For the first time in history, three of the most pivotal roles in English soccer are being held by Italian soccer managers. And during the coming few months, their names may become embellished in the annals of soccer history. The question is whether they will achieve the tough goals that have been set for them, or they will unfortunately go the same way as their predecessors. Lots of potential but no awards. The three managers in question come with tremendous credentials and all have won awards both as players in their Italy as well as managers. In case you haven't guessed the three managers who will be under the spot lamp till the end of the summer are Roberto Mancini of Manchester City, Carlo Ancelotti of Chelsea and Fabio Capello, the England International team manager. While none of them ever played together or even outside Italy, all of them pulled on the national soccer uniform with considerable distinction.
Mancini comes up first, because he was the last to arrive on the English scene to manage Manchester City. He arrived somewhat under a cloud, not of his own making, after the acrimonious sacking of Mark Hughes. The appointment of Mancini initially looked like a good idea as City began to win games instead of drawing them, which they did with remarkable regularity. Roberto started well with a few wins, but City's form has slipped recently, and they were ousted from the FA cup by lowly Stoke City. City's and Mancini's only hope for glory remaining this season is to book that hard fought for fourth place in the Premier League and with it a ticket to next season's Champions league. Competition will be tough, with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Tottenham all in with a chance. If Mancini succeeds in steering City into fourth place, he will surely be around to guide them next season, and even if he doesn't him might well still be.
Also feeling the pressure just now will be Carlo Ancelotti of Chelsea. Chelsea go into action tomorrow in what will be a very significant month for them, and one which may well decide if Carlo will make it past his first season. Which is something of an achievement at a club who has gone through five managers in the last three seasons (if you count Butch Wilkins who managed them for a single game)? Carlo's and Chelsea's challenge begins tomorrow with a cup game against Stoke at home. A week on Tuesday, Chelsea face Inter Milan in the second leg of their Uefa Champions League at home. They will have to overcome a 2-1 away defeat as well as the mind games of their former iconic manager José Mourinho. The crunch time for Chelsea's season draws to an end on the third of April when they head to Old Trafford for what could well be the Premier League Championship decider. Depending on how Chelsea fare in the coming month, and even more so in the following one, will determine whether Ancelotti's stay in England will be considered a success or not. Lifting the Champions League Trophy at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid in May might be the only real guarantee that the Carlo will become the first Chelsea manager in years to keep his job for more than one season.
Looking down on his two younger colleagues from above is Fabio Capello, the England team manager. Capello has worked wonders in reshaping the England team squad and restoring their somewhat faded prestige. He led them to South Africa with a lot of class and aplomb, and a relatively easy draw should see them through the group stages, after that, it's all down to the luck of the draw,
What's for sure is that the next few months are going to be hot for these sons of Italy and for all of England.
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