Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham will all start the new Premiership season with new foreign coaches. Expectations are high at Stamford Bridge after a summer of big spending from Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho. Rafael Benitez arrives at Liverpool on the back of a season of success at Valencia. And Jacques Santini took over at Spurs after France's Euro 2004 campaign ended with elimination at the hands of Greece. But how can we expect them to fare when in their first season running Premiership clubs?
By Paul Fletcher, BBC
JOSE MOURINHO (CHELSEA)
Age: 41
Previous job: Porto
Nationality: Portuguese
Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge from Porto proclaiming: "We have top players and, sorry if I'm arrogant, but we now have a top manager." Clearly, the 41-year-old is not a man lacking self-belief and when the season comes down to crunch time, expect Mourinho to mix it with the best of them. He has already warned Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson not to play mind games with him - "If they touch me, I'll be ready to hit back even harder".
But he has arguably the hardest task of the three summer arrivals from the continent, with the pressure to deliver that comes after a summer spending that falls just short of £90m. Having won the Uefa Cup and Champions League at Porto he is clearly a coach used to winning - and his success is the product of thorough preparation. Mourinho monitors every minute of every day of his player's lifestyles, diet and training. Everything is geared towards optimum performance on the pitch. He demands total dedication but - and this is a less publicised side of his character - is understanding when the situation is right.
"Porto would not have had a champion team without Mourinho," said Luis Oliviera, a journalist with Portuguese newspaper Publico. "The players knew they could count on him to be fair. "On the first day the players at Porto met him they knew he would do anything for them but also that he wanted everything possible from them in return." Mourinho was an average player who began studying to be a coach at a young age and his dedication has reaped dividends. "Technically speaking he may be the best coach we have had in Portugal and I think he will do well in England," adds Oliviera. "He always said the Premiership was his favourite championship. He already knows the players and coaches. Often it is a negative thing when a coach goes to another country and does not speak the language but this will not be the case for Mourinho. "He is arrogant but only because he knows he is good at what he does."
Verdict: Sweet success
RAFAEL BENITEZ (LIVERPOOL)
Age: 44
Previous job: Valencia
Nationality: Spanish
If Mourinho is assigned with delivering silverware at Chelsea, Benitez has been charged with reviving ailing Liverpool. The once-great Reds finished 30 points adrift of champions Arsenal last season and the 44-year-old faces a huge task if he is to finally deliver the Premiership title to Anfield. But Benitez is not a man who is easily fazed and goes about his work in a studious, thorough manner. He arrived at Liverpool from Valencia and is regarded in Spain as a polite, quiet sort of manager who does not seek the spotlight. Don't expect Benitez to come out with many eye-catching quotes along Mourinho lines but, as with any successful manager, he has the necessary backbone to make tough decisions. He believes in squad rotation and has gained a reputation as someone adept at maximising the players at his disposal. His three seasons at Valencia were an unqualified success. Benitez inherited a talented team boasting the likes of Pablo Aimar and Roberto Ayala - but one that seemed to play the role of bridesmaid with two Champions League final defeats in successive years. Two Spanish League titles in three years and a Uefa Cup victory last season point to a man who can identify shortcomings and quickly correct them. At Valencia he moved the team 10-15 metres higher up the pitch to improve their options when attacking. The defensive record at Valencia was also superb, with his team conceding just 27 goals last season. Benitez has spoken of his hopes of improving Steven Gerrard's game and the players are talking in terms of a renewed sense of self-belief that was undoubtedly missing towards the end of Gerard Houllier's reign. The coach himself talks sensibly in terms of the need for constant improvement - identifying mistakes and correcting them. And with his level-headed attitude and keen tactical eye, Liverpool supporters can expect to see much-needed improvement.
Verdict: Steady improvement
JACQUES SANTINI (TOTTENHAM)
Age: 52
Previous job: France national team
Nationality: French
Santini arrived at White Hart Lane after a disappointing Euro 2004 campaign in which his France team were eliminated by Greece at the quarter-final stage. The French media was highly critical of his failure to change his team in games when they were clearly struggling. David Trezeguet, for example, was highly ineffective against Greece, and should have been replaced by Louis Saha much earlier than the 70-minute mark. Many in France were also surprised by Santini's decision to accept the role of coach at Spurs. Spurs' new-look system sees Santini sandwiched between technical director Frank Arnesen and assistant coach Martin Jol. Arnesen and Jol speak the same language and have known each other for a long time. Santini's English is poor and he could be seen as the outsider of the three. The 52-year-old also has a reputation as someone who does not shy away fro confrontation. At Lyon he had a disagreement with Vikash Dhorasoo and the player was allowed to leave despite his importance to the team. Santini refused to shake the hand of then-Bordeaux coach Elie Baup before matches, as is tradition in France, after the two men fell out. And many in France believe he only took the Spurs job to spite the French Football Federation after they failed to offer him a new deal in advance of Euro 2004. But Auxerre coach Guy Roux, a good friend of Santini, is backing the new coach to improve Tottenham.
"He has very strong character and although he is quite a quiet man he is very good tactically," said Roux. "It is a good opportunity but he must work hard. "
Verdict: Tough job
