We’ve all heard it, it’s a mantra now, ‘Abramovich wants the Champions League’, Sir Alex Ferguson describes it as an obsession, an obsession that he (Ferguson) himself once had, that “first” Champions League trophy is the one that often proves the most difficult to get.
Inter Milan have been winners of the top European trophy before, they had successive wins in the years 1963/64 & 1964/65 under the guidance of former owner and oil tycoon Angelo Moratti. The fourth child of Angelo Moratti and now the current Inter Milan owner is Massimo Moratti, Massimo didn’t succeed his father directly as Inter Milan owner, but assumed control in 1995 from Ernesto Pellegrini, at which point his obsession began.
Massimo Moratti ambitions were to restore Inter Milan to the heights of the Golden Era they had enjoyed under his father, he spent hundreds of millions to do so and to particularly lead the Inter back to European glory in the form of Europe’s best available trophy. This was an owner who was very aggressive in the transfer market in order to attain success, very similar to how we know Roman Abramovich to have been here in England. The caveat to Massimo Moratti’s story is that it took his Inter Milan fifteen years to settle his obsession for Champions League glory.
Many analysts and fans believe that Roman Abramovich has an impatient desire for Champions League glory that has prompted managerial instability since he took over at the club back in 2004, they offer him advice about stability which I talk about in my previous piece (link).
A common criticism is that they believe that Abramovich is not a ‘football man’, they argue his philosophy is to throw money at the situation and then just expect results. In another of my previous pieces (link) I speak about Roman Abramovich’s footballing conversations with then AC Milan and recently sacked Chelsea FC manager Carlo Ancelotti, it’s clear to me that from the type of discussions they were having Roman Abramovich self-made Billionaire is not as simple or naive as the mass would like to make him out, not simple in terms of decision making and not simple in terms of football knowledge.
It’s my belief that Abramovich is a student of the beautiful game, I believe Chelsea have an owner who has educated himself on the great footballing sides and despite obviously wanting to win the Champions League (I mean who doesn’t? Right?) in the short term, there is plenty of evidence that it’s Abramovich’s intent to create a great footballing side of his own.
There is no doubt that Chelsea’s most successful period ever in football has been under a combination of Abramovich and Mourinho, it was a winning formula and so when the partnership abruptly came to a halt in 2007, nobody could understand why Abramovich would get rid of a manager that was clearly a trophy magnet, one of the strongest reasons that was attributed to Mourinho’s departure was the style of football being played, as much as it seems clear that Abramovich wants the Champions League, it is also clear that Abramovich wants good football.
Immediately in Abramovich’s fledgling role as a club owner he surrounded himself with an important name in Dutch football, Piet De Visser, De Visser was a successful Dutch manager, but, more notably as a scout for PSV he scouted future world football icons in El Fenomeno (Ronaldo/R9) & Romario. De Visser became Roman Abramovich’s personal advisor and introduced Roman to then PSV manager Guus Hiddink whilst at a chance meeting with him in Eindhoven (Holland) back in 2004. De Visser also recommended the hiring of Danish scout Frank Arnesen, Arnesen forged a career out for himself in The Netherlands as a player, as a coach and finally as a Director of football, a position where he created a worthy reputation for himself.
Abramovich’s footballing circle became a who’s who of Dutch football, which is significant because of the history of Dutch football, In terms of lasting impact in the game, “Dutch Total Football” is a vital element in the progression of football, The Dutch teams of the early 70’s played a system with an innovative philosophy that inspired a style of football that had them described as the best footballing team ever.
The 4-3-3 formation and style of football was created by Rinus Michels who managed Ajax, Barcelona and the Dutch National Team. The main exponent in all of Michels total footballing sides each of The Dutch NT side, Ajax & Barcelona was Johan Cruijff. Barcelona success today stems from the Dutch coaches and Dutch players they have been associated with in the past, their style, their formation and the clubs whole philosophy is inherent in Dutch total football.
Barcelona’s La Masia youth set up was the image created by Johan Cruijff in the 90s whilst he was manager at the club, he told them that they must invest in youth to bring their own talents through similar to the way Ajax had done. This has had a big effect as so many top players has since come through the Barcelona system.
