After parting ways with Gary Rowett yesterday, Millwall is once again looking for a new manager. Which five managers might be in the running for the open managerial positions?
The club has chosen a new face to run things for at least the rest of the season after the Championship team nearly missed the play-off spots last year. This season, the team has failed to get going.
Prior to the international break, Millwall is presently 15th in the Championship, just three points outside of the play-off spots. The team, however, has only won one of their past four league games and will visit Preston North End this weekend, who are now in third place.
Gary Rowett arrived at the Den in October 2019, six months following his Stoke City exit and spent four years with the club. Rowett took control of 196 matches with the football club, winning 76 of them and drawing 57. During his time, he earned 1.45 points per game but now moves on to pastures new.
There are currently no names that have been mentioned as a possible replacement for Rowett, but that hasn’t stopped us from compiling a list of five potential options that the Championship side could explore.
With players such as Zian Flemming, the next managerial appointment from the club will have to be right and will need to be able to bring composure and success to the football club for the remainder of the season and beyond.
With all that being said, let’s take a look at the five options we have selected…
Kevin Muscat
First up, we have chosen former Millwall defender Kevin Muscat who is currently the manager of Japanese side Yokohama, where he has been since 2021.
During his time with the club, the 50-year-old has won 61 of his 107 matches in charge and currently averages an impressive 1.88 points per game. He has also had a spell as manager of Australian side Melbourne Victory as well as Belgian side Sint-Truiden.
His contract in Japan is set to expire in January 2024, ensuring that a fee for his services would be very low and more than affordable for the football club. He knows the club inside out and would be a welcomed addition to the club.
Welshman Nathan Jones has experience in the Championship with Stoke City and Luton Town as well as his torrid time in charge of Southampton in the Premier League last season.
Over his managerial career, Jones has led Luton from Non-League to the Championship and has managed over 350 matches in his career so far, winning almost a third of them all.
He is currently without a club and has the experience in the Championship to try and push the club further up the standings which is what the club need to achieve.
Fresh after leaving Birmingham City, John Eustace has already proven himself in the Championship over the last few months and has already transformed Birmingham’s on-pitch form.
The 43-year-old won 21 of his 63 matches and averaged 1.24 points per game. That admittedly doesn’t sound too high, but his abilities as a manager and some of the signings he’s helped to bring in have proven why he deserves another shot in the second tier.
Eustace is formerly of Queens Park Rangers meaning he would be open to moving to London if an opportunity came his way and he’s the most suitable if the club want someone that knows this current division inside out.
From one former Queens Park Rangers coach to another, Michael Beale is also without a club following his departure from Scottish giants Rangers earlier this season.
Beale successfully guided QPR into the top six until he left for Rangers in November 2022 and won eight of his 14 matches during the current campaign including one in the Champions League.
Beale will be eager to return to management with Alan Nixon previously suggesting he would be open to a QPR return, which could open the door for Millwall to swoop in and land him.
When it comes to suggestions, there is often a wildcard so this time we have decided to choose Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens as a potential recruit.
The 43-year-old guided Leyton Orient to the League Two title last season and have also got themselves off to a strong start in the third-tier. He’s taken charge of 74 matches so far in his career with the club, winning 37 of them as well as drawing an additional 15.
Location-wise, Millwall would be an ideal step up for Wellens and would leave his League One side tenth in the table, with the club winning three of their last four games and having a home tie against Barnsley this weekend.
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