AFCB Vital News

Arsenal and France legend back in contention for managerial role

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Image for Arsenal and France legend back in contention for managerial role

24 days on from AFC Bournemouth’s crushing defeat to Brentford in the Championship Play-Off Semi-Final second-leg and the Dean Court faithful are still awaiting news on who will be the club’s choice as a manager/head coach for the upcoming 2021/22 campaign in the second tier of English football.

Jonathan Woodgate who was handed the role on a short-term contract has seen his contract at Dean Court expire, presumably along with backroom staff members Gary O’Neil and Joe Jordan.

Speculation regarding who could be in line for the role has been sparse, with the strongest rumours circulating around the possibility that Scott Parker may depart Fulham for the role at Dean Court.

AFC Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn believed that the club were “closing in” on their preferred managerial candidate, with Parker rumoured to have been of interest to the AFC Bournemouth hierarchy of Mostyn, chief executive Neill Blake, technical director Richard Hughes and AFC Bournemouth owner Maxim Demin since the departure of Eddie Howe almost a year ago.

However, just before the weekend the media were clearly briefed by someone at AFC Bournemouth as a flurry of social media messages within minutes reported that the Cherries remained in discussions with several candidates.

Daily Echo reporter Tom Crocker stated that an appointment was “edging closer” with things “dragging on a little longer than anticipated”, before adding “the club are deep in negotiations with potential candidates”.

Five minutes later BBC Radio Solent reporter Kris Temple stated that “extensive talks with more than one managerial candidate” are continuing.

Whilst just seven minutes after that Alex Crook from talkSPORT also tweeted, singing to the same hymn sheet that the “managerial search will continue into next week”.

Within 24 hours, another name was thrown back into the mix. Patrick Viera, who was in contention for the role at Dean Court in February alongside ex-Arsenal and France international team-mate Thierry Henry.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger even discussed the situation on beIN Sports during the channel’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League. However, ultimately neither of them got the position and AFC Bournemouth continued with Jonathan Woodgate.

But the Mirror have now reported that a fresh approach has been made.

With the tabloid newspaper stating…

“The Cherries are keen to appoint Vieira as their new boss…”

“…AFC Bournemouth have made another ambitious move for Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira in their search for a new manager.

Vieira who is alongside old Manchester United foe Roy Keane in the ITV studio during the European Championships was interviewed by the Cherries in February after Jason Tindall was sacked.

As a player, Patrick Viera was one of the most decorated players of his generation. At club level he won the English Premier League title 3 times with Arsenal, the Italian Serie A title 4 times with Inter Milan, he won the FA Cup 5 times, 4 times with Arsenal and once with Manchester City.

At international level with France, he won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championships in 2000.

As a coach and manager, he has worked at Manchester City as “Football Development Executive” before becoming coach of New York City in America’s MLS.

In June 2018 he joined Nice as manager guiding the club via France’s Ligue 1 to qualification for the UEFA Europa League.

Who do you want as AFCB manager?

Woodgate

Woodgate

Parker

Parker

Viera

Viera

Someone else

Someone else

Your say…

Waz afcb wrote…

Viera’s record in management isn’t actually that bad, and would bring a wealth of contacts and at the same time probably be a pull for any player we were to potentially recruit. Why not him? He’d be a hell of a lot better choice than Woodgate. – Join the conversation, click here.

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