As Villarreal continues its pursuit of a new head coach, the football world watches with bated breath, speculating on the potential frontrunners for the coveted role. One prominent name that has surfaced in recent discussions is Graham Potter, the former Chelsea manager, who is reportedly on Villarreal’s radar.
Villarreal has been diligently evaluating various coaching alternatives.
Potter was considered for the Olympique Lyonnais head coach role. However, it appears that Potter has opted to decline the opportunity to guide the French club through its turbulent period.
Olympique Lyon, a revered institution in French football, finds itself embroiled in a crisis after an abysmal start to their Ligue 1 campaign. The team languishes at the bottom of the league table with just one point from a possible 12, marking a historically dismal beginning to the season.
As the club seeks to chart a new course under fresh leadership, Graham Potter’s name initially surfaced as a prospective candidate. Nevertheless, ‘Sky Sports’ reports indicate that Potter has decided against taking on the Olympique Lyonnais challenge at this juncture.
With Potter’s refusal, Olympique Lyon is left at a crossroads, contemplating its next steps. Two promising names emerge as potential replacements. First in line is Paulo Fonseca, the current coach of Lille, who has showcased his managerial prowess in Ligue 1. The second candidate in the mix is Julen Lopetegui, who has been without a team since parting ways with Wolverhampton before the onset of the Premier League season.
Potter is known for his modern and progressive style of coaching. He has managed teams in England and Sweden, notably Östersunds FK, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea. With Östersunds FK, he won the Swedish Cup in 2017 and qualified for the UEFA Europa League, where they reached the round of 32 and even managed to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, though they went out on aggregate. He implemented an attractive style of play and establishing Brighton & Hove Albion as a stable Premier League club.
