Chelsea have sacked Thomas Tuchel and former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is among the favourites to replace him. But he wouldn’t be the first coach to cross a bitter derby divide.
Plenty of high-profile managers have been brave enough to take jobs with two rival clubs, including the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham, Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Inter and AC Milan.
Vitriol is often saved for players who ignore historical rivalries to join clubs who have a hatred for one another – with Luis Figo one famous example after swapping Barcelona for Real Madrid.
But what about the managers who have done the same? We’ve taken a look at 17 famous examples.
George Graham
He may have been a strict disciplinarian, but Graham became adored by Arsenal players and fans alike – Paul Merson certainly enjoyed his guidance – after he masterminded the Gunners’ first title in 18 years with that famous victory at Anfield in 1989. Under Graham Arsenal also claimed two League Cups, the FA Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Graham was sacked by Arsenal in 1994 after it was revealed he had taken a bung, and after two years in charge of Leeds United, he controversially joined Tottenham.
The Scot may not have been the most popular figure at White Hart Lane, but he did deliver silverware in the form of the 1999 League Cup – one of only two trophies Spurs have won in the last 25 years.
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho is a repeat offender in this regard – doing it in Spain, then in England.
While never appointed manager at Barcelona, Mourinho spent four years as assistant there before launching his own managerial career in 2000. Louis Van Gaal often took a back seat during his time alongside the Portuguese, who he saw as a future world-class manager.
In 2008, Mourinho was interviewed for the top job at Barcelona, but the hierarchy instead gave it to an untested managerial prospect by the name of Pep Guardiola (whatever happened to him, eh?), who Mourinho had wanted as his assistant were he to take the job.
Mourinho took it personally and in 2010, he returned to Spain, but this time with arch-rivals Real Madrid.
In 2019, Mourinho repeated the divide-crossing trick, signing on as Tottenham manager, much to the displeasure of Spurs fans and those who had once worshipped him at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho achieved nothing like the success he managed in west London after his move to N17, and was sacked in April 2021, less than a week before the League Cup final. Ouch.
Jose…
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