The 2024/25 football season brought a fresh wave of managerial appointments across Europe’s biggest clubs, with some of the continent’s elite teams opting for a change at the helm. From experienced tacticians to promising new faces eager to leave their mark on the biggest stage, these managers face immense pressure to deliver.
With the opening stages of the season now completed, leaving us with the early results, it is time to assess how these new appointments have fared so far. Have they lived up to expectations, or is there already cause for concern?
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Enzo Maresca – Chelsea – A
Maresca’s appointment as Chelsea manager ahead of this season came as a surprise, especially following the unexpected sacking of Mauricio Pochettino, who had a strong second half of the 2023/24 campaign. Despite Chelsea’s resurgence under Pochettino, the club turned to Maresca, who has relatively limited managerial experience, having spent just six months at Parma and one season at Leicester City.
However, the new Chelsea boss has made an impressive start, with the Blues losing just two of their first nine matches across all competitions—one against Manchester City and the other to FC Servette in the second leg of their Europa Conference League playoff (which Chelsea won on aggregate).
They are also the top scorers of the Premier League after six fixtures and currently unbeaten in their last five outings, including four successive wins, leaving them in great stead heading into the Christmas period.
Hansi Flick – Barcelona – A+
Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach was hired as the new Barcelona manager following Xavi’s departure at the end of last season, and the German has made a phenomenal start at his new club.
They have lost just two of their first nine matches across all competitions while winning the remaining seven, leaving them at the top of the La Liga table with 21 points from eight games. Barcelona also have by far the best goalscoring record so far in the league, scoring 25 goals in eight games, eight more than the second-highest tally.
Flick will want to see an improvement upon their opening-day defeat to Monaco in the Champions League, but the German has otherwise made an impressive start.
Vincent Kompany – Bayern Munich – A+
Despite being relegated with Burnley in 2023/24, Vincent Kompany was unbelievably hired as the Bayern Munich manager ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, and he has made a remarkable start in Germany.
Kompany’s men won their first six matches together, including a staggering 9-2 victory against Dinamo Zagreb in the opening game of the Champions League, followed by a 1-1 draw with the Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in their last outing. An away loss to Aston Villa is a blot on Kompany’s copybook, but overall Kompany has instilled a winning ethos in Germany so far.
They have scored an unbelievable 17 times in five Bundesliga matches, showing Kompany’s huge attacking strength and tactics, and conceded just four times.
Arne Slot – Liverpool – A
Another manager who has enjoyed their start at their new club is new Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
Liverpool have won seven of their opening eight fixtures across all competitions, only losing narrowly 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. Their overall performances in those victories have been largely brilliant, often dominating possession and showing a strong ability to press teams and win the ball back high up the pitch.
After six Premier League outings, Liverpool sit at the top of the table with a point lead over second-placed Manchester City. While it is early days in the league, Slot and Liverpool will be delighted with their beginnings together.
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1 Comment
by Chibundu victor
Cole pama is number one