Arnesen Resigns

[Backbiter]

So says the Daily Heil:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1333490/Frank-Arnesen-Chelsea-Carlo-Ancelotti-aide-calls-time--EXCLUSIVE.html

[Zola]

If this is true then what the f**k is going on.

if not, well then the press will continue to spin

[Hutch]

Manchester City and Aston Villa are among the Premier League clubs interested in keeping the 54-year-old Dane in English football.

Could it be he's had a better offer? Been tapped up, even.

Assuming there's any truth to this, of course.

Edited November 26, 2010 by Hutch

[mad_mac]

Not a single quote from Arnesen, or even a "close insider." The only quote they have is from Ancelloti sayin "I am under pressure" but not necessarily relevant to this story.

It looks like the Heil as just stirring up sh*t, with more "close confidants" to Carlo leaving, and that Carlo is still "reeling" after Wilkins' departure.

A complete non story, and again they have Arnesen linked with going to Citeh.

Don't buy it for a moment

[Scooby Blue]

Typical anti-Chelsea spin by the looks of it. It'll give every other news provider (bullsh*t machine) something to feed off for the next couple of days. If it is true, as Hutch pointed out, maybe he's been tapped up? It certainly wouldn't surprise me. Having said I thought we were the only club that tapped people up? Well according to the gutter press we are. Like any other club would possibly sink to the lows of that success buying Russian crook.

God I'm in a funny mood tonight, I'm waiting for a story similar to the Butch - Abramovich fallout. I can see the headlines already..... 'Arnesen quits after fallout as Roman declares he's had enough' Followed by 'Chelsea never invest in youth' followed by 'Chelsea at breaking point as entire squad consider strike', followed by 'Roman to sell Chelsea at a loss as recent problems take there toll', followed by Roman has change of heart as he pledges £150m investment in January'

Chelsea in crisis aaarrgh!! I crave being stood on the Shed losing 2-0 to Norwich right now ;)

Bollocks!!!!! I'm off to take my booze fueled stuper off to watch the Ashes.

Sorry rant over.

[Hutch]

ARNESEN RESIGNS

Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Frank Arnesen has resigned from his position of sporting director effective at the end of this season.‪

In tendering his resignation Frank said, 'It has been a privilege and an honour for me to work for such a big club with so many great people.

'After six wonderful years I have decided to seek a new challenge when my contract expires at the end of this season.'

'It has been a tremendous journey and I would like to thank everyone at Chelsea, especially Roman [Abramovich], for giving me the incredible opportunity to help build on the club's Academy and youth system along with our greatly talented academy and scouting staff.

'We are now seeing the fruits of that labour as our stated aim was to get one player from the Academy into the first team each year from 2010. We have a great crop of young players now coming through, and I feel it's the right time for me to start looking towards a new challenge.

'The past two years I've worked more closely with the first team as sporting director, and it has been a joy to work alongside Carlo Ancelotti and this exceptionally talented squad and staff.

'It is always difficult to take big decisions like this, but it is entirely my decision. I'm looking forward to continuing my work here until such time as the club decides which way they want to move forward. With that in mind I wanted to make the decision now, giving the club plenty of time to make the necessary plans for the end of the season. I will always be grateful to the club and Chelsea will always be in my heart.

'Chelsea FC chairman Bruce Buck said, 'Frank has spoken to me several times over the past year with regards to seeking new challenges, so his decision comes as no surprise to us. Frank has done an exceptional job here at Chelsea over the last six years and the incredibly strong Academy and youth system Frank leaves behind him is a fitting tribute to his time at Chelsea. We do appreciate that he has given us plenty of notice which gives us time to consider whether and how we restructure the football department.

'Frank has told us he has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Chelsea and we've thoroughly enjoyed having him. On behalf of everyone at the club I thank him for all his efforts and wish him well as he considers his next football challenge.'

