3 Managers who changed their clubs fortunes in their first year | European Football

Unai Emery steadied Arsenal's ship
Unai Emery steadied Arsenal's ship

Over the years the role of a manager has gone through a humongous transformation. In the old school days when the manager was responsible for everything, from taking care of managing the players, sponsors, to now just coaching the players to get the best out of them on the field.

We have seen many different types of managers in the past decade. Zinedine Zidane, for example, is a great man manager. On the other hand, someone like Pep Guardiola looks into meticulous details and needs every player to do exactly what he wants them to do. Someone like Jurgen Klopp likes high intensity, high-pressure football, while Jose Mourinho believes in a defence-first approach.

Here are three managers who have taken new jobs and helped their sides to reach the next level.


PABLO MACHIN

Taking Sevilla back among the Spanish elite
Taking Sevilla back among the Spanish elite

Signed by Sevilla at the start of this season after leading newly promoted Girona to a commendable tenth place finish. Sevilla had a torrid 2017/18 season finishing in a lowly seventh place, 15 points off of the Champions League spots.

A lack of goals upfront and a leaky defence saw them end up with a -9 goal difference. In spite of signing the likes of Simon Kjaer and Sebastien Corchia to sure up their defence, Sevilla conceded 4 or more goals on six separate occasions. Fair to say, Machin had his work cut out when we walked through the doors of the Pizjuan.

The loan signing of misfiring Andre Silva turned out to be a masterstroke. A shift to a 3-5-2 formation with Silva and Wissam Ben Yedder leading the line has seen a drastic change in their fortune. Together they have scored 15 goals with midfield dynamo Pablo Sarabia getting 6 assists to his name. Machin has taken a side dwindling in midfield obscurity to now being the closest contenders to current league leaders and defending champions Barcelona.

Currently sitting in second, three points behind Barcelona, Sevilla have come a long way in a short period of time. Rumours of the club looking to make Silva's loan move permanent is a show of intent from the Andalucian side. With Machin at the helm, Sevilla has already battered Real Madrid 3-0 at home and have made the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan a real fortress.

If Sevilla continues to perform the way they are, Machin could have offers from a number of top clubs from around Europe.

UNAI EMERY

Can he win Arsenal their first league title since 2004?
Can he win Arsenal their first league title since 2004?

At the end of the last season, Arsene Wenger stepped onto the touchline of the Emirates for the last time. As emotional as it was, every Arsenal fan was pretty satisfied to some extent that there would be a new manager leading the club into the future. That man was none other than the man who led Sevilla to three consecutive Europa League title and then managed PSG for a couple of seasons winning titles for fun there.

After a rocky start to the season, Emery seems to have steadied the ship for now. All his signings have established themselves in the main team. Torreira has become a fan favourite already. His tireless running and with him now chipping in with goals as well. Sokratis and Leno as well have become first team regulars. Emery seems to have gotten back the magic that Arsenal has been missing since a while.

Emery has made Arsenal a fluid team that can switch between 3-5-2 and a 4-2-3-1. Aubameyang and Lacazette have become a deadly duo. Aubameyang has been in deadly form, currently the top goal scorer in the league with 10 goals already. Torreira's presence has allowed Xhaka to fully express himself with his wide range of passing. Injury concerns in the centre back position have seen Leichteiner fill in at the CB.

The Spaniard has an uncanny sixth sense almost this season. Till now in the league, his side has never gone into the halftime break with a lead. He has also made the most changes at halftime. He has a knack of making changes that win games. Baring the loss at Southhampton, Arsenal were unbeaten in 22 games in all competitions.

Currently, with 34 points in 5th position, Arsenal are breathing down Chelsea's necks, they're in a strong position to finish in a Champions LI stopped at, Zinedine Zidane might not be the most technically astute. Please change a blanket statement like this one, or back it up with analysis or links. Emery, given a few more transfer windows and the financial backing, can make Arsenal a title contenders in a few seasons.

LUCIEN FAVRE

Favre could bring back title back to the Westfalenstadion
Favre could bring back title back to the Westfalenstadion

Dortmund blew hot and cold last season, ending the season on fourth and making it to the UCL spot only on goal difference and ending up 29 points behind their rivals Bayern Munich. Favre was signed from Nice to stop the free fall that the club has been in since Klopp left.

To start with, Dortmund made outstanding signings in the summer. Diallo, Witsel and Alcacer have been the standout signings. Alcacer looks like a man reborn. Currently the top scorer with 11 goals averaging a goal every 39 minutes.

Sancho has been bossing the league since the start of the season with 7 assists and 5 goals in just 900 minutes. Reus is finally the player that everyone saw him be. The captain of Die Schwarzgelben has hit peak form this season scoring 10 and assisting a further 5.

All in all, Favre has fit all the different pieces together to form a masterpiece. 15 games into the season, BVB already sit comfortably at the top of the table 9 points clear of local rivals M'Gladbach. Only one side in the league has conceded fewer than their 15 while they have also outscored every other team in the league.

They have successfully taken their league form to Europe as well. Topping their group and conceding just two goals. The cherry on the cake was a 4-0 battering of a well drilled Atletico Madrid side, handing Diego Simeone his biggest ever loss in European competitions.

Favre took a dwindling Dortmund team and made them genuine title contenders, no mean feat considering their fortunes in the past few seasons.

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Edited by Victor R. Lopez M.