Andre Villas-Boas: Roma and 4 Spots the Former Chelsea Manager Could Land

Andre Villas-Boas may no longer be at the helm of Chelsea FC, but he will almost undoubtedly land at another club soon.

Villas-Boas was (un)surprisingly sacked as the Chelsea manager last Sunday after posting one of the worst records a Chelsea manager has ever had in charge of the club. Owner Roman Abramovich was forced to make the move, as the former Porto boss was unable to replicate the magic he performed in Portugal with the West London club.

Whether you agree with the sacking or not is essentially meaningless, as the deed has already been done and the team has moved on. Many blame player egos for being the reason for the rash decision.

Abramovich himself laid into the team following the sacking. Captain John Terry came out and backed up the sentiment:

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It's sad for André because, unfortunately, it falls on his head when I think the players will hold their hands up and say clearly: "We've not been good enough and we have all made mistakes together."

"

For all the turmoil and struggle Villas-Boas had at Stamford Bridge, he still remains a highly sought-after manager for his tactical brilliance and fresh take on the game.

Here are four teams that he could be in charge of come summer.

Roma

Villas-Boas has been heavily linked to the Italian side since his departure from Stamford Bridge. Within days of his sacking, reports came out that suggested Villas-Boas had had a “secret meeting in London with Roma general manager Franco Baldini last month to discuss him taking over at the club next season.”

Baldini, the former right-hand man to Capello for England, has been the Roma GM since last summer. Trying to make a name for himself back then, he first approached Villas-Boas about coming to Roma from Porto before Chelsea had officially appointed him as their boss.

In the end, there was a good rapport between the two according to Baldini. Only Villas-Boas’ price tag kept him from taking hold in Rome.

With Villas-Boas feeling the hot seat in London, he wisely reopened discussions with Baldini and is now the favorite to take over the struggling Italians.

Much like Chelsea, Roma is looking to reinvent themselves, weeding out the older veterans and instilling the young prospective talent they have lying in wait. With experience now on his side of how difficult it can be to make a transition, he is much better poised for success.

Inter Milan

Just after the reports surfaced suggesting that Roma were the front runners for the 34-year-old’s services, Inter threw their hat in the ring.

Not one to be undone by their rival from the capitol, Inter president Massimo Moratti has decided that Villas-Boas should be the one to take over for another former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri.

It has been nothing short of a disappointing year for Inter, who are now languishing in seventh place in Serie A, as well as trailing Marseille in their Champions League tie. Moratti has already all but signed off on Ranieri’s dismissal.

Ranieri himself has put his own future under question with a disheartening metaphor to describe his relationship with Moratti: "This is like a marriage, the husband is always the last person to know what the wife is doing."

Moratti has dismissed all the claims as nothing more than “rumors,” but with other reports suggesting that Moratti attempted to bring in the Portuguese man this summer, it is not outside of the realm of possibility. Again, he was too rich for the Italian blood.

Inter have struggled immensely since Villas-Boas’ mentor Jose Mourinho left. Moratti is surely hoping that Villas-Boas can come into the San Siro and do what he could not at Chelsea—undo the curse of Mourinho.

Porto

Villas-Boas may be best to return to the place where he first established himself as a major managerial force. He has reportedly been linked with a return to Estadio do Dragao.

Much of the tension that led to Villas-Boas’ sacking surrounded around his inability to effectively manage the players and getting them to go along with his new plan. At Porto he would have no issue with this, as he was more than respected by a group that was ideal for the tactics he employed.

Furthermore, he would be reunited with both Hulk and Joao Moutinho, two highly sought-after transfer targets Villas-Boas was rumored to have gone hard after while at the Bridge.

A year removed from their historic perfect season that saw them win the treble, Porto have struggled without their former boss. New manager Vitor Pereira is finding it hard to continue the success Villas-Boas started. The 43-year-old who was once asking for Chelsea to give Villas-Boas time may now be looking for that same praise in return.

Ultimately, there is very little evidence to suggest a grand return for Villas-Boas to the seaside town, but it may be his best option to get back on his feet the quickest.

Tottenham

Villas-Boas could be making only a short trip to get to his next job, as Tottenham Hotspurs could be an ideal landing spot.

With rumors rapidly swirling about Harry Redknapp’s possible departure this summer, Spurs could be in the market for a new boss. Redknapp has been rumored to be on the move to everyone from the English National team to Chelsea in what would surely be an ironic twist.

Redknapp has denied such interest in the position, though, stating, "It would be difficult. I wouldn't be able to come back to north London. So no, I will pass on that one."

Villas-Boas would find life 10 miles north a bit easier. He would finally be in possession of Luka Modric, the one transfer target Villas-Boas seemed to want both this summer and winter more than anyone. With a creative midfielder like the Croatian, flanked by speedy wingers such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon and goal-scoring attacking mid Rafael van der Vaart, Villas-Boas’ tactics would apply much better than they did at Chelsea.

What better way to rub it in the face of the west London outfit than beating them with a rival.

Where Do You Think Villas-Boas Will Coach Next?

There is little doubt that Villas-Boas will not coach again. Many prominent names including Neil Warnock, Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti came out in support of the former Chelsea boss. With the experience of the London club under his belt, he is only made better for it.

So where do you think Villas-Boas will be coaching next season? Is it one of the places I listed or somewhere else?

As always, please leave your comments below and thanks for reading!

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