Posted October 26, 201113 yr Europe’s New Elite Since Abramovich’s takeover at Stamford Bridge in 2003, Chelsea have shown the world that money attracts the biggest and best players from across the globe; Eventually equalling success. The blue-print lay down in West London is somewhat of an inspiration to many clubs, across Europe particularly. From a slightly above average Premier League side, Chelsea now challenge for trophies on every front, having won three Premier League titles, three F.A Cups, two League Cups and two Community Shields since Abramovich’s revival. These domestic achievements coincide with constant European qualification, even though the Champions League trophy continues to elude them. Despite finishing runners up to Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in Moscow in May 2008, the constant pressure to deliver in Europe has seen Chelsea sack six managers since 2003, only once reaching the final of the competition in the process. Although one trophy still remains out of Chelsea’s grasp, clubs across Europe are angling for investment of Abramovich proportion, in an attempt to change their fortunes, and bring success to their respected clubs. If Chelsea’s plan of action is anything to go by, success and excitement is virtually guaranteed, but with that comes great responsibility, pressure and limited time. In the last 3 years, Europe has seen a renaissance in big money takeovers. Manchester City in 2008, under Sheikh Mansour, Malaga in 2010 with Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani, of the Qatari Royal family, the source of the takeover and most recently Paris Saint Germain and Anzhi Makhachkla in 2011. PSG were also the subject of investment through a Qatari source in ‘Qatar Investment Authority’, whilst Anzhi were purchased by Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov. This article looks to introduce and analyse each clubs meteoric rise to fame, and the new generation that has been introduced into these cities. Manchester City When Sheikh Mansour announced his deal to take-over the blue half of Manchester, not many would have expected this level of success so early. October 2011, and City sit top of the Premier League table, whilst proving no pushovers in their Champion’s League group, including Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal. In Mansour’s second active transfer window, City spent over £100million, with players such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and most notably Carlos Tevez, joining previous record signing Robinho at City. This abundance of talent heading to Eastland’s were soon under the tutorage of Roberto Mancini, as the board lost patience with Mark Hughes, before the Christmas period; A dismissal which typifies work under a billionaire owner, consistent pressure to succeed with constant criticism. Despite finishing 10th, and reaching the Quarter Finals of the Uefa Cup the previous season, Hughes was sacked. Under former Inter manager Mancini, City managed to finish 5th, narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot, which, being considered a failure, was just reason to reinforce the squad, on another enormous scale. Summer 2010 saw another array of top quality players linked to the City of Manchester. Brought in were James Milner, Mario Balotelli, Erin Dzeko, Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure, Aleksander Kolarov and David Silva. The spending again totalled over £100million, as City fans viewed this coming season as their chance to break into the Champions League spots, secure a domestic trophy, and challenge City rivals United for the Premier League title. A very successful season saw Mancini’s men finish third, joint second with Chelsea, qualifying for the Champions League, whilst also winning the FA Cup, after a semi-final victory over rivals Man United at Wembley. The season was deemed successful, with the majority of City fans ecstatic at the prospect of Champions League football next year, as they persisted in challenging Man United for dominance of the area. This coming season has welcomed Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy, Stefan Savic and Sergio Aguero, as City look to really stake a claim for the Premier League title, whilst competing in the Champions League. Mancini’s squad seems large enough, and good enough to make a real impact in both competitions, while the Carlos Tevez saga of recent weeks, shows Mancini has the support of the City board. Reports suggest that since August 2008, Sheikh Mansour has spent in excess of £1billion at Man City, an outstanding fee that demonstrates the economic surge in modern day football. The price of success in football today, in this case the Premier League, is astonishing. Chelsea, in a different economic climate brought success to Stamford Bridge on a smaller