The Villans have parted company with the Italian after a disappointing start to the new Championship season.
Former Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo
Aston Villa have today confirmed on their official website that they have parted company with Roberto Di Matteo after just 11 Championship games.
With the international break meaning that they have a significant amount of time before the side returns to the pitch, club owner Tony Xia has enough time to avoid making a rash decision regarding the Italian’s replacement.
And while several names have already been linked with the role due to Villa’s stature, it is perhaps the man that put the final nail in Di Matteo’s coffin that should be one of the men they seriously consider.
Simon Grayson’s Preston North End side claimed a 2-0 victory against the Villans on Saturday. And while he may not be the marquee appointment that Di Matteo was, the 46-year-old arguably ticks plenty of boxes.
Roberto Di Matteo and Preston manager Simon Grayson
Firstly, he boasts a huge amount of experience managing in the second tier, having previously been in charge of Blackpool, Leeds and Huddersfield before taking his current job with the Lilywhites.
While Preston are only a couple of places higher than Villa currently, some managers may look at the situation and prefer to stay put despite the latter’s potential, but Grayson’s decision to drop down a division and leave Blackpool for Leeds in 2008 arguably showed that he is not afraid to take an initial step backwards for a club that can make several forwards in the long-term.
And as Grayson spent two seasons of his playing career with the Midlands outfit, it is surely safe to assume that a return to Villa Park would appeal to him in some way. And if he did return, his history with the side would ensure that he brought the kind of passion to the role that several of their most recent managers have appeared to lack.
Simon Grayson during his spell with Aston Villa
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