Wolverhampton Wanderers targeting Mainz's manager Bo Svensson as new head coach..

2022-10-05 10:32

Wolverhampton Wanderers targeting Mainz




English outlet HITC Sports reported on Tuesday that Wolverhampton Wanderers is looking to consider Mainz's current Danish head coach Bo Svensson as their managerial candidate.


According to reports, Wolves' executives are very appreciative of Svensson's contribution in Mainz as the club's most credible replacement after Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. 


Svensson's capability in adapting Klopp and Tuchel's Gegenpressing, combined with Eric Ten Hag's Positional Play tactics during his Ajax's days, and utilised it to the fullest has won plaudits from the many people. His tactical genius is also widely lauded by many pundits in the Premier League.


Not long ago, after Graham Potter was poached to Chelsea, Brighton executives also planned to hire Svensson as a replacement, but they later changed their plans to hire former Sassuolo manager Roberto De Zerbi, as such Svensson did not move.


Since replacing Sandro Schwartz in 2021, Svensson has helped Mainz to achieve a stable performance. Last season, he led Die Nullfünfer to finish 8th in the Bundesliga.


Wolves sacked Bruno Lage on Sunday following a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United, which left the club dropped into the relegation place.



There is an alternative name as consideration


Nevertheless, the report also added that if Svensson cannot be hired, Wolves may consider putting Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui in the list of key candidates.


It is worth mentioning that after Fosun International acquired Wolverhampton Wanderers six years ago, its Chinese chairman Jeff Shi had considered hiring Lopetegui as head coach, but the 56-year-old former Real Madrid star has agreed to take over the coaching role of the Spanish national team, hence Wolves can only pass the head coaching position to Nuno Espirito Santo.


Lopetegui, who has also coached at Porto and his old club Real Madrid, led Los Nervionenses to the Europa League glory in 2020 after joining Sevilla, and in January 2021, due to his extraordinary leadership, his contract has been renewed to 2024. 


However, due to Director of Football Monchi's failure in transfer recruitment this season and the club's poor start to season, they only won once after the first 7 matchdays in La Liga and were currently languishing in the relegation zone. Therefore, news which suggested Lopetegui's job safetfy is on the line was reported recently.


According to a recent report from MARCA citing various sources, after Lopetegui's sacking, Sevilla is likely to offer Marseille's former Argentine manager Jorge Sampaoli as new head coach. It is worth mentioning that Sampaoli himself resigned this summer due to a falling out with chairman Pablo Longoria over signings.