When the curtain opens on the 2013/2014 Premier League season, there will be three new stars ready to take centre stage and vie for the lime-light.
In an unprecedented end to a top-flight season, each one of the top three clubs have had a change of manager for one reason or another.
After months of speculation, the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’, Jose Mourinho, made his much-anticipated return to Stamford Bridge with hopes of turning Chelsea into genuine contenders once again.
Malaga’s Chilean boss, Manuel Pellegrini, has been confirmed as the replacement for Roberto Mancini who was dismissed from the Etihad after a trophy-less campaign.
And David Moyes was the man chosen to fill the almost gigantic boots left behind when Sir Alex Ferguson called time on his glittering 26-year Old Trafford career.
But with a lack of experience managing a ‘big club’, how does the new Red Devils manager stand up against his more experienced rivals?
In terms of the Premier League, Moyes has a slight edge over his Sky Blue counterpart, having 11-years’ experience of England’s top-flight at Goodison Park where he brought reasonable success to a club on a shoe-string budget.
The Scot generally displayed a shrewd mind in the transfer market, so now having money to spend will only help him bring trophies to United.
And, of course, Mourinho has already enjoyed success in English football – winning the Premier League in 2005 and 2006 – whereas Pellegrini has never managed on these shores, which could count against him.
But there are those who point to the Chilean’s success at clubs of similar stature to Everton, for example during the 59-year-old’s tenure at Villarreal.
In his five year stint, he guided El Submarino Amarillo to third in La Liga, a Champions League semi-final against Arsenal and had a respectable win percentage of 47% from 259 games.
However, any advantage Moyes gains from his first-hand knowledge of English football is cancelled out by the aforementioned lack of ‘big club’ experience.
The 50-year-old has only managed Everton and Preston North End in England and this will be his first, deserved, step into the upper echelons of world football.
Both Mourinho and Pellegrini have managed at Europe’s top table – the Chilean at Real Madrid and the Portuguese at Inter Milan and also Los Merengues.
Between the two Manchester managers, the league appears to be a level playing field, but of course, Mourinho has been there and done it.
It will be in Europe where the battle lines will truly be drawn.
Aside from bringing the Premier League back to the Bridge, Mourinho will be determined to win the one trophy which eluded him during his first reign.
Moyes has virtually no experience of the Champions League and the closest he came was a playoff for the group stage where his Everton side were unceremoniously dumped out – by Pellegrini’s Villarreal.
And, as mentioned, Pellegrini has enjoyed some success in Europe with both Villarreal and Madrid, which will no doubt give him the confidence to turn City into a major force on the continent.
Each manager has their strengths and weaknesses, which can only be a good thing for the neutrals as our three protagonists fight it out to become top dog.
Regardless of who comes out on top one is clear for sure, it is going to be one hell of season.
Image courtesy of Independent, via YouTube, with thanks.
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