Aston Villa: Dean Smith sacked, who should step into the hot seat?
Aston Villa sent shockwaves around the Premier League, as they parted way with Manager and Villa fan, Dean Smith. The board made the decision to move on following five successive defeats in the league, as the club failed to find real form after the high-profile departure of Club captain, Jack Grealish.
Smith was appointed at Villa Park in 2018, immediately guiding them to promotion from the Championship via the playoffs. They would struggle in the league in the following season, narrowly avoiding relegation, but making it to the Carabao Cup Final.
Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that the Club have parted company with Head Coach Dean Smith.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 7, 2021
In the team’s second season back in the top division, Villa would guide themselves to an 11th place finish but be rocked as Grealish would leave before the start of this season, halting progression.
This season, Villa have failed to win since beating Manchester United on the 25th of September and picked up just 10 points from their opening 11 games. Their current run is the worst since 2017 when the club was still in the Championship.
The sacking of Smith marks the fifth managerial change in the Premier League so far, with Watford, Newcastle United, Tottenham, and Norwich City all changing managers. There were only four changes in the whole of last season displaying how cut-throat the managerial role in football has become.
After Aston Villa’s sacking of Smith, he said:
"I understand the football industry and of course, I respect the owners’ decision, but I felt that with important players soon returning to full fitness, we would achieve a top-half finish.(via BBC Sport)"
According to reports, Villa already have a small shortlist of who they want to bring in to take over. Upon the list of around five or six managers, are Rangers Manager Steven Gerrard and Belgium Manager Roberto Martinez.
The current frontrunner appears to be Kaspar Hjulmand, who recently led Denmark to a Euro 2020 semi-final, eventually losing to England. The link between Hjulmand is apparently a strong one, as he has good relations with Villa’s Sporting Director.
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The club will appoint a head coach in the meantime, as they use the international break to assess their options.