Hughton sacked – so who next for Brighton and Hove Albion?
After four-and-a-half years in charge of Brighton and Hove Albion, Chris Hughton has been ruthlessly sacked by Tony Bloom after a disastrous second half of the 2018-19 season.
The Seagulls won only twice in their final 18 games of the campaign, scoring just 18 goals along the way. It took Crystal Palace beating Cardiff City to secure the Albion’s place in the Premier League for a third successive season, a monumental cock up given that we were 12 points clear of the relegation zone in December.
Even so, Hughton’s dismissal less than 24 hours after the final game of the season came as something of a shock. The big question now is who does Tony Bloom turn to to replace one of the most successful and popular managers that Brighton have ever had?
We’ve put together this list of 20 candidates who could be in the running for the job. Whoever it is, they’ve got mighty big boots to fill.
Graham Potter
Who is he? Swansea City’s 43-year-old manager who has turned a lot of heads in the Championship this season. He has steadied what looked to be a sinking ship at the Liberty Stadium following the Swans relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2017-18 season, building an exciting side with the second youngest average age in the Championship, playing attacking football and not being far away from a play off spot despite having little to no financial backing from the board. Before that, he spent eight seasons managing Swedish side Östersund, leading them from the fourth tier to the Europa League, where they famously beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates in the round of 32 in February 2018.
Pros: A talented, young English manager who apparently has impressed Dan Ashworth and has achieved impressive results on strict budgets. Has a strong track record of bringing through young players which is something desperately needed at the Albion given how much money we have spent on an academy that hasn’t delivered one first team regular since Solly March came through six years ago. He is also known for playing attacking football which should please those supporters who had tired of Hughton’s conservatism by the end.
Cons: Has only one season of managing in England under his belt and no experience of the Premier League and as such would be a huge gamble. He’s also under contract with Swansea for another two years so it could cost a hefty amount to secure his services.
Frank Lampard
Who is he? One of England’s greatest ever midfielders who has led Derby County to the Championship play offs in his first season as a manager. The Rams have also pulled off eye catching cup successes against Manchester United and Southampton and came close to doing the same to Lampard’s former club, Chelsea. All of which has led him to be labeled one of the brightest young managers in the country.
Pros: Like Potter, he’s had a good season in the Championship, leading Derby into the top six playing entertaining football.
Cons: Derby have always been perennial top six finishers, so it is hard to quantify whether this is a good achievement for a club that has reached the play offs under Darren Wassall, Steve McClaren and Gary Rowett previously. We’d also have to rename ourselves as Frank Lampard’s Brighton and Hove Albion.
Phil Neville
Who is he? One of Manchester United’s famous Class of 92 and the current England Ladies manager. He was appointed by Ashworth to lead the Lionesses in January 2018 and has since delivered a hugely impressive She Believes Cup win in a tournament featuring Brazil, Japan and the United States. As a result, England go into this summer’s World Cup in France as one of the favourites.
Pros: Has worked with Ashworth before so clearly there is a good relationship there. His brief reign in charge of the Lionesses has been impressive so far.
Cons: His experience of senior male football extends to spells coaching with Manchester United and Valencia. He would also not be available until after the World Cup finishes in July, making the quick appointment that the Albion really require tricky.
Lee Johnson
Who is he? A former Albion player who scored on his only first team appearance in a Paint Pot game against Cardiff in 2000. He has managed Oldham Athletic, Barnsley and is currently in his third year in charge of Bristol City having turned them from Championship relegation candidates into a side who have been in contention for a play off finish for the past two season. City impressed many last year with their run to the League Cup semi finals, which included eliminating Manchester United and nearly knocking out Manchester City.
Pros: Despite being only 37, he has six years of managerial experience under his belt and has done an impressive job with three different clubs, all of whom have exceeded expectations. His sides are known for their bold, attacking play. Has been known to wear a delightful flat cap during games.
Cons: A lack of Premier League experience. He may not be the sort of big name manager who can attract high quality players to the Amex.
Chris Wilder
Who is he? Another former Albion player, he played 11 times for the Seagulls at the start of the 1999-00 season before returning to his native Yorkshire with Halifax Town. In a near 20 year managerial career, he has led Afreton Town, Oxford United and Northampton Town to promotion and has most recently taken Sheffield United from League One into the Premier League in the space of three seasons.
Pros: Was a popular player during his albeit brief playing spell with the Albion. His track record of success speaks for itself and like Hughton, he has always managed to build a connection with the town or city he is managing in. He also likes a pint, which would endear him to plenty of our players.
Cons: He is a lifelong Sheffield United fan and so would be pretty unlikely to give up on the dream of managing them in the Premier League that he has worked so hard to achieve. He’s only managed for two seasons above the third tier, so nobody knows how we will get on in the top division.
