It’s a hell of a work experience placement being given the managers job at Chelsea until the end of the season. How Roberto Di Matteo handles that role will make or break his future career as a manager.
Let’s get one thing straight, Di Matteo will not be Chelsea’s next manager (unless of course he wins the FA Cup and Champions League double) and I will put my house (well my mums actually) on a different manager being in charge next season.
Di Matteo’s naivety in announcing that the FA Cup replay win over Birmingham City was for former manager Andre Villas-Boas proved he is not yet ready for a big job, but that’s not to say that one day, Di Matteo could be Chelsea’s full time manager.
In the lower leagues, Di Matteo’s track record is pretty impressive, with MK Dons he finished 3rd in his first season, losing to Scunthorpe in the League One play-off finals with a win ratio of 51%.
His performance with MK Dons was enough to convince West Bromwich Albion that he was the man to take them back to the Premier-League, and he did just that, finishing second behind Newcastle with a win ratio of 56%.
However, it is in the Premier-League where Di Matteo wants to be, and he was found lacking with West Brom despite an impressive start. After the first five games, West Brom had seven points, their best ever start, and Di Matteo was even named Premier League manager of the month for September.
This period of success was to end however and between December and January managed just one win in ten which forced the West Brom board to terminate his contact with the fear of relegation looming.
It’s these moments of failure that stick with managers, when you think of Di Matteo as a manager you think of being sacked by West Brom first, rather than the runners up place in the Championship or taking MK Dons to the play-offs.
Now as caretaker manager of Chelsea, Di Matteo has a great opportunity to restart his career as manager, and although it’s unrealistic that Chelsea will ask him to take over on a full term basis, it’s just possible that other Championship or even Premier-League clubs will come calling for his services.
Have your say on Di Matteo by tweeting me @deanmears.
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