budget, but with time surpassing, and the economy suffering, the price of success seems to be on the rise in football terms. Players are becoming much more expensive, whilst the price of success for City’s fellow billionaire clubs Malaga, PSG and Anzhi looks to be ever increasing. Malaga Only in 2008, did Malaga secure promotion back to the Spanish top-flight, as financial issues crippled the Southern club. Under extreme economic problems, Malaga were forced to re-issue their club in 1992, renaming themselves in the process. Since then the only honours reached by a relatively average club, have been the Second division title, and the Intertoto Cup. In 2010, with the club in the relegation zone, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani, of the Qatari Royal family arrived, and immediately introduced former Real Madrid manager, Manuel Pellegrini in charge. Upon his arrival, rather than be drawn on comparisons to big spending Manchester City, Sheikh Abdullar stated "We have our own plans and methods of eventually making Malaga CF one of the best teams in Spain, and the World". With Pellgrini’s first task, being to stave of the threat of relegation, he initially brought in experience, with Julio Baptista, Martin Demichelis and Enzo Marezca arriving. These new signings helped the side to five consecutive wins, which saw Malaga finish in an impressive position of 11th place. Pellegrini’s heroics at the end of last year saw him sign a three year deal with the Spanish side, as they looked to the future under their new investors. This summer saw Malaga spend approximately 58million Euros, more than Barcelona and Real Madrid, second only to big spenders Ateltico Madrid. As Pellegrini’s side look towards Europe this coming campaign, signings included, Arsenal target Santi Cazorla for £21million, alongside experienced internationals Ruud Van Nisterlrooy, Joaquin, Jeremy Toulalan and Dutch defender Joris Mathijsen. These somewhat veteran signings seem a world away from typical billionaire like signings, with the latter four signings all aged over 30, Pellegrini’s ambition is obvious, to establish Malaga as a La Liga side. With European qualification expected by many in the South of Spain, whether or not Pellegrini’s aims leave the over expectant fans content, only time will tell. As previously stated, pressure will be on from the start, while Malaga look for a quick start to the season, Pellegrini will sure be wary, in the same way Mark Hughes and Claudio Ranieri left Manchester City and Chelsea, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani will expect a successful start to the campaign, in order to prevent him wielding the axe. Paris Saint Germain Founded in 1970, PSG have been playing in Ligue 1, the French top flight, since 1974, a record which still stands today. Despite being considered one of the most successful outfits in French football, recent years have proved tough for PSG as they finished in15th place during the 2007-2008 season and then one place lower the season after. Rumours began to circulate as to a possible takeover in Paris, as PSG announced, on the 31st May 2011, that ‘Qatar Investment Authority’ had brought a 70% stake in the club, and would act as they clubs main investors from this point on. This summer coincidentally was viewed by many, as the first process of rebuilding, as PSG, under manager Antoine Kombouaré, looked to secure some fairly high profile signings to strengthen his side. The summer expenditure reached over 80million Euros, as PSG broke the Ligue 1 transfer record, with a 42million Euro move for Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore. Alongside the Argentine, Kombouare brought in experienced Uruguayan defender Diego Lugano, Juventus midfielder Mohammed Sissoko, highly rated French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, Roma's Jeremy Menez and finally the prolific Kevin Gameiro from Ligue 1 rivals Lorient.These signings were brought in, to introduce a new generation at the Parc De Princess in Paris, a mixture of experience and youthfulness that would help turn PSG fortunes, and see them challening for the Ligue 1 title once more. Kombouare's position as manager is viewed by many as unstable. The former PSG defender's contract runs out in 2012, and despite many people sharing the view that he has the club playing the best football for many years, Kombouare's job will be based on results and short term success. As is the case with many take-overs, time is of the essence, as investors expect early success, especially investors of this magnitude. Having fell to defeat on the opening day of the season, PSG have failed to lose since, winning 7 games and drawing 2, consolidating Kombouare's position as manager of the side, for now. Two new signings, in Kevin Gameiro and Javier Pastore have set the league