Rafa Benitez
Who is he? One of the best managers in the Premier League. Rafa the Gaffer has worked miracles by keeping a pretty poor Newcastle United side with no financial backing in the top flight over the past two seasons. He has previously delivered trophies for Valencia, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Pros: A proven, top class boss. Given that there are frequent reports about his unhappiness working under Mike Ashley, the prospect of managing a club known for stability and with a supportive owner like Bloom should appeal.
Cons: There would be some doubts about his happiness working in a structure where Ashworth and Paul Winstanley are in charge of transfers. And despite the problems of having Ashley as a boss, his connection with the Toon Army fans is as strong as any you’ll see between manager and supporters anywhere in the country, which may make him hard to prise away from St James’ Park.
Nathan Jones
Who is he? Brighton’s popular former assistant manager who left the Amex in 2016 to take over at Luton Town. He led the Hatters to promotion from League Two and had them top of League One before moving onto Stoke City in January. He played over 150 times for the Albion during a five season spell with the club, winning three promotions in that time.
Pros: Would he a hugely popular appointment. Knows the club inside out having played spent eight years here as a player and then assistant manager to Oscar Garcia and first team coach to Chris Hughton.
Cons: He may be reluctant to leave Stoke having only just joined them five months ago, with the jury still being out on whether he can cut it as a Championship manager with a relatively big club.
Vladimir Putin
Who is he? The current president of Russia who is into a record-breaking fourth term in the Kremlin. He was once a high ranking member of the KGB and is an imposing figure on the world stage.
Pros: He has a no-nonsense approach to matters as shown by his annexing of Crimea. Player’s performance levels would improve markedly with the prospect of tea laced with polonium or some Novichok sprayed on their front door as potential punishments for bad showings. A 2020 calendar featuring photos of him riding horses topless could be a real money spinner.
Cons: His preferred sport is ice hockey so there would be a serious question mark over his football knowledge. His track record suggests he is hugely homophobic, which may be a slight problem in a city like Brighton.
Mikel Arteta
Who is he? A former Arsenal and Everton midfielder who is considered one of the brightest coaches in the game. He’s currently learning the trade as number two to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City but has spoken of his desire to step up as a manager in the future. He was heavily linked with a return to the Emirates last summer before Unai Emery got the gig.
Pros: Is currently working under one of the finest managers in footballing history – who also happens to think he will make an excellent number one.
Cons: No managerial experience. He would he a hugely risky appointment given the number of highly rated assistants who have struggled when promoted to be managers in the past such as Brian Kidd, Paul Clements, Sammy Lee, Mike Phelan and our very own former midfielder, Chris Hutchings.
Adolf Hutter
Who is he? The current manager of Eintract Frankfurt who has led the German side on a memorable run to the semi finals of the Europa League this season, where they were eventually defeated on penalties by Chelsea recently. He’s previously taken Red Bull Salzburg to an Austrian league and cup double and Young Boys to their first Swiss title for 32 years.
Pros: The success of Jurgen Klopp, David Wagner, Ralph Hasenhüttl and Daniel Farke means that German and Austrian managers are all in vogue at the minute. He has an impressive track record.
Cons: No experience of English football. Tends to start slowly with his reign at Frankfurt beginning with a 5-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, a German Cup exit at the hands fourth division SSV Ulm and just four points from their first five games. Could we afford such a slow beginning to a pivotal Premier League season?
Steven Gerrard
Who is he? Former England captain who enjoyed a glittering playing career with Liverpool and Los Angeles Galaxy. He has just completed his first season as a manager, leading Rangers to second place in the Scottish Pub League, but the fact that they’ve actually been able to beat Celtic and enjoyed a decent Europa League campaign has highlighted his managerial potential.
Pros: A big name manager who would be able to attract big name players. Has dealt well with the pressure of being in charge of a club with such expectations as Rangers, even if they do play in a league which is the equivalent standard of Sussex Sunday Division Three.
Cons: Successful SPL managers rarely translate to successful managers in England with Neil Lennon, Walter Smith, Alex McLeish and Craig Levein just some of those who have struggled after moving south of the border.
Micky Adams
Who is he? They always say never go back, but they rarely say don’t go back twice. The former Brighton boss has had two cracks at the Albion job, winning Division Three in his first spell and then lasting seven months of the 2008-09 season before being sacked with the club heading for relegation into League Two. Third time lucky?
Pros: Knows the club having delivered success at the Albion before. The undoubted return of Bob Booker and Dean White to the coaching team as well as the probable signings of Adam Virgo, Gary Hart, Kerry Mayo, Charlie Oatway, Paul Watson and any other players that he has previously worked with.
Cons: His last reign still has us waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat a decade on.
Queen Victoria
Who is she? Former Queen of Great Britain whose reign of 63 years and seven months was the longest of any British Monarch until Queen Elizabeth II surpassed it in 2015. She oversaw great revolution and leaps forward during her time on the throne, including the expansion of the British Empire and new developments in industry and science that changed the world for the better.
