Stoke City continue to search for a new manager to replace Alex Neil and former Football League player Sam Parkin believes the Potters should look to Aston Villa’s appointment of Unai Emery for inspiration.
Neil was sacked by Stoke City on December 10 following a 1-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and the Scottish coach left his former side in 20th position in the Championship.
Paul Gallagher has since taken charge of the Potters on an interim basis as the club steps up its search for Neil’s replacement. Recently the club have been linked with several former Championship managers, including Fulham’s former boss Slavisa Jokanovic, John Eustace and Tony Mowbray, as reported by Rob Dorsett of Sky Sport News.
Another former coach with previous second-tier experience linked with the vacant role at the bet365 Stadium is Nuno Espirito Santo, who is the current favourite to land the job.
When speaking about the situation on the What the EFL? podcast, former Swindon Town and Luton Town striker Sam Parkin said Stoke could benefit from looking at a European manager. Parkin expanded by saying the Potters could use Villa’s acquisition of Emery in October 2022 as a basis for their new manager search.
“If it is not John Eustace, I expect them to be like Sunderland scouring the European leagues and come up with someone who can affect things quickly, a bit like Unai Emery at Aston Villa.”
“It is achievable. You have quality players, a big group of players, get them playing a brand of football repeatedly on the training ground week after week and hopefully see the results of that on match day.”
Since Emery joined Villa 14 months ago, he has led the Midlands side to European qualification in the Europa Conference League. The Spanish coach has also guided the Villans to third place in the Premier League.
Writer’s View
With Espirito Santo emerging as the most recent favourite to replace Neil at Stoke, it appears though Parkin’s argument may carry some substance. Making a move for a non-British manager would be a change from the club’s recent hires as the last six managers have been English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish.
But perhaps a change in approach is just what is needed at the bet365 Stadium. The Potters may be looking over their shoulder at Martí Cifuentes and QPR and be considering a similar way forward.
