Sport
HANDING SHAKESPEARE LEICESTER JOB WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE
The dark side of football
Football is the most beautiful and popular sport on the planet. It transcends life in a sporting, social and sometimes even a political sense. But, like anything, football has a dark side, and the events in the city of Leicester involving the now former manager Ranieri, new boss Shakespeare and their players a fortnight ago suggest it is also the most cynical sport in the world.
Jose Mourinho’s sacking at Chelsea last season proved life at one of Europe’s elite never stands still. Winning the Premier League title in 2015, for the third time with the Blues, the first time in his second spell, was not enough to save him. Just seven months later, he was sacked after a disastrous first half of the following campaign, with the club languishing in 16th place.
Amidst the sheer disbelief at the events that had transpired, there was a feeling the decision was harsh given the previous year’s exploits and Mourinho’s legendary status at Stamford Bridge. But the standards Roman Abramovich had set during his 12 years as owner, and the reported issues between the manager and his players, meant there was an element of logic involved, too.
Ranieri creates biggest shock in football history
Six months after that decision, there was an ironic twist in the tale for Chelsea. The first boss Abramovich ever sacked, Claudio Ranieri, who had carved himself as an unfortunate figure of ridicule throughout his career, completed the most remarkable story in sporting history by winning the Premier League title with Leicester City. Ranieri was initially favourite to be fired when he was appointed; his arrival slated by pundits and fans alike, who also predicted a Leicester relegation. Such criticism was always unjust, because the Italian had achieved impressive feats at some of the world’s biggest clubs during his career, all with his familiar intoxicating charm.
Defending a title is always harder than winning it in the first place, but especially for a club who weren’t expected to challenge for it at all. The feeling around the King Power Stadium, both internally and externally, was one of uncertainty, in a positive way. Leicester had an opportunity to complete reinvent themselves. Should they target the big names, or continue as they were?
Ranieri insisted the title win was an anomaly, and normal services would be resumed. Unfortunately for him, real life hit sooner than he thought.
Hounded out by the players he made champions
Similarly to Chelsea with Mourinho, Leicester were in the bottom five when they sacked Ranieri. This time, though, the decision was met with seemingly unanimous hostility from outside, worse than any the club got for hiring him in the first place. Logic suggests a club the size of Leicester should be where they are now, despite the hefty fall from grace, while the Foxes are still within a shout of going through in their Champions League last 16 tie with Sevilla. Murmurs of unrest within the playing staff were heard and Ranieri was gone. In times like this, every manager must feel nervous, because if success of that magnitude does not earn a stay of execution, nothing will.
The hallmarks of Leicester’s title win were hard work, teamwork and intensity. All that had deserted the squad before Ranieri’s sacking and has suddenly returned in the two games since, leading to home wins over Liverpool and Hull City, fuelling the speculation of the players coming together to force their manager out. The series of events is nothing new, though, and caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare is both interested in and being tipped for the job full time.
Who can lead Leicester to safety?
Often, when managers are linked with jobs, their reputations give a good idea of where the club stands and where they want to go. For Leicester, the lack of a strong identity is again evident. Some names, like Nigel Pearson and Gary Rowett, suggest they are to go back to slogging it out at the bottom of the Premier League in the long term. Others, though, such as Guus Hiddink and Roberto Mancini, suggest they harbor ambitions of getting somewhere close to where they were last season.
Right now, it looks as though Shakespeare is in the driving seat to get the nod. If the players weren’t playing for Ranieri, no one can say, but they are certainly playing for his assistant. Wes Morgan looks strong again, Danny Drinkwater looks composed again, Riyad Mahrez looks like he’s full of energy again and Jamie Vardy is chasing everything again. That choice would be the obvious one, no doubt.
Obvious is not the answer for Leicester. Their future is much more complicated than just surviving relegation this season, because there is still a sense of expectation for the club to at least try and push on. Whatever happens, a transitional phase is on the horizon; the likes of Vardy and Mahrez, who stayed on last season, will again be in demand in the summer and it is tough to see them being so loyal this time around.
Shakespeare a gamble?
Everyone will have to stand up and be counted in the years to come, survival or not. Leadership comes from the top, and although managers claim the players are what make great teams, they can make a real difference. Manchester City chased Pep Guardiola, Manchester United went for Jose Mourinho and Chelsea plucked for Antonio Conte, all as a reaction to Leicester winning the title and each club is better off. The shoe is on Leicester’s foot now and they must react accordingly.
Of course, there is an argument to say Craig Shakespeare deserves his moment in the sun. It is always great to see British coaches given a chance, but this is a delicate moment in Leicester’s history. Giving him the job would be a real missed opportunity. He’s done everything right, he deserves his chance, but something with such connotations to gambling is just not worth it.
Saturday’s £2.3 MILLION Pick 6 – here’s my preview
https://youtu.be/S4qyq5qzZKQ
