Charlton Athletic are currently sitting in 14th position in the Championship. The club find themselves searching for a new manager after Bob Peeters left the club just 25 league games into his tenure. The news of Peeters departure came after the Addicks 0-1 home defeat to 19th placed Brighton and Hove Albion. Peeters, who arrived from Waasland Beveren of the Belgium Pro League is now on the hunt for a new opportunity. More but who will his now former employers look for themselves?
The current odds-on favourite is Israeli manager Guy Luzon. Luzon is currently unemployed following his resignation from Belgium side Standard Liege in October. Skybet have placed him at an incredible 1/3 to take the job. The choice ultimately comes down to chairman Richard Murray though, and there are some other options he could consider.
Other candidates for the Addicks manager’s post include former Charlton Athletic assistant Karel Fraeye, who is currently coaching at V.W Hamme. The Belgian target has been placed at 5/1 by the bookies. Former Bolton Wanderers manager Dougie Freedman is also a strong candidate, coming in just behind Fraeye at 6/1. Freedman has knowledge in the league, having managed Wanderers and Crystal Palace in the Championship in the past.
Jose Riga is another Belgian who has also been linked to the Addicks. He managed the club briefly in March 2013, when he took over from club legend Chris Powell. His aim then, with the club sitting bottom of the Championship, was to avoid relegation, which he ultimately succeeded in doing. The success was sealed with a dramatic 3-1 home victory over Watford on the final day of the season.
There are also some experienced managers on the list, with Brian McDermott in at 15/1 odds. McDermott, like Freedman, has had experience managing at this level. His most notable Championship achievement being securing the promotion of Reading.
Alan Curbishley is also listed at 15/1 and has a much more intriguing connection to the Addicks. He played for the east London club for seven years over two spells, his first in 1984-1988 and then returning in 1990-1993. He also managed the club 1991 (where he was player/manager for two seasons) through 2006. This tenure makes him the club’s longest serving manager. This knowledge of the club, and the support his tenure would have with the fans should not be overlooked. Curbishley, who currently works as a pundit for Sky Sports has expressed interest in returning to his former club, but again it’s down to Murray.
Just behind Curbishley and McDermott, and sitting at 16/1 odds are former Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen and Tottenham Hotspur legend Tim Sherwood. They each offer solid resumes, and could be strong appointments to the club. Meulensteen managed Fulham in the Premier League, and also worked as an assistant coach for Premier League giants Manchester United. In Tim Sherwood, we see a long-time assistant at Tottenham who was given the reigns of the club for just over half of a season last year, before his controversial release from Spurs. This could be a good opportunity for the young English manager to join a new club and stamp his authority on it. If he were able to achieve promotion back to the Premier League which ultimately is where the Addicks fans want to see their side playing, it could be a big boost to his resume, and a great turn of events for Charlton Athletic.
Genk of the Belgium Pro League have former Rangers and Birmingham manager Alex McLeish as their boss, but a return to England could be tempting for him. McLeish, MK Dons manager Karl Robinson, Sky Sports pundit Iain Dowie, and former Fulham managers Martin Jol and Kit Simmons are all sitting at 20/1 odds. Robinson could make the step up from league one to a more established club in the Championship. Iain Dowie, like Curbishley, may move away from television punditry to resume his managerial career. Jol is unemployed following his sacking from then Premier league side Fulham back in 2013 and may welcome the move, likewise with more recent Fulham manager Simmons.
Further afield are Paulo Di Canio, who previously had made the giant leap from League One and Swindon Town to the Premier League and Sunderland. His tenure at the blackcats didn’t last too long, so maybe a step back could be key for this controversial and eccentric manager. Di Canio along with Owen Coyle and Paul Jewell are all available at 25/1 odds. Coyle and Jewell also have experience at this level, with Coyle taking charge of Bolton and Wigan, and Jewell, of Ipswich and previously Wigan. Jewell achieved promotion to the Premier league with Wigan some 10 years ago.
An exciting list of well skilled managers and a range of experience, style, regime and record. Over The next few days we should know who Richard Murray has chosen to be the next man in charge of the Addicks. The new manager will certainly be tasked with the goal of getting the club back to the Premier League as quickly as possible.
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