LINK

[Anders]

It's confirmed on the official site now. Came as a surprise.

http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2231696,00.html

[ethicalstrategy]

Thats sort of how I expected Wilkins departure to be dealt with.

[abramovich]

I guess that means the rumors of Beguiristain joining the club were true.

[Hutch]

Thats sort of how I expected Wilkins departure to be dealt with.

There's a bit of a difference between the two cases though. For reasons unknown (let's not go there again) Ray Wilkins' services were no longer required by the club, whereas Arnesen's resignation appears to be his own decision.

Edit: Or maybe I'm being naive.

Edited November 27, 2010 by Hutch

[ethicalstrategy]

Jumped before he was pushed?

[Backbiter]

It's not really a big surprise. If you're given a job to establish the Academy and you work at this for 5 years, it seems pretty reasonable to decide you'd like to do something else in football, maybe something more in touch with a club's first XI.

There will always be some question marks for me about what he's done for the club. It seems pretty clear that his arrival marked the beginning of the end for José, and I am pretty sure he was behind some unsuccessful signings, such as signing of Boulahrouz as a direct replacement for Gallas, which did not go down well with José. I know he was meant to concentrate on the recruitment of youngsters, but as the Heil says, he was 'in charge of all player recruitment', which hasn't been great in recent seasons in my view (Ben Haim? Deco? Turnbull?).

[Guest Sindre]

The guy gets quite a lot of stick by a few here but this Dan Levene predicted this a few weeks back...

http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/london-sport/comment/2010/11/12/the-power-games-behind-ray-wilkins-chelsea-sacking-82029-27647514/

The word currently doing the rounds in some quarters is explosive: that Carlo Ancelotti's days at Stamford Bridge may be numbered. Specifically, they say, they are numbered to the last day of the season: after which a club from the north with lots of cash would like to put a proposition to him. Thus, Chelsea are already looking towards next season.

There is speculation within the corridors of Cobham that Pep Guardiola and his Barcelona management team are being tentatively lined-up to replace Ancelotti's outfit, and that Emenalo may be promoted to assistant to perform a supervisory role like Grant previously did when Jose Mourinho was boss.

If this is an accurate explanation, then the next man who should be fearful of his position is Chelsea director of football Frank Arnesen: who may soon find the name on his office door replaced by that of his former Barcelona equivalent Txiki Begiristain.

[Randy36]

So the man who brought the great Ronaldo to Europe, recognised Peter Cech as a future great, and influenced Mourinho in signing Drogba has left Stamford Bridge. I would have thought that Arnsen would stay on to witness all his hard work with the youngsters coming to fruition. My concern is that the problem may be a little deeper than just the Wilkins Exit!

[Zola]

I find it interesting that everyone calls this blues chronicle guy a complete goat, when in fact he has gotten at least two massive calls right before the papers have.

Firstly with the new assistant and now with Frank.

Say what you like but he has obviously got an inside source somewhere.

[Hutch]

I find it interesting that everyone calls this blues chronicle guy a complete goat, when in fact he has gotten at least two massive calls right before the papers have.

Firstly with the new assistant and now with Frank.

Say what you like but he has obviously got an inside source somewhere.

Perhaps. Emanalo could have been an educated guess - not much of a guess if he made his prediction after the club had announced that the new appointment would be from within. If Begiristain, and even more so Guardiola are at Chelsea next season, then you undeniably have a point. In the meantime, we'll have to wait and see.

There are of course plenty of "Guardiola to take over at Chelsea" type rumours floating around. Here's one from a couple of days ago:

Guardiola Will Manage Chelsea Next Season

What a few weeks it’s been for Carlo Ancelotti. First he loses his Captain. Then he loses his Assistant Manager. Then he loses 3 games in 4. Now is he set to lose his job? And to Pep Guardiola??

Yes that’s right, with Ancelotti feeling his days are numbered at Stamford Bridge it looks as if Guardiola is set to take over as of next season, as he chooses not to renew his contract at Barcelona.

