Kerry Dixon told Sky Sports News that Andre Villas-Boas' time at Porto will stand him in good stead at Chelsea.
Spell with Porto important, says Dixon
Andre Villas-Boas may lack managerial experience but his successful spell with Porto will stand him in good stead at Chelsea, that's according to Kerry Dixon.
Villas-Boas was named as Carlo Ancelotti's successor on Wednesday morning after Porto confirmