Steve Clarke was a coach at Championship outfit Aston Villa in 2016 and he has since shone in the Scottish Premiership with Kilmarnock.
There has been a whole host of managers linked with Aston Villa since Steve Bruce was sacked in Wednesday last week from Rafa Benitez, Brendan Rodgers and Mick McCarthy to Juan Carlos Osario, Graham Potter and Carlos Carvalhal.
But, according to The Telegraph, it seems that Thierry Henry is now the front-runner.
The 41-year-old, who is currently working on Roberto Martinez’s Belgium coaching staff, was tipped to take over in the summer and is now in advanced negotiations to replace Bruce at Villa Park. The former Aston Villa captain John Terry is expected to be announced as Henry’s assistant.
But, speaking on Jim White’s talkSPORT show (8 October, 12pm), Danny Murphy has questioned why Steve Clarke is seemingly not under consideration.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Clarke. We interviewed him for the Fulham job and he was very good, very focused and single minded,” Murphy said of the 55-year-old Scot.
“After speaking to people at Liverpool and Chelsea (where Clarke worked as a coach), there wasn’t a bad word said. His coaching ability was second to none the only (negative) thing people said was his demeanour, he’s a bit dour.
“Unfortunately, a lot of clubs re looking for a glamour name to get the fans on board. But if the results don’t come the fans will turn. Look for longevity, Steve Clarke would bring substance.”
Clarke certainly ticks a few boxes. He knows the club well after all, having spent four months at Villa Park as an assistant coach to Roberto Di Matteo in 2016.
And Clarke has since enhanced his reputation in Scotland by turning Kilmarnock into one of the division’s strongest sides. His ability to get the best out of the talents at his disposal would certainly boost a Villa side who have been less than the sum of their parts for far too long.
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