OPINION
West Ham United bosses have wanted to appoint a director of football for a long time now.
Under former boss David Moyes however that did not look to be an option, with the Scot adamant that he wanted full control over transfer targets and dealings.
Now that Moyes has been replaced by Manuel Pellegrini though, it looks like the board’s wish is to become a reality as they prepare to appoint Mario Husillos to the role, as reported by Claret and Hugh.
A Hammers insider is quoted as saying: “Mario Husillos is/will be the director of football. The manager will have the final say and will only take players he thinks will improve the team. Pellegrini is in constant contact via emails and mobile phones in Chile.”
While this is most definitely an appointment which makes sense, with Husillos and Pellegrini working well together at Malaga, it is also one that is a risk for the club.
Husillos has just endured a horrific return to Malaga after a short-lived spell at Olympiakos which lasted just four months, with the La Liga side suffering a pretty emphatic relegation to the Segunda Division.
The transfer fixer was brought back to the Andalusian club in October in an attempt to help them avoid that eventuality, and he spectacularly failed in his efforts.
All eight players that Malaga brought in during the January window failed to make an impact at the club, with Watford loanee Isaac Success among them.
Malaga ended up going down with just 20 points to their name over the whole season, and this failure has brought doubts over Husillos’ ability.
While one bad spell does not necessarily mean he is not up to the task, there will be massive questions for Husillos to answer at the London Stadium.
There is also the issue of his lack of experience in England, with Husillos never having been involved with the Premier League.
His rival for the role, Leicester City fixer Eduardo Macia, trumps him greatly in that aspect, but for whatever reason the club have decided to go with Husillos.
West Ham fans will take hope from the duo’s brilliant spell at Malaga together between 2010 and 2013, which saw them qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, but that was a long time ago, with Husillos’ success being limited since then.
This is therefore a huge decision from the club hierarchy to plump for Husillos, and it is one they may live to regret in the coming seasons.
