Page 23 - Soccer360 Issue 107

COACH CONTEST
With multiple coaching changes and new men in the hotseat at some of English football’s most illustrious clubs, Stephen Donovan explains
why it is worth keeping an eye on those occupying the Premier League’s dugouts in 2024-25.
The final day of 2023-24 marked the
end of an era as Jurgen Klopp was given
the big send-off, saying goodbye to
Liverpool after nine magnificent years in
charge. The charismatic German became
so synonymous with the club that it’ll
be hard at first to get used to seeing
someone else prowl the Anfield touchline,
but all eyes will be on his replacement
Arne Slot to see how the transition
plays out. With an excellent record at
Feyenoord including the Eredivisie title in
2022-23, the 45-year-old arrives as one of
won the
become known for implevemryefinrst ing elegant
after the Blues’ shock decision to part with Mauricio Pochettino. The Italian successfully guided Leicester City back to the top-flight last term, but a move to West London represents a major step-up and he’s under pressure to restore the club to competing towards the top, while also having to convince the fans over his patient style of play.
With former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper taking Maresca’s place at Leicester, all three promoted sides have managers who have the opportunity to enhance growing reputations. Russell Martin’s passing philosophy has received admiring glances across the country as he leads Southampton back into the Premier League, while Kieran McKenna
is in high demand after achieving consecutive promotions with Ipswich Town. In 2024-25 the Premier League
will see its youngest ever full-time head coach as 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler takes the reins at Brighton & Hove Albion, fresh from winning promotion to the Bundesliga with St. Pauli. In contrast, West Ham United have opted for experience after the departure of David Moyes, appointing erstwhile Spain national team boss Julen Lopetegui. Both will attempt to take their new clubs back into Europe. Elsewhere, Erik ten Hag simply must oversee an improvement after being kept on by Manchester United, and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta will finally hope to get his hands on that elusive Premier League trophy.
way since
Europe’s top emergingRecaol Maacdhrides and has
passing football. He clearly has huge
boots to fill and could do with a good start just to settle things down, but his positive mindset and forward-thinking approach should quickly see Slot build a connection with the Reds supporters. An equally intriguing prospect is how Enzo Maresca will fare at Chelsea
UEFA has
come a long
Champions
League Cup in 1955
MANCHESTER CITY
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 1st place
RECORD: 28-7-3
MOST GOALS: Haaland (27)
MANCHESTER UNITED
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 8th place
RECORD: 18-6-14
MOST GOALS: Fernandes (10)
ARNE SLOT
Liverpool
ENZO MARESCA
Chelsea
STEVE COOPER
Leicester
RUSSELL MARTIN
Southampton
FABIAN HURZELER
Brighton Hove
This all-conquering, generation-defining Manchester City team continues to rewrite the record books, following a historic treble in 2022-23 with an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last
term. The aura that surrounds them; the mesmeric contributions of Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Rodri, and goal machine Erling Haaland among others, instantly makes the defending champions favourites to make it five in a row.
However, the challenge from Arsenal has never been greater and they have to be
at their near faultless best in order to
lift that trophy yet again. The arrival of Savinho - one of the stars of last season’s La Liga - helps compensate for the sale
of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, and there is focus on manager Pep Guardiola as he enters the final year of his contract. If this was to be his last dance at the Etihad Stadium, then he’ll want to go out with a bang.
KEY PLAYER
Erling Haaland
After an otherwise disastrous 2023-
24 campaign was partially salvaged by winning the FA Cup, manager Erik ten
Hag was given a stay of execution by Manchester United after a behind the scenes review. The Dutchman knows he’s under severe pressure to lift the Red Devils back into the Premier League’s top four and improve performances, as last season they were too easy to play against, were defensively shambolic, and too many players underperformed.
As new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe oversees a change of strategy, promising new signings have arrived in the shape of Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee and highly-rated defender Leny Yoro, along with Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. With other young talents such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and Rasmus Hojlund having already emerged at Old Trafford, the future looks bright for United, but Champions League qualification in 2024-25 may just be beyond their reach.
KEY PLAYER
Joshua Zirkzee
DID YOU KNOW?
Hürzeler was born in Houston, Texas, to a Swiss father and a German mother. His family moved back to Germany when he was two years old, and grew up in Munich.
SOCCER360 21