alight, capitalising on PSG's attacking approach, scoring 13 goals between them, in the opening 10 games. The current mood in Paris is one of excitement and increasing potential, as PSG compete in both the Ligue 1 and the Europa League. Only a strong season this campaign, aided by the welcome reinforcements come January, will see Kombouare keep his job, with constant pressure for consistent results weighing him down all season. For his sake, and those of his players, PSG will need to carry on in such rich form, if Kombouare is to avoid the sack, by a fickle and inpatient board that are eventually guaranteed with such investment. Anzhi Makhachkala The most recently founded club in this article, as the Russian side entered the second division of Russian football in 1992. Although Anzhi have only been in existence a relatively short time, they managed to finish 4th in the Russian Premier Division in 2001, on the back of their promotion to the top flight the year before. Despite relegation next year, the ‘Dagestani’ are now back in the Russian Premier League, after a 7 year absence. Upon promotion in 2009, Anzhi were the subject of take-over rumours, which eventually saw Russian billionaire Suleyman Kerimov take control of the Russian outfit with 100% control. The winter transfers saw a transition phase for Anzhi, Brazilian defender and World Cup winner Roberto Carlos signed for the club. Also coming into the club was highly-rated Moroccan midfielder Mbark Boussoufa from Anderlecht, on a three year deal. The previous season saw Anzhi finish in 11th place out of 16 teams. The 2011 season began in March of this year, running to November, to avoid playing in the freezing conditions. Anzhi's form throughout the campaign was inconsistent, as they found themselves in mid-table. Despite objections from the fans, Anzhi kept faith with then manager Gadzhi Gadzhiyev, backing him in the upcoming transfer window. The summer of 2011 saw an even more impressive array of talent come to Russia. In came Hungarian play-maker Balázs Dzsudzsák for £14million alongside Versatile Yuri Zhirkov from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. These signings as expected excited Anzhi fans, although the final signing was the one that caught the imagination of the whole footballing world. In came Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o for a reported fee of £28million. The huge talking point over the move, was Anzhi’s proposed wage for Eto’o, which will see him earn around £20million a year. The excitement for fans wasn't over yet, as a World record fee of £85 million had been agreed with FC Porto, for their Brazilian striker ‘Hulk’. However at the last minute of the deal, Porto requested £91million, which proved a stumbling block, and eventually left the move un-negotiable. Despite the introduction of Eto'o and co, they could not help improve Anzhi's inconsistency, as September saw Gadzhiyev sacked, with Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos named temporarily in charge. Anzhi now sit comfortably in 8th place, only seven points off 4th, with only three games to go. Despite the initial season under Suleyman Kerimov proving somewhat unsuccessful, the Russian side’s aims are clear for everyone to see. For example a World transfer record £85 million bid for FC Porto striker Hulk, on deadline day, as well as the constant association with England manager Fabio Capello, outline the ambition of a side who long to dominate Russian football, compete in the Champions League and promote and improve football in Russia. By the time the World Cup is held in Russia in 2018, Anzhi Makhachkala are destined to be the major club force in Russia, competing in Europe and challenging for domestic honours. Although this project may be viewed as slightly more difficult than other take-overs in mainland Europe; the excitement surrounding Anzhi's adventure is sure to attract more big name stars, as is the enormous wage benefits needed to convince them a move to Russia is in their best interests. Although understandably a larger scale transformation, Suleyman Kerimov will surely realise the extent of his plans, and the time it may possibly take. Which turns in favour of Gadzhiyev's successor, with success still expected next year, patience may also prove key, as Anzhi look destined to dominate Russian football for years to come.
October 26, 201113 yr We arent like those teams well except PSG, we are not village team like anzhi or malaga or city ..
October 28, 201113 yr We arent like those teams well except PSG, we are not village team like anzhi or malaga or city .. You're calling Man City a "village team"?
October 30, 201113 yr Author Good post, Sean. Thanks for the feedback, appreciated. http://associationfootball92.blogspot.com/ few more articles here if anyone fancies a read. Thanks again