Excellent, well researched and imformative article. The one observation I would make is with the leaning toward the Dutch football model. I was priviledged enough to be invited to attend a summer school with Ajax as a 15 year old in 1967. The training and philosphies at that time was light years ahead of anything here in England. There was a definate goalden era for Dutch football that has since and unfortunatley diminished over recent years. It pained me to watch the last World Cup final which for me highlighted just how far Dutch football has declined over recent years.
You are quite correct in suggesting that Roman Abramovich has transformed himself into a real student of the beautiful game and has surrounded himself with some very ‘special and knowlegable’ people brought into his trusted inner circle. To this end and with the demise (possibly too strong a word) of Dutch league and International football he seems to have lately turned his attentions to South American players.
In my view Ancelotti was not sacked by Roman because of a trophiless season but for the fact that our double winning manager presided over a team that actually went backwards last term. Abramovich knows that this team is starting to age and will have to be drastically over hauled in the coming three seasons. This is HIS chance of creating a ‘new’ Chelsea side which, once again, is going to cost him a lot of money. He simply lost faith in Ancelotti being the man to build this new team. Personally I believe the ideal new Management team would be Hiddink as the Director of football (even if that means an initial dual role with Turkey). Villas Boas as our new young Manager who’s sides tend to play open, attacking and attractive football, and with Zola as his accomplished and talented assistant. This trinity would, in my opinion, develop a team capable of playing the ‘sexy’ football Roman so craves and with a totally winning mentality.
Roman certainly has his critics but for me Chelsea are so lucky to have an owner who is so passionate for his club. He will not give up on his dream and nor should he. He will ignore the sports media in this country and those fickle English fans who dislike his club. Chelsea fans have had a fabulous ride ever since Roman bought he club and I truly believe we will be in for even greater things over the next ten years plus.
fantastic comment alan frank, roman is a good man, we need him
Incredible, incredible experience that must have been. You were at Ajax during the Total football period.. lol You have to share more insight about that, must be some interesting stuff.
On the Eredivisie, I think you should give them more credit, considering the size of the nation and the league and when you compare it to Scotland, Belgium and all of the leagues similar in size, they are producing so much more talent and it’s the good work they’ve done there that has Arsenal stealing Ozyakup & Ebicilio, that’s got us stealing Nathan Ake, Bruma & Patrick van Aanholt.
That’s allowed us to enjoy Robben, Robben who was incredible in the Champions League last season, Sneijder was voted best player last year (I think)
I know what you’re saying it hasn’t got the same standard, but, at the same time I think they are doing great work there, great youth coaching, with a great youth philosophy.
Arnesen was at PSV when Ronaldo was scouted by de Visser for Bobby Robsons team.
De Visser also scouted Romario for Hiddink.
De Vissers successes have been in the Brazilian market, it was Piet that got us Alex & loaned him to PSV.
De Visser scouted Neymar for us.
I really do feel like we’re on the precipice, part 2 tomorrow, I hope you like it.
I look forward to part 2 Zoffie and ‘yes’ it was an incredable experience both for myself and a bunch of other lads who had played a series of games the season before for our County under 16’s representative side against various Dutch lads teams. Now their training techniques of using half size pitches and constant training WITH the ball as opposed to sheer fitness training was a breath of fresh air then. Whole days training sessions would split up defenders, misdielders and attackers (strikers and wingers). All of these lads would then concentrate on touch, weight of pass and movement. After a few days of that groups would be formed of one attack player, one midfielder and one defender to train in sessions to form triangles and ‘swap’ positions. I don’t want to bore you but I could go on about the briliant Dutch training methods all day!
When I talk about a certain demise of Dutch football I am coming off of a very special golden era for them. Some of the players you mention above I have never heard of and so cannot comment eg Ozyakup & Ebicilio. What I do know is when I see the Man City DM (sorry his name escapes me) I see no more than a Gattuso or a bandit! Certainly not a ‘Dutch type’ defensive artist with a huge array of passing and well timed, clean tackling. Two seasons ago we saw Steve McLarren take Miroslav Stoch to the Eredivisie and watched him make a big impact and pick up a Champions medal. Miroslav couldn’t sniff the Chelsea first 11!
