Sheffield Wednesday could well look to their old boss in Carlos Carvahal as a potential replacement for outgoing manager Darren Moore, according to the Sheffield Star.
The shock news of Darren Moore’s dismissal from Hillsborough filtered through yesterday, Moore departing the club via mutual consent in an announcement on Sheffield Wednesday’s main website.
Moore had won Sheffield Wednesday promotion out of League One as manager, the former Doncaster Rovers boss turning it around in the end to clinch promotion courtesy of the playoffs after narrowly missing out on the top two spots.
His redemption arc as Owls manager came in the playoff semi finals, Sheffield Wednesday overturning a 4-0 first leg loss at Hillsborough to make it to Wembley after a dramatic penalty shootout win on home turf.
Then, a last minute Josh Windass winner versus Barnsley at Wembley helped Wednesday return back to the Championship after a two season stint in the third tier.
The fallout from Moore’s departure will be intriguing, with Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri expected to host a fans forum tonight even in the wake of such an arguably unpopular call.
Rumours beginning to circulate indicate that Carlos Carvahal could well be returning to the Steel City side, the Portuguese manager recently departing Spanish outfit Celta Vigo.
Who Is Carlos Carvahal?
Carlos Carvahal’s managerial career has been littered with various moves around his native Portugal, managing the likes of SC Braga and Sporting CP.
He is most well known for his time at Sheffield Wednesday, winning 56 of his 131 matches in charge. In his first campaign as Owls boss, Carvahal guided Wednesday to the Championship playoffs.
Wednesday would fall at the final hurdle under Carvahal’s guidance however, falling short on the big stage in the Playoff Final itself – Mohammed Diame breaking the deadlock with a long-range strike to give Hull City the win and the subsequent promotion to the Premier League at the expense of Carvahal’s men.
The 2016-17 campaign directly after this heartbreak saw Carvahal clinch back-to-back playoff finishes for the Owls, this time coming undone in the semi-final stages to David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town.
He would then depart Hillsborough, taking up the role as manager for Swansea City. This spell on the Welsh coast won’t be one Carvahal looks back on with fondness, only lasting 25 games in the Swans hot-seat before being relieved of his duties.
Carvahal hasn’t returned to English football since, could he be ready for a return to Hillsborough to show off his Championship capabilities as a manager?
More Rumoured Names For Sheffield Wednesday
Although Carvahal remains the favourite to take over from Darren Moore, with the Sheffield Star backing this up, other names are in contention if the Portuguese manager does not fancy a Hillsborough reunion.
Other names floating about include Bruno Lage, the ex Wolves head coach assistant manager to Carvahal at both Wednesday and Swansea in the past.
Former Luton Town boss Nathan Jones could also be up for a return to EFL management at Hillsborough, the 50-year-old still bruised arguably from his ordeal with Southampton as boss. Could Sheffield Wednesday present Jones with a return to management?
The rumour mill has gone into overdrive since Darren Moore’s shock exit was confirmed, it remains to be seen whether or not Carvahal is next in line for the Owls job or if Chansiri and co opt for another name to lead Wednesday into the Championship next campaign.
Writer’s View
The news of Darren Moore’s exit from Sheffield Wednesday was a surprise even to those with no close connection to the Owls, securing promotion back up to the Championship should have made his position concrete as boss.
Whatever has happened has happened, with the powers that be at Sheffield Wednesday now having to dust themselves down and recruit a brand new boss.
Chansiri might well favour Carvahal due to his past successes at the football club, especially at this level with Wednesday now making the step-up.
The Portuguese manager could well also feel that there’s unfinished business with the Owls, unable to guide Wednesday to the Premier League under his first tenure. Could he do the unthinkable and help Wednesday push on even further after promotion?
You would expect news on a new face in the Owls dug-out soon, to soften the blow of Darren Moore’s departure.
