There has been a number of household names at Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea over the past decade. Although the list is rather exhaustive, one name always seems to fall through the cracks.
That name is Andre Villas-Boas. With the 42-year-old suffering the ignominy of being sacked by both Premier League outfits, you could easily argue that his English managerial stint was rather unforgettable.
While such was the lacklustre nature of his stints in both west and north London, it seems as if Villas-Boas has no real love affair with the Premier League. He recently stated, according to the Daily Mail, that he will never manage in that division again.
Andre Villas-Boas Rules out Return to the Premier League
Rebuilding the Brand
It does seem as if a stint on the Cote D’Azur has acted as more akin to a stint in management rehabilitation; his Marseille side are lying second in Ligue 1 at this time of enforced hiatus. A return to the Champions League next season looks likely. But, all sporting events have been banned in France till September. It is yet unknown as to how Ligue 1 will settle the league.
There has no doubt that Villas-Boas is something of a coaching nomad. Stints in both Russia and China followed after his English efforts.
For a man who was much touted as the future of coaching in Europe, there can be no argument that his star did not shine as bright as many first expected; the obvious comparison with compatriot Jose Mourinho was more hindrance rather than help.
As someone who would then have to be constantly compared to the ‘Special One’ during his stint at Chelsea, it would have been difficult. Whereas Mourinho won over the press with ease, AVB always felt cooler in his demeanour.
Press Ganged
That is not necessarily a bad thing, but when managers get the English press offside, they then become a constant target; there were numerous stories of Villas-Boas losing the dressing room at Stamford Bridge. Thus, his days were inevitably numbered.
While at Tottenham, he could never quite shake off the criticism of managing a one-man team. Although a fifth-place finish was respectable in his single full season at White Hart Lane, Villas-Boas did not fulfil the objective of Champions League football.
Many critics of Villas-Boas (which include Tottenham supporters), always felt that Gareth Bale was doing his job for him; if it were not for the efforts of the Welsh forward during the 2012/13 campaign, they would not have even got close to pipping Arsenal for fourth place.
Therefore, with the departure of Bale at the end of that season, it is obvious to see why the wheels quickly came off in the white half of North London and a sacking would come just four months into the following campaign.
It does seem that the relationship between Premier League and manager, is one that was non-existent. Although Villas Boas’ comments regarding a potential return are rather damning, they should come as no real surprise either.
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