Football

Jaw/Tenderloin,

any thoughts on Franco Baldini, he's being touted possibly as Spurs Director of Football, well at least in this article. He's still highly regarded despite Luis Fernandez flaming out as Roma coach, though he showed some cojones in getting Zdenek Zeman back at the Giallorossi.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/9560162/Tottenham-Hotspur-hope-to-appoint-Franco-Baldini-as-director-of-football-to-work-alongside-Andre-Villas-Boas.html

Have now seen a number of other articles where he dismisses said rumour, so maybe not. But I'm still interested to know how highly he's rated. Directors of Football/Sporting Director/General Manager are still a bit cloak and dagger, hidden from view. I know Sid Lowe rates Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo or Monchi as he's known, and there's Txiki Beguristain (sp?) who is at Barca, but after those two names, its hard at least for me to know any off the top of my head. I know Frank Arnesen is doing the job at Hamburg, and Jorge Valdano used to do it at Real Madrid, but I'm not sure how much of a figurehead he was, and how much day to day involvement he had.

Basically what I'm trying to say is, is there a ranking of sporting/technical/general directors/managers across europe? And if there isn't who do you think should be on the list?

Personally I like the idea of someone, the right one obviously, there as a link between manager and board, and to set a course for the club in terms of footballing philosophy, style of play and players who fit that mould, or can fit that mould, from youth setup through to the first team, with the manager looking after first team affairs, and getting the best out of those players.