Why Fabricio Coloccini Would Not Be a Good Managerial Option for Newcastle

Media speculation linking Fabricio Coloccini to the Newcastle United hot seat has been a constant theme throughout the current season. An underwhelming start to the 2014/15 season raised the pressure for former manager Alan Pardew, who barely enjoyed a single week without speculation over his future. 

An entertaining yet disastrous draw at home to Burnley sealed Pardew's fate on New Year's Day. The Magpies had led three times before tying 3-3, extending their Premier League drought to just two wins in their last eight outings.

Then, the inevitable occurred. The manager may have avoided the sack, but one suspects that the Newcastle board put up little fight to keep him from joining Crystal Palace. John Carver took over as caretaker, but a third-round exit from the FA Cup and consecutive Premier League defeats, pushing the Tynesiders down to 10th, hardly bode well. 

Rumours over Coloccini had been circulating long before Pardew's departure. As reported by the Daily Mail, the Argentine was quickly installed as bookmakers' favourite to take over as Pardew negotiated with Palace. Coloccini, however, tried to distance himself from the speculation. 

"I am a football player now and want to play for a few years more. I want to enjoy being on the pitch," he said in the new year. 

"It's not for now."

The defender, 32, does have a handful of qualities that mark him out as a possible successor. Coloccini has worn the captain's armband for Newcastle for the last four years, a mark of his commitment and loyalty to the Magpies. He stuck with the club during its darkest days, playing in their campaign in the Championship back in 2009/10. 

He undoubtedly commands respect in the dressing room, and would have the advantage of coming at a far more economic rate than many of Europe's top tacticians, perhaps not a small consideration for those in charge at St. James' Park. 

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

Now, though, is not the time for Newcastle to be experimenting with an untried, inexperienced manager. Coloccini has never directed a team from the bench, and indeed should have at least three years left in professional football. Expecting the centre-back to perform the double role of commanding the defence and taking over the team as a whole appears a recipe for disaster. 

The constant talk of a Newcastle exit does not help matters either. Last year, as Neil Cameron of Newcastle's Evening Chronicle recalls, the captain pushed hard for a move back to his first club, current Copa Libertadores champions San Lorenzo. Now he has opted out of a club trip to the United Arab Emirates, preferring to spend the time back in his native Argentina instead. 

With Coloccini's form for the Magpies near an all-time low, placing so much trust in a rookie with an uncertain future would hardly garner a vote of confidence from long-suffering fans. Looking past the figure at the back, and investing in a manager with proven Premier League experience is the best option for Newcastle at this delicate time for the north-east giant.