Long post, lads, but I hope it is interesting. Checked some odds and I see Poyet (my choice) 4/1; Pascoe?????? 4/1; Zola 8/1; Martinez 8/1 and Michael Laudrup at 10/1. It's Laudrup who intrigues me and I write a potted history of him gleaned from Wicki. My memory is good but not that good!! Aged 47, ML played for Juventus 1983/89; Barcelona; Real Madrid and Ajax and is widely regarded to be one of the greatest players in the history of football. He won FOUR CONSECUTIVE La Ligas with Barca before moving to Real Madrid and making it five on the bonk, this after winning Serie A in 1985/86. This guy is a winner!! He was regarded as one of the most effective passers and technically accomplished players in the history of the game. He was voted the best foreign player in Spain in the past 25 years and the best in Denmark in the last 50 years. He had 104 caps, 28 as captain and 37 international goals from midfield. He became assistant manager of Denmark, manager of Brondby (winning the league) and went on to manage Getafe, Madrid's third team. There, with modest resources, he got the team to the final of the Copa del Rey and the quarters of the EUFA Cup winning many plaudits for his exciting, attacking style. As assistant boss of Denmark, he favoured a 4 2 3 1 formation depending on two fast wingers and aimed to to dominate matches with a quick, short passing game. (RING ANY BELLS?) At Getafe, he succeeded Bernd Schuster and introduced a new brand of exciting, free flowing attacking football. His last managerial job was at Mallorca (2010/11) where he saved the club from relegation despite the fact that the playing staff had been decimated by financial and injury problems, resigning in protest when his assistant was sacked. ACCOLADES ROMARIO: Best I've played with and the 5th best ever player of all time. RAUL: The best I ever played with. ZAMORANO: Genius. CRUYFF: When Laudrup plays like a dream, like a magic illusion, no other player in the world comes anywhere near him. PLATINI: One of the biggest talents ever. GUARDIOLA: the best player in the world. BECKENBAUER: Pele the 60s, Cruyff the 70s, Maradona the 80s, Laudrup the 90s. CLEMENTE: Laudrup is the most genius player the world has ever seen. ROBERTO GALIA: Played against Maradona, Platini, Baggio but Laudrup was the most indescribable player ever. BAKERO: It is a pleasure to have your day enriched by a genius. KOEMAN: The most skilful player I ever played with. FIGO: The best I ever played against. MOURINHO: Phenomenal at Barcelona. Fantastic player and one I would love to have in my team. STOICHKOV: Michael Laudrup was the greatest ever. INIESTA: Who is the best player in history? Michael Laudrup. Laudrup won Serie A 1985/86 Intercontinental Cup 1985/86 La Liga 1990/91 91/92 92/93 93/94 94/95 Copa del Rey 1990 Spanish Super Cup 1991 and 1992 EUROPEAN CUP 1992 EUFA SUPER CUP 1992 Eridivisie 1997/98 Dutch Cup 1998 PHEW!!!! I realise that great players do not necessarily make great managers but this guy has also managed pretty successfully at a decent level. He is bound to have a wealth of experience to pass on given the clubs he has played for and the players he has played with and against. Nothing but the very best at the highest level! I would be amazed if he wasn't able to improve our side and with a manager like that, there would be no big egos in the dressing room!! I still fancy Poyet but I would be far from upset if Laudrup was appointed. What do the rest of you think?
Not sure how laudrup would cope with a low budget, i dont know enough about his coaching talent im gonna have to get back to you on this one ivor !!
If he can manage half as good as he played in his playing days then I think he would be a good shout....dont get all the fuss with Poyet though!!
here's another .... please log in to view this image Like the Laudrup idea though .... good call Ivor
Norway, Brondby aren't a rich club, neither are Getafe or Mallorca. As a matter of fact, Mallorca were brassic and had to sell their best players whilst many of those that remained were injured. Despite that, Laudrup kept them up against all the odds. I would imagine that he's used to working on a budget and I guess he's made plenty of money from his time in the game, so wouldn't be demanding a huge salary. He might welcome a crack at the Premier League at sensible wages. I'm not saying that he would be a success. Who can tell? But if he can manage anything like he could play, as Jackdan observed, he could be worth a punt.
Just been reading about him. Forgot what a brilliant player he was. He would certainly keep our footballing ethic going has bags of experience as a manager and can certainly work to a budget as he didn't have one with mallorca so our budget in comparison would be tempting
What about (and I know he's not linked in any way but) Dennis Bergkamp? Quite like the Laudrup shout though
Great shout Ivor, he's definitely one of my favourites too. He's spoken to Blackburn and West ham before apparently, so why not the Swans? Sign him up! God he was class in his day... Tell you what, leak that we're approaching him and it might swing the Siggy deal...
Now that IS a dark horse, ivor. Good shout. I agree that Poyet would be good for us he and is also my favourite. Brighton play some decent stuff and Poyet's philosophy fits ours like a glove. Laudrup would be a great signing, as would Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Pascoe? God No. Malky? Ditto.
Ivor - you should consider being a non-exec / consultant at the Liberty - yet again another insightful gem !
Just took a look at some odds and Jones has edged out from 1/5 or 1/10 to 2/5 so his chances, although still good, have halved. Thinking Laudrup again, he is still being quoted and I came across an article describing him as one of the most exciting managers around because of the fast, attacking, possession football that he favours. Taking this further, IF we could get him, what a fabulous statement this would make to the world of football in general and the Premier League in particular. Little old Swansea City has really arrived!! It would also show Rodgers that there is life after him. I believe that with a man of his huge profile at the helm, it would be an attraction for quality players to join us who otherwise might never have considered us, I think Siggy, for instance, would be sorely tempted and others would follow as and when we could afford them. There are no guarantees of success, of course, but I really rate him as an option (if affordable). If not, as stated elsewhere, Poyet would do me fine.
Don't know if mentioned before, but this guy is looking for work. Full name Luis Enrique MartÃnez GarcÃa Date of birth May 8, 1970 (age 42) Place of birth Gijón, Spain Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Playing position Midfielder / Striker Youth career 1981–1988 Sporting Gijón 1984–1988 → La Braña (loan) Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1988–1990 Sporting B ? (?) 1989–1991 Sporting Gijón 36 (14) 1991–1996 Real Madrid 157 (15) 1996–2004 Barcelona 207 (73) Total 400 (102) National team 1990–1991 Spain U21 5 (0) 1991–1992 Spain U23 14 (3) 1991–2002 Spain 62 (12) Teams managed 2008–2011 Barcelona B 2011–2012 Roma
Zola anyone? OK he didnt do brilliantly at West Ham but his philosophy is to play in a similar way and he could show one or two of our boys how to take a good free kick.
