According to Al-Jazeera, Paris Saint-Germain have lined up former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez as the replacement for coach Antoine Kombouare. Benitez has been without a club since being fired by Inter Milan almost a year ago.
The TV news channel reported that after lengthy discussions between board members at the Parc des Princes over the weekend, they have opted to cancel Kombouare’s contract.
The news that he was going to be fired obviously did not reach Kombouare, who was on the touchline today watching as PSG beat struggling Auxerre 3-2 to move back to within three points of leaders Montpellier.
But third place is not what PSG’s Middle Eastern owners, Qatar Investment Authority expect. They have much higher aspirations than that.
The PSG situation reminds me a lot of the Mark Hughes firing at Man City in 2009. Hughes was fired despite his side defeating Sunderland 4-3 at Eastlands earlier in the day. Could the same fate await Kombouare?
And is Rafa Benitez the right man for PSG? Qatar Investment Authority want to make PSG into one of the big brands in world football and money will be no object in getting the players that Rafa wants. Benitez likes to play the political game and it will be interesting to see how he works with PSG’s sporting director Leonardo.
Also, what does a change in management mean for the long-rumored signing of David Beckham? Will Rafa want him or will Becks for forced to come back and play for the Galaxy?