Pros: Had nine children which means she was practically managing a football team. Has close links to Brighton as her Uncle was George IV who built the Royal Pavilion where she used to holiday frequently.
Cons: Has been dead for over 100 years.
Sam Allardyce
Who is he? Former England boss who has stepped in to save Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Everton from relegation over the last three seasons. Considered by many to be a footballing dinosaur, he also kept West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers in the top flight on modest budgets, although his style of football isn’t always pleasing.
Pros: His record with clubs of a similar status to Brighton’s speaks for itself. There is also every chance you’ll spot him in some dodgy Chinese restaurant drinking a pint of wine.
Cons: Probably wouldn’t be that much of a step up on Hughton. Disliked by most supporters at most of his previous clubs and would demand huge wages. Ashworth could still be stung by having to sack him after just one game in charge of England as well.
Bruno
Who is he? The man needs no introduction. One of the most successful captains in Albion history who announced his retirement ahead of the Manchester City game.
Pros: He’d be a hugely popular appointment with both supporters and players. Knows the club as well as anyone having become Mr Brighton during his seven seasons as a player and looks like he has all the tools needed to thrive as a manager in the future.
Cons: Has never coached before in his life, let alone managed. It would be a huge gamble and should things not work out, could adversely affect his standing among Albion fans which would be a real shame given how loved he is.
Ariana Grande
Who is she? American singer who made her name as Cat Valentine in the Nickelodeon television series Victorious before going onto become one of the most popular recording artists on the planet. She has won one Grammy Award, one Brit Award, two Billboard Music Awards and three American Music Awards and is the most followed woman in the world on Instagram.
Pros: Her appointment could see the club gain millions of new fans without having to resort to buying shit Iranians. She also has incredible legs.
Cons: No football experience. And if her recent hit thank u, next is anything to go by, we could end up with a song about all the players she falls out with during her reign.
Eddie Howe
Who is he? The man who has led Plucky Little Bournemouth from League Two relegation candidates to an established Premier League club in two spells spread over a decade at the Vitality Stadium. Those feats have earned him a reputation as one of the best managers in the English game.
Pros: His success with Bournemouth is there for all to see and given that they are one of the model clubs when it comes to a blueprint for establishing yourself in the top flight, Bloom would be mad not to have taken a look at how they’ve done it. We never, ever beat any team he is managing either so at least if he is appointed as Albion boss, that disastrous statistic will come to an end.
Cons: There are some doubts about whether he can succeed away from Bournemouth given his disappointing spell at Burnley. He would also be extremely difficult to lure given his love for the Cherries and the fact they are in a much better place than the Albion currently.
Jose Mourinho
Who is he? The self-styled Special One is one of the best managers of the last 15 years, winning league titles in England, Italy, Portugal and Spain. He does however seem to have lost the plot since guiding Chelsea to the Premier League in 2015 and has subsequently been sacked by both the Blues and Manchester United with pretty unedifying ends to his reigns at both clubs.
Pros: Would be seen as a huge coup by the footballing world to appoint such a big name manager. A born winner who has won trophies everywhere he has gone.
Cons: Has never lasted beyond a third season at any club he has managed. Parks the bus in an even bigger way than Hughton and is a complete egomaniac which probably won’t appeal to Bloom given the problems caused last time we had one in charge in Gus Poyet.
Marcelo Bielsa
Who is he? Current The Leeds United manager and one of the most respected coaches in world football. He has managed the likes of Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Lazio, Lille and both the Argentinian and Chilean national sides. Among his proteges are Mauricio Pochettino, Diego Simeone, Marcelo Gallardo while no less an authority than Guardiola has labeled him as the best coach in the world.
Pros: His reputation and influence on the game are massive. Has coped well with his first season in English football by leading The Leeds United to the play offs and if his public presentation to the media of his scouting report on Derby County is anything to go by, he would be quite the character. It would also be absolutely hilarious to take Leeds’ best manager for years off of them.
Cons: Like Mourinho, he comes across as a bit of an egomaniac. The squad would also have to adapt to his unique demands and given the manner in which they seemingly downed tools in March and April, you’ve got to doubt whether they’d do that.
Phil Mitchell
Who is he? Resident of Walford, East London who likes scotch eggs, sausage rolls and getting shot by the mother of his daughter. He’s a successful entrepreneur with several business interests and is probably a fan of West Ham United.
Pros: Would install real discipline among the players. Nobody would want to step out of line and feel Phil’s wrath given that he has won feuds with half of the East End.
Cons: Having a recovering alcoholic work with players with such a strong drinking culture might lead him to relapse. He was also once a heroin addict and the pressures of being a Premier League manager could force him back to his old ways. Then there is the distraction to come when he inevitably finds out that his employee and daughter’s boyfriend has been having an affair with his wife behind his back for months.
