Austrian On Chelsea’s Manager Shortlist

Success has adopted Oliver Glasner all through his profession as a defender in Austria and now as a coach, famously main Eintracht Frankfurt to UEFA Europe League glory in 2022. But it hasn’t all the time been simple for somebody who very practically didn’t make it to his thirty seventh birthday.

He had been rushed to hospital in Copenhagen after feeling unwell following coaching and underwent quick surgical procedure after the invention of a subdural haematoma in his mind. It was the results of a conflict of heads with Speedy Vienna’s Mario Sonnleitner a couple of days earlier, the place Glasner had suffered a gash and concussion. He remembers nothing of the hours following that coaching session earlier than the Brondby sport.

“It was the primary harm the place I didn’t really feel that burning want to have to come back again,” he later informed Austrian outlet Die Presse of his resolution – primarily based on the recommendation of docs – to retire on 23 August 2011, 5 days earlier than his thirty seventh birthday, after 571 aggressive appearances for Ried. He was named an honorary captain of the membership.

Now as a supervisor, he has attracted a number of consideration. Chelsea are the newest membership to have been linked with a transfer for Glasner however he has beforehand attracted the curiosity of Bundesliga huge boys Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. Glasner’s current contract on the Deutsche Financial institution Park runs till 30 June 2024.

Intriguingly, Glasner was not very “Purple Bull” in comparison with the likes of Jesse Marsch or Matthias Jaissle, he paid higher emphasis on the positional construction of the group as a substitute of solely specializing in verticality. So who’s Oliver Glasner and the way good is he?

Who’s Oliver Glasner?

Glasner’s taking part in profession can finest be described as distinguished with out being eye-catching – most likely the phrases many centre-backs would have on their headstone. The Salzburg native loved a taking part in profession spanning practically 20 years that began and ended at SV Ried.

Glasner is a proficient coach, that a lot is for positive. He led Wolfsburg into the Champions League earlier than leaving for Frankfurt, after which took the Eagles to their first European closing since 1980 with their Europa League triumph final season.

He was introduced in by Purple Bull Salzburg managing director – and Ried’s honorary president – Peter Vogl to be his assistant and sporting coordinator. Shortly after, he was named first group boss Roger Schmidt’s assistant earlier than returning as soon as once more to Ried as head coach for the 2014/15 marketing campaign.

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After a 12 months he was appointed coach and sporting director at his different former membership, LASK, main them to promotion in 2017 and fourth place on their top-flight return. The Linz facet missed out on a spot within the Europa League play-offs on away objectives in opposition to Besiktas however Glasner nonetheless guided the group to second place behind Salzburg in 2018/19.

A transfer to Germany with Wolfsburg got here for the next season. Glasner took the Wolves from power to power, first ending seventh to qualify for the Europa League after which fourth to make the Champions League with what was the membership’s third-best factors haul in historical past.

This immense progress caught the attention of Bundesliga rivals Eintracht Frankfurt and determined to get the Austrian board. In little to no time, Glasner has remodeled the as soon as Bundesliga minnows right into a group that’s tough to play in opposition to.

Oliver Glasner’s ways and magnificence of play

Glasner tends to make use of a 3-4-2-1 with wingbacks, which will probably be music to the ears of Chelsea followers who personal two of one of the best within the enterprise in Reece James and Ben Chilwell, when match. Wout Weghorst led the road for him at Wolfsburg; Randal Kolo Muani does now, so anticipate a pure No.9 to observe carefully behind Glasner ought to he arrive at Stamford Bridge.

Within the first few video games, Glasner performed Frankfurt in a again 4, similar to his 4-3-3 at Wolfsburg as nicely. However issues didn’t go nicely, so he reverted his facet to a again three system that succeeded in Adi Hutter’s tenure. Particularly, his facet performed in a 3-4-3 or a 3-4-2-1 and the gamers match very nicely on this construction.

Sure, he adapts his group considerably to the opposition, however his core ideas have remained clear and unwavering. The PPDA of Frankfurt in Bundesliga was 9.63, rating 7^th within the league, it exhibits they might press excessive however the engagement line was not too excessive, they solely did that on events. Glasner’s urgent was not about man-man, as a substitute, his facet defended with the first focus of closing areas within the centre.

Eintracht Frankfurt construct out from the again via their three centre-backs and the goalkeeper, forming an preliminary quartet. The central midfielders will typically shift decrease because the wing-backs situate larger, including a 3+2 build-up construction to the method. Whereas the wing-backs will situate themselves excessive up the pitch, they might begin low on purpose kicks to additional facilitate fast ball motion into the vast areas. They continue to be a defensive, counter-attacking group so far as a broad categorization goes, however their skill to play via the thirds and management video games stays vital.

Glasner demonstrated his tactical nous and suppleness whereas at Wolfsburg, switching between a again three and 4 whereas additionally getting the perfect out of the likes of striker Wout Weghorst, who scored 45 instances in 84 video games below the Austrian. It’s his skill to get extra out of common gamers that make him the most effective in his enterprise.

Oliver Glasner’s Frankfurt evaluation

That stability of teaching and man administration clearly bore fruits in his outcomes at Wolfsburg and noticed Frankfurt come calling after simply two years. At first, it appeared a wierd resolution.

But 2021/22 nonetheless went down as one of many best seasons in Eintracht’s historical past because of their European marketing campaign below Glasner. Die Adler remained unbeaten in all 13 Europa League fixtures, together with two-legged knockout victories over Actual Betis, Barcelona and West Ham United.

Certainly, Frankfurt got here in for top reward from Barcelona coach, and former midfield basic, Xavi Hernandez, throughout their run to the title. Eintracht put in memorable shows in each legs of the quarter-finals in opposition to the Catalan giants, however it was on the Camp Nou – the place the guests led 3-0, earlier than finally working out 3-2 winners – that Europe stood up and took notice of the Eagles’ goals of profitable the match.

The coach – solely the third Austrian to steer a group to a European title after legends Bela Guttmann and Ernst Happel – bought each resolution proper as Eintracht introduced dwelling continental silverware for the primary time in over 40 years and certified for the Champions League for the primary time of their historical past. They’d even face Actual Madrid within the UEFA Tremendous Cup. All of the ups and downs of the Bundesliga marketing campaign have been instantly forgotten.

Glasner has clear tactical plans and ideas of performs for his Frankfurt facet to deal with various kinds of opposition. In the meantime, he additionally shares the identical intense urgent as most coaches from Purple Bull groups did. If he does go on to affix a brand new membership within the close to future, little question he’ll enhance them. However as most of his earlier regimes steered, he wants the preliminary time to instil his strategies and ideas, which is uncommon in modern-day soccer.