{"id":2740,"date":"2026-05-01T10:27:35","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T10:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=2740"},"modified":"2026-05-01T10:27:35","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T10:27:35","slug":"exclusive-reports-chelsea-face-major-rival-for-top-manager-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=2740","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive reports Chelsea face major rival for top manager choice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Andoni Iraola is a man in demand, and according to a report today it\u2019s not just Chelsea who have him top of the list.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Chelsea fans are all considering who they would want as their new manager, with many uncertain about the idea of Andoni Iraola, who is now favourite, coming in.<\/p>\n<p>The Blues aren\u2019t the only ones keen on the outgoing Bournemouth boss. Jason Burt\u2019s piece in the Telegraph claims that Iraola is the \u201cstrongest candidate\u201d to take the Manchester United job if the club don\u2019t go with interim manager Michael Carrick as their full time option.<\/p>\n<h2>Carrick to cement place as permanent manager with more wins<\/h2>\n<p>The good news for Chelsea is that Carrick is doing a superb job as caretaker at United.<\/p>\n<p>Burt himself says it would be a \u201csurprise\u201d if the former Red Devil isn\u2019t given the job. It\u2019s hard to imagine how badly things would have to go in their last few games for him to not be given the chance to take on the role full time. If anything, given their current form, he looks more likely to cement his future with a few more wins.<\/p>\n<h2>In other news\u2026<\/h2>\n<p>Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking about his time at Chelsea, and his words make us fear for the future even more.<\/p>\n<p>Wesley Fofana is on a lot of money, can\u2019t play more than once a week and is in terrible form. Chelsea need to sell him \u2013 if only they could.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CHELSEA NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES \u2013 STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips\u2019 SPTC podcast here:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SPTC Podcast: Leeds fan Jack Durkin joins Jai Mcintosh to preview the FA Cup Semi Final!\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/td3C9ns6uiU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<section class=\"more-stories std-mgn-b\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<header class=\"col-s-12 std-mgn-t\">More Stories about <span class=\"topic\">Andoni Iraola<\/span><\/header>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-159489 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Andoni Iraola working for Bournemouth.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-73-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-142048 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"A generic view of Stamford Bridge in the dark.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-7-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-container col-s-4\">\n<p>\t\t\t&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"img-cntr\"><picture><source type=\"image\/webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-190x107.jpg.webp 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-245x138.jpg.webp 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-320x180.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-414x233.jpg.webp 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-630x354.jpg.webp 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41.jpg\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-154153 has-webp lazyload\" alt=\"Andoni Iraola managing Bournemouth.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-190x107.jpg 190w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-245x138.jpg 245w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-320x180.jpg 320w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-414x233.jpg 414w,https:\/\/icdn.chelsea.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Working-copy-of-CNFeaturedHero-Image-Templates-41-630x354.jpg 630w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width:1230px) 250px, (min-width:1020px) 20vw, (min-width:920px) 290px, (min-width:680px) 30vw, (min-width:394px) 130px, 33vw\"\/><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- Article End -->\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Andoni Iraola is a man in demand, and according to a report today it\u2019s not&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2740"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2740\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}