The man West Brom sacked for England bound Roy Hodgson is now flying for Chelsea. Funny how things turn out.
August 2010: Roberto di Matteo watches on as a Didier Drogba inspired Chelsea crush West Brom 6-0.
January 2011: West Brom sack him after a run of defeats.
April 2012: Di Matteo leads Chelsea to the Champions League final.
As turnarounds and comebacks go, its almost up there with Lazarus.
One thing that should be noted, is that despite the timeline laid out above, Di Matteo actually did a very good job with West Brom.
He led the Baggies to promotion from the Championship, and despite their opening day mauling by Chelsea, got them off to a terrific start.
He signed star striker Peter Odemwingie, and helped pull off a string of surprise results, including a win over Arsenal and being the only side in the 2010/11 season to pick up a point at Old Trafford, taking them at one stage into the top seven.
It was only a slide over the Christmas period which saw him axed. It seemed harsh, but when a side starts to wobble chairmen often panic, and it is better to act quickly and decisively than wait until mid-February when it was too late like Wolves. Even so, relegation seemed more of a fear rather than a reality.
Now with Roy Hodgson off to England, West Brom likely need a new manager- unless a job-share is agreed- What are the chances of them turning to Di Matteo?
Right now they could make all the advances they like, and Di Matteo probably wouldn’t even pick up the phone.
The Italian could end the season an FA Cup and Champions League winner- not bad for a man who began the season as a mere ‘assistant.’
But what if Abramovich goes big this summer and brings in a Guardiola, or even Laurent Blanc? Di Matteo surely won’t be out of work for long.
Most Chelsea fans want to see him stay on regardless of what happens between now and the season ends, and we think they’d be foolish to get rid of him.
West Brom might just hope they do, so they can try and bring him back, but if he is looking for a new job, the Italian who has become one of Europe’s most respected managers may just find there are several bigger sides after him.
Who will be the next West brom boss? Were they wrong to get rid of Di Matteo in the first place?
image: © hisgett
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