And this is exactly what Roman Abramovich wants. He, and Chelsea Executive Director Ron Gourley, who have met with Barcelona officials already, are not happy with Ancelotti’s record so far this season and as the Italian has now admitted that he feels undermined in matters such as team selection and his backroom staff, it seems that the Chelsea owner will get his man in his eternal search for the perfect manager – namely one who he has picked, who wins and plays stylish football.

Reports suggest that Abramovich has already decided to terminate Ancelotti’s contract at the end of the season, and as Guardiola looks for pastures new and the new challenge of the Premiership, this one looks like a dead cert.

LINK

[The Moos]

I really can't see why we would get rid of Ancelotti and get Guardiola instead.

Ancelotti got us the double last season and has done well so far considering the problems we've had.

And I don't rate Guardiola at all.

If this is the first steps to get rid of Ancelotti and get Guardiola, then I will be extremely disappointed in the people in charge.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

Its very very strange all this. Although after Roman tried to get Ancelotti for years after winning the double why would he squeeze him out?

Tbh if Carlo did leave why would anyone want the Chelsea job its one hell of a poisoned chalice these days.

[abramovich]

So the man who brought the great Ronaldo to Europe, recognised Peter Cech as a future great, and influenced Mourinho in signing Drogba has left Stamford Bridge. I would have thought that Arnsen would stay on to witness all his hard work with the youngsters coming to fruition. My concern is that the problem may be a little deeper than just the Wilkins Exit!

I think you got some of your facts wrong.

I did hear about Arnesen discovering Ronaldo and bringing him to Holland.

He may have known about Cech but he had nothing to do with Peter joining our club, it was back during 2003/04 season when he was signed(to join at the end of a season) and Arnesen wasn't around at the time.

Drogba was bought in the summer of 2004, a year before before Arnesen's arrival.

[Hutch]

Its very very strange all this. Although after Roman tried to get Ancelotti for years after winning the double why would he squeeze him out?

Tbh if Carlo did leave why would anyone want the Chelsea job its one hell of a poisoned chalice these days.

It's all media speculation. This interview with Carlo Ancelotti paints a very different picture:

Ancelotti calms fears of Abramovich impatience

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insists he is under no pressure from owner Roman Abramovich.

The Blues boss has seen his side lose three of their last four Premier League games and will take his team to Newcastle on Sunday still missing the experience of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien.

But while Ancelotti admits he felt under pressure when Chelsea lost to Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League last season he maintains there has been no heat from Abramovich. The expectation comes from himself.

Ancelotti said: "The owner doesn't put me under pressure. After the defeat against Inter it was normal to be under pressure because we didn't reach our result in the Champions League.

"It wasn't the owner who put me under pressure. He always supports me and is supporting me also in this moment.

"To be under pressure doesn't mean I'm not safe. It's normal to be under pressure. Under pressure I have more concentration.

"You have to look at the results. The results are not good and I have to take my responsibility and stay more in focus on my job.

"I have to use all my experience to give more opportunities to the players to do better."

LINK

[TheWestwayWonder]

I dont like the looks of this one bit. Just an unreal amount of uncertainty. And like others, I wonder why this couldnt be the way we handled the Wilkins fiasco?

I wrote a whole big thing about Arnesen and why he got too much stick, but that is old news. He has been vindicated in part by the rise of youth this season. As for Roman, and these rumors of bringing in Barcelona staff, this club has its own identity. I dont think 103 goals and the double left anyone wondering "oh, thats great, but if only we played more like Barca". To hell with that.

I think you got some of your facts wrong.

I did hear about Arnesen discovering Ronaldo and bringing him to Holland.

He may have known about Cech but he had nothing to do with Peter joining our club, it was back during 2003/04 season when he was signed(to join at the end of a season) and Arnesen wasn't around at the time.

