Burnley Keen On Former Lazio Boss

Burnley have turned their attention to the Croatian Igor Tudor to take over the vacant managerial position at Turf Moor, according to reports. 

Burnley have been searching for a new manager since a £10.2 million compensation agreement was agreed for previous Head Coach Vincent Kompany to take over at Bayern Munich. Igor Tudor is the most recent name added to the candidates to take over and is rumoured to have admirers from within the Burnley hierarchy. 

Who is Igor Tudor and what would his appointment mean for Burnley? 

The 46 year old started his managerial career at Hajduk Split in Croatia and has since managed a number of big European clubs including the likes of Galatasaray, Udinese and Marseille. Tudor’s most recent role as manager was at Serie A side Lazio having replaced Maurizio Sarri in March. The Croatian took over with Lazio sitting in ninth place and guided them to a seventh place finish and qualification for the UEFA Europa League, losing only two games out of the eleven remaining. Tudor left his role at the club at the end of the season with reports in Italy suggesting that the Croatian failed to agree with the club’s hierarchy on the club’s transfer targets in the summer window. 

During his playing career, Tudor was considered to be one of Croatia’s best defenders, making a total of 55 appearances for the national side. Despite his defensive positioning as a player, the Croatian has built his managerial style as one that is forward-thinking and aggressive. During his career he has usually stuck to a 3-4-2-1 formation with an emphasis on his wing-backs to provide the width and an aggressive man-oriented pressing scheme with an emphasis on attempting to win the ball back in high areas. 

Prior to his spell as Marseille manager, Tudor stated that he wants: 

“courageous and intensive football, not only uniquely based on the defence. I want people who come to the stadium to be entertained and not disappointed”.

How realistic is this appointment? 

Bringing in a manager with Tudor’s CV and experience would be a real coup for the Clarets given his experience of Europe’s elite competition while at Marseille. Despite Burnley’s history as a Premier League club and their ambitious ownership group many would suggest that a move to Burnley is a step down for the Croatian. However, given Burnley are one of the favourites to gain promotion next season it could be the most viable way for Tudor to become a Premier League manager. 

A concern for the Championship club may be Tudor’s inability to have a long-term stint at one club. His longest reign was the first of his managerial career with Hajduk Split which lasted less than two years. On top of this, Tudor has a history of leaving managerial positions on the back of disagreements with the club’s hierarchy with rumoured disagreements at Udinese and Marseille prior to disagreements with Lazio. It may be a case of whether Tudor wants the job, rather than if Burnley want him but the Croatian may look at Kompany’s tenure as an example of what could happen should he take the role and succeed. Other managers who have been linked to the vacant post are Frank Lampard and Scott Parker, both of whom are out of a job after spells at Chelsea and Club Brugge respectively.