By Zach Lowy
Christian Ilzer, Hoffenheim
Like Amorim, Christian Ilzer arrived at Sturm Graz in 2020, and just like the Portuguese supervisor, he efficiently ended a prolonged title drought. After ending as runner-ups in 2021/22 and 2022/23, Sturm Graz lastly toppled Purple Bull Salzburg’s dynasty and claimed their first league title in 13 years, along with the Austrian Cup. Like Sporting, they’ve delivered a powerful begin to their title defence, sitting three factors clear atop the Austrian Bundesliga desk, but when they’re to assert back-to-back league titles, they’ll have to take action with out Ilzer, who has moved to the German Bundesliga to switch Pellegrino Matarazzo at Hoffenheim.
“Christian Ilzer’s 4-3-1-2 focuses on central dominance, fast transitions, and excessive urgent, with the midfielders dictating play, fullbacks offering width and strikers exploiting defensive gaps, and the Bundesliga ought to go well with his counter-pressing fashion,” stated Elijah Kaneki, a video scout for Malmö. Ilzer has gone from preventing for silverware in Austria to battling relegation in Germany at TSG Hoffenheim, who’ve reportedly paid €2.5 million to get him out of his contract. Hoffenheim sit fifteenth within the desk, one level above the relegation playoff, and they are going to be seeking to pull off a significant upset towards an RB Leipzig aspect that has received every of its final three matches.
Patrick Vieira, Genoa
Regardless of accumulating 4 factors in his final two matches in Serie A, Alberto Gilardino was sacked as Genoa supervisor and changed by Patrick Vieira. The Frenchman has reunited with Mario Balotelli for the third time, having beforehand labored collectively as teammates at Inter and Manchester Metropolis. Vieira’s appointment as Good supervisor was the primary catalyst in Balotelli’s resolution to go away the Allianz Riviera, with Vieira admitting in 2020: “Mario’s mindset was tough for a collective sport. The philosophy I needed to place in place, the togetherness and work ethic I needed to construct, it was tough for me to work with a participant like Mario. It was actually tough for each of us to work collectively, so we determined to go alternative ways.”
Though it may very well be a clumsy reunion for Balotelli, who arrived on October 28, they are going to be seeking to put their variations apart and switch a brand new leaf at Genoa. Having completed eleventh of their return to Serie A final season, the Grifone discover themselves in grave hazard of taking place, sitting one level above the relegation zone, and they’re in determined want of a win towards Cagliari on Sunday.
Marco Giampaolo, Lecce
While Amorim and Ilzer can be seeking to replicate their membership legend standing at their new crew, Marco Giampaolo can be making his long-awaited return to teaching. He has not managed since a 3-0 house defeat to Monza on October 2, 2022, which left Sampdoria stranded in final place, and he’s bought a tall process forward of him as he appears to be like to steer Lecce to their first away win since April 21. The truth is, Lecce’s sole two away wins because the begin of the 2023/24 season have come towards two groups which might be presently in Serie B: Salernitana and Sassuolo.
Giampaolo has reunited with Croatian ahead Ante Rebić, having beforehand coached him at Milan, and he’ll be relying on him to steer the road in a crew whose pitiful attacking risk has landed them within the relegation zone. Lecce have scored 5 targets – the worst assault in Serie A by a margin of 4 targets – and conceded 21. Can they flip round their woeful away kind with a win at Venezia on Monday?
Jorge Sampaoli, Rennes
With a web value of $27.1 billion, Rennes president François Pinault is the wealthiest particular person proprietor in French soccer, and while he’s been in a position to make a press release within the switch market – Rennes spent €78.3m final summer time, second solely to PSG, Lyon, and Marseille – this hasn’t fairly translated to success on the pitch. Regardless of having the seventh-highest market worth in Ligue 1 (€203.25m), Rennes presently sit thirteenth within the desk – one level away from the relegation playoff place – with twice as many losses (6) as wins (3). It’s why Pinault had no different selection however to axe membership legend Julien Stéphan after a 4-0 thrashing to Auxerre, with Rennes shedding 2-0 to Toulouse within the following week, and rent Argentine supervisor Jorge Sampaoli.
“Stéphan began the season making an attempt to play a selected system which labored properly, however then Benjamin Bourigeaud left and the wheels got here off, as Stephan’s crew choice posed extra questions than solutions,” stated John Grey, a Rennes season ticket holder since 2007. “In the direction of the top, the physique language of the gamers was fairly terrible, and Stéphan misplaced the entire credit score he had for the Europa League run, Champions League qualification and profitable a primary main trophy in 48 years. Followers are praying that the Sampaoli impact will get a crew taking part in of their positions with extra dedication to the trigger, however with a good chunk of his first-team squad solely getting again previously day or so from the worldwide break, getting some extent of their first match, which comes away at Lille, can be simpler stated than performed.”
Claudio Ranieri, Roma
It has been a half-century since Claudio Ranieri started his taking part in profession at hometown membership Roma. It has been 15 years since Ranieri took cost of Roma for the primary time, 5 years since he returned for a second spell, and 6 months since he introduced his retirement after guiding Cagliari to security final season. And but, the 73-year-old is again within the recreation, changing into Roma’s fourth everlasting supervisor of 2024 after José Mourinho, Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Jurić. The Giallorossi have misplaced 4 of their final 5 league matches and discover themselves mired in twelfth place, and so they’ll be relying on the Tinkerman as they give the impression of being to navigate a cumbersome post-international break schedule that can characteristic journeys to Napoli and Tottenham and a house match vs. Atalanta.
Roma discover themselves in peril of lacking out on European soccer for the primary time in 13 years after a chilly streak that has seen them win simply two of their final 9 and concede 3+ targets to in three of their final 5 matches. Nonetheless, if there’s one man who is aware of a factor about conjuring up a miracle out of skinny air, it’s Ranieri.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
You possibly can comply with all of the motion from Europe’s high leagues on FotMob – with in-depth stat protection together with xG, shot maps, and participant rankings. Obtain the free app right here.