Drogba was bought in the summer of 2004, a year before before Arnesen's arrival.

Thank you for correcting that. He also had a hand in PSV bringing in Gudjohnsen and van Nistelrooy, but not the players mentioned here. Its funny how Arnesen is either the man responsible for SARS or, now that he's gone, a peerless genius.

[mad_mac]

Seems quite civil, nothing too cloak and dagger about this (as there has been with the dismisal of Butch), and it's not "effective Immediately" as Arnesen himself has stated that he want's to leave at the end of the season.

I think this is potentially larger than we can comprehend. First off, we sign a deal with some Eastern European team in regards to their youth team. Also, Arnesen has built cobham into something we had all asked for, and by all accounts Roman had wanted: a self sustaining academy producing some potential first teamers; we're there!

Now, the man that helped build this new facility into what it is today, is off at the end of the season. If we do replace him with Begiristain at the end of the season, I think Roman is really looking at Barcelona as his "clone" club, and is wanting Chelsea to become them. I'm just glad that Arnesen leaving has come to light now, and he's made an official statement. At least now the press can speculate who is coming in, and (hopefully) quit running stories about "unrest at Cobham" etc.

If Roman is getting impatient, then he needs to realise that we're not even half way through the season yet. So quite what the press are claiming he's "impatient" about, I have no idea.

Thank you for all you have done for us, Frank. I think Man Citeh may be looking at you with a simlilar 6 year program to what you've achieved with us.

Scott

[Randy36]

I think you got some of your facts wrong.

I did hear about Arnesen discovering Ronaldo and bringing him to Holland.

He may have known about Cech but he had nothing to do with Peter joining our club, it was back during 2003/04 season when he was signed(to join at the end of a season) and Arnesen wasn't around at the time.

Drogba was bought in the summer of 2004, a year before before Arnesen's arrival.

We agree that Arnsen brought Ronaldo to Europe.

As for Cech I was just pointing out how astute Arnesen was in recognising Cech as a future great. I'm aware of the fact that Arsenen was not at the Bridge when Cech was signed.

I'm also aware that Drogba was at the Bridge before Arnesen arrived. What I meant to get acroos was that Arnesen influenced Mourinho into accepting the fact that Drogba was potentiakl world class.

Thank you for pointing out some discrepancies.

[ColeMan]

Seems quite civil, nothing too cloak and dagger about this (as there has been with the dismisal of Butch), and it's not "effective Immediately" as Arnesen himself has stated that he want's to leave at the end of the season.

I think this is potentially larger than we can comprehend. First off, we sign a deal with some Eastern European team in regards to their youth team. Also, Arnesen has built cobham into something we had all asked for, and by all accounts Roman had wanted: a self sustaining academy producing some potential first teamers; we're there!

Now, the man that helped build this new facility into what it is today, is off at the end of the season. If we do replace him with Begiristain at the end of the season, I think Roman is really looking at Barcelona as his "clone" club, and is wanting Chelsea to become them. I'm just glad that Arnesen leaving has come to light now, and he's made an official statement. At least now the press can speculate who is coming in, and (hopefully) quit running stories about "unrest at Cobham" etc.

If Roman is getting impatient, then he needs to realise that we're not even half way through the season yet. So quite what the press are claiming he's "impatient" about, I have no idea.

Thank you for all you have done for us, Frank. I think Man Citeh may be looking at you with a simlilar 6 year program to what you've achieved with us.

Scott

there is nothing wrong with trying to imitate the Barcelona style as it is definitely the most attractive way to play football. But if that is Roman's intention, then he really will have to dig very deeply into his pockets to achieve it.

Arnesen has done most of what he was brought in for, and should be applauded and thanked for all his efforts.

One of the differences between his and Ray Wilkins departures is their respective position with regards to Roman's inner sanctum.

[Spiller86]

That's how Wilkins departure should have been dealt with.

Fixed it for you ethical.