The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Nicolas Anelka has joined Mumbai City FC as more than just a player/manager. As a marquee player/manager.
The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool striker, whose tally of two goals in seven games fired Mumbai to second from bottom in last season’s inaugural Indian Super League, replaces Peter Reid in the dugout but will continue in a playing capacity.
Freddie Ljungberg was last season’s marquee player but Anelka has taken on the role, which will allow the Frenchman to earn a higher salary.
Surprisingly this is not the 36-year-old’s first foray into management. In 2012 Anelka joined the Shanghai Shenhua coaching staff, but he lasted just one season at the Chinese Super League club before returning to Europe. Since then he has spent time at Juventus and West Bromwich Albion, with the latter terminating the forward’s contract in early 2014 after “gross misconduct” related to a controversial ‘quenelle’ gesture.
Mumbai City used Twitter to announce their new boss, with unsurprising results.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are proud to anounce our Marquee Player/Manager, Nicolas Anelka. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeAnelka?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeAnelka?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#WelcomeAnelka</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/JffHbtcex6" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-http://t.co/JffHbtcex6" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/JffHbtcex6</a>— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MumbaiCityFC/status/616865624300453888" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-https://twitter.com/MumbaiCityFC/status/616865624300453888" data-vars-event-id="c23">July 3, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nicolas Anelka is the new player/manager of Mumbai. What could possibly go wrong? <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/anelka?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-https://twitter.com/hashtag/anelka?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#anelka</a>— Lee Clayton (@LeeClayton_) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LeeClayton_/status/616869149852200960" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-https://twitter.com/LeeClayton_/status/616869149852200960" data-vars-event-id="c23">July 3, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anelka bout to sink another club— Lorenzo Bosch (@LoluOnabolu) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LoluOnabolu/status/616874266152275968" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-https://twitter.com/LoluOnabolu/status/616874266152275968" data-vars-event-id="c23">July 3, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">So as a player manager, will Anelka be substituting himself?— Mr. Ike Niwa ™ (@IkeC4pt4in) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/IkeC4pt4in/status/616873516655316992" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-https://twitter.com/IkeC4pt4in/status/616873516655316992" data-vars-event-id="c23">July 3, 2015</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is Nicholas Anelka still playing football— Fabregas Assist (@AssistFabregas) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/AssistFabregas/status/616872090281615360" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-12966-https://twitter.com/AssistFabregas/status/616872090281615360" data-vars-event-id="c23">July 3, 2015</a>
Relive all the best moments from Chelsea 2014-15 title winning season with this sensational eBook, available on Amazon and iBooks from May 29th.
Read More
MORE ABOUT