Obviously Dutch football lacks the finance of The Premiership which is why teams such as Ajax are no longer the GIANTS that they once were. Purely because of their youth philosophy and abilities to nurture young talent I would love to see Chelsea tie up more links with Dutch football besides just Vitesse Arnham (I think it is) at the moment.
Whilst writing with you at the moment could you possibly put me right on my last comment with regards Arnham.
You mentioned Neymar above, who after one display at the Emirates which was excellent, a lot of Chelsea fans see as the second coming. Personally as an all round footballer I much prefer his team mate Ganso but there you are….
Maaan I want to hear all about ALL of the techniques. If you can or if you have time and you want to just write it all out, my email is
Zoffie737@googlemail.com
Ebiclio & Ozyakup might not go on to be the best players, I don’t think they will maybe Oz will start for Arsenal.. but, just that they are still producing an exportable level of talent at least.
I know exactly what you mean about De Jong.
I watch Neymar a lot, for Santos I have all this season and last. You are right about Ganso, I can see you’d love him, I do too, but, Neymar..
There is a reason why Ganso who could go on to be a Zidanean is still not valued as highly as Neymar, they are both Out of this world, I’m not stating it on just a few games either.
Ganso was supposed to be going to Milan, but it might not happen. He seems injury prone though, after 3 months out he came back played a few games and another 3 months injury.
I still hope now Milan seem to have backed off, that we can buy him.
Basically, the Dutch league went into decline because of money. European football is hardly a level playing field and even the big clubs like Ajax have but a fraction of the budget of the Premier League, which is why they sell their stars at an ever younger age, can’t form routines (which takes years of practice together) and have to start all over every year.
http://shareholdersunite.com/2008/05/18/how-the-european-union-destroyed-european-football/
It’s a vicious cycle in which the big tend to get bigger (success attracts more tv rights, more money, etc.) until a the weak have the benefit of a good generation (like Belgium now seems to enjoy, or Portugal had 15 years ago)
It would be nice if Roman, apart from winning cups, could saw the seeds of an attractive football philosophy, that would be real legacy
Robert…. I think Roman has done exactly this with the huge development and investment in Cobham. To win the national youth cup as we did the season before last and to only get knocked out at the semi final stage by the eventual winniers this season (United)speaks volumes for the progress of Chelsea youth football. Some of these players have been bought in from all over Europe via our scouting network and other English lads from all over the country. Josh McEachran and Pat van Aanholt will most probably be the first two to see regular football in a Chelsea shirt. Unfortunately for them, when you are a top team challenging for major honours, your chances as a youngster are going to be limited. It is why I feel the club are going about it in the right way of loaning players like Gael Kakuta, Jeff Bruma, Pat van Aanholt, Ben Gordon etc etc out to other clubs. We have so many of these youngsters coming through at the moment and others a year or two behind them that I feel very confident Chelsea will (within the next few seasons) be able to boast 4 or 5 home grown talents having come through the ranks of Cobham. KTBFFH
Nice articulated article and i must comend you engrossly to have digged deep to get this enlightenment.
In my perspection, i think Roman desires to boast of a team that can be rated in the cadre of Barcelona, Man utd, Real madrid, Inter. A team that plays the best sexy game in England and can go head to head with the Catalans, a team with a winning mentality, good youth system and strong club structure.
My candid suggestion aint really about going the dutch way, Andre Villas boas looks to me a nice shot, though not yet exposed but this young tactician has got great vision and to me an astute personel.
More of Jose Mourinho in my opinion, didnt have a time to kick the leather rounded game but got soaked into its ethics. He can be assisted well by Zola Or Basten [Er That got to cost Roman], then the Dynasty can be finalised with Guus taking over the Director’s position..i look foward to seeing a ‘Catch us if u can next Season’
You have to read part 2 also, it’s not just about the dutch, it’s our links with some of the recent greatest era’s in football.. Part 2 should be up at 6….
Hopefully Dutch inspired Barca put 6 past United.
I left out a lot of additional information, but,interestingly Rinus Michels Dutch total football was a philosophy he evolved from his manager.
Guess what? His manager at Ajax, the manager he based his philosophy on was English.
Infact, even English expats were involved in launching Barcelona as a football club.
What a brilliant article.
My knowledge doesn’t even compare to you people, so I really can’t comment, but I really enjoyed reading the article and the comments and I would love to know more!
KTBFFH
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