The Axe Falls: Chelsea Could Learn a Thing or Two from College Soccer

Well, it seems that the Mourinho/Abramovich Chelsea juggernaut has at last collapsed. Even a casual observer could have seen that this was a train wreck waiting to happen. Let’s do the math:

(Insanely wealthy Russian oligarch owner who wants it done his way) + (flamboyant, obstinate coach) + (multiple superstars wanted by oligarch but unwanted by coach) + (vast sums of money) + (vast egos) = complete and utter meltdown.

Yes, Chelsea was successful under Mourinho, so I must admit that the formula worked to some degree. However the constant soap opera was enough to unsettle any team — even one captained by the no-nonsense, square-jawed John Terry. We saw it before with Real Madrid’s Galacticos, which was a failure on the field as well as off the field. And now we’re seeing it with Chelsea.

The thing is, teams have to be crafted. They have to be carefully assembled with a mix of role players, journeymen, and a smattering of stars. Too many egos leads to a meltdown. Inevitably. It always happens. Even a gifted and charismatic coach like Mourinho couldn’t keep the wheels from falling off.

College coaches have long been aware of these dynamics. There have been many teams laden with egos that have underperformed. But generally, it seems, the best recruiters put a lot of thought into players’ personalities and roles on the team, not just their raw ability.