Ex Arsenal, West Ham and Fulham man under consideration for EFL vacancy
Luis Boa Morte is one of the names in consideration at Wigan Athletic as the hunt for a new manager begins.
Former Arsenal, West Ham and Fulham midfielder Luis Boa Morte has been put forward to struggling League One outfit Wigan Athletic as a potential candidate to replace Shaun Maloney after the Latics sacked their manager over the weekend.
Wigan Athletic lost 2-1 to Reading on Saturday and now have just one win in seven games. That has left the side 15th in League One, six points above the relegation places and in need of a dramatic turnaround in form.
Maloney spent just over two years in charge at the Brick Community Stadium, during which time the club was relegated from the Championship and a points deduction. Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan has been placed in interim charge of the side, assisted by Graham Barrow and Frankie Bunn, ahead of Tuesday night’s clash with Mansfield Town.
Wigan Athletic sack Shaun Maloney
A Wigan Athletic statement read: “Wigan Athletic can confirm that Shaun Maloney has departed his role as Wigan Athletic Manager with immediate effect.
“Shaun was appointed Wigan Athletic Manager in January 2023 during what would be an extremely turbulent period in the Club’s history. Whilst he could not prevent the Club’s relegation from the EFL Championship, Shaun ensured that the Club returned to the third tier with fighting spirit.
“Furthermore, through a change of ownership in the summer of 2023, Shaun stuck by the Club and helped us overcome an eight-point deduction and a squad overhaul to retain our 2023/24 League One status comfortably with matches to spare.
“During his tenure, Shaun and his young team have provided the Club and its supporters with some proud moments, including an Emirates FA Cup Third Round tie with Manchester United, as well as three memorable victories over rivals Bolton Wanderers, just to name a few. Shaun has also helped develop a number of our young players, some of whom have moved on to further their careers to the mutual benefit of the Football Club.
“However, it cannot be overlooked that the current League One campaign has clearly not progressed as anticipated. Home results and performances, in particular, have been disappointing and below the standard at which our supporters expect. For this reason, the Board felt that it was time for a change. The timing of such change will allow the club the necessary time to appoint a successor and enable the Club to look forward to the future.”
Fulham ‘legend’ linked with EFL job
Former Wigan Athletic bosses Gary Caldwell and Leam Richardson are two early names to be linked with the role but LondonWorld understands that Boa Morte is a coach who is also being considered by the League One side.
Boa Morte has a rich history in English football. The former Portugal international was Arsene Wenger's first signing at Arsenal and lifted the Premier League with the club in 1998.
His longest stint at a team would come at Craven Cottage. Boa Morte spent six years at Fulham and earned his place as a club legend while helping the outfit to promotion to the top flight in 2001. The player also spent four years at West Ham between 2007 and 2011.
The former midfielder earned his coaching badges and worked at Sporting CP, Arsenal, Portimonense and Maccabi Haifa before joining Marco Silva at Everton. Boa More then followed Silva back to Fulham but left at the end of last season to take up the post as manager of national side Guinea Bissau.
A Fulham club statement in March said: "The Club can confirm that Luis Boa Morte will leave Fulham at the end of the season to take up a position as Head Coach of Guinea-Bissau.
"Boa Morte – who already held legend status at Craven Cottage after scoring 54 times in 250 appearances during his playing days – returned to the Club as First Team Coach following the appointment of Marco Silva in the summer of 2021.
"An integral part of the backroom staff that saw us win the Championship in that first season, Boa Morte was then part of the team that helped re-establish Fulham as a top flight outfit as we finished 10th in the Premier League.
"Everyone at Fulham would like to thank Boa for his efforts since his return to the Club, and wishes him the best of luck in this next chapter when he departs following our season finale away to Luton Town."
In other news, Brighton have been dealt a suspension blow ahead of the upcoming Premier League meeting with Fulham.