to work. I love doing what I do, so we will see.”
“I have enjoyed having a year out. Its been good for me. Sometimes, being out of the game gives you time to reflect and become a bit better. You’re watching the games, you’re always trying to develop.
“I am ready to work, when it feels like it’s the right opportunity from my end and when someone wants to give me that opportunity,” the 2012 Champions League winner adds. “I am well versed now in understanding what that is, because I have had difficult jobs.
“Probably, now, the time is right for me to find the right challenge with the right expectations and the right support around it. And I would be delighted to get that work.”
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