Battle of the bosses: This could be a historic Emirates FA Cup year
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European managers have dominated the Emirates FA Cup in recent years. Since Joe Royle lifted the trophy back in 1995 with Everton, Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex Ferguson remain the only British managers to achieve the feat.
That run will stretch for at least one more year, with no British bosses in this weekend’s semi-finals, but Mauricio Pochettino could write his name in the history books by becoming the first ever non-European manager to win the famous cup.
Chelsea and Manchester City managers Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola can join a list of European cup-winning managers including names like Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger.
But this could be an even bigger year for the latter name, who has the chance to become the most successful manager in the competition’s history by winning a record-breaking SEVENTH Emirates FA Cup.
And you’d have to say that over a 21-year period, that’s not too shabby.
Arsenal have arguably had the easiest route to the semis, having faced two National League sides in Sutton United and Lincoln City in the previous two rounds.
But the hard work starts now, with the Gunners up against a Man City side looking for their second Emirates FA Cup triumph in seven years.
Win that, and they’ll meet either Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
Spurs haven’t won the competition since 1991, under Terry Venables. Back then, their current manager was a 19-year-old, making his way through the Newell’s Old Boys youth setup.
But fast-forward 26 years and he could be about to write his name into the record books.
It’s a feat Man City’s former Chilean boss Manuel Pellegrini had the chance to do back in 2013, before his side lost to Wigan Athletic in the final.
There’s plenty for his team to do, but we reckon Poch could go one better than his fellow South American coach and become the first boss outside of Europe to life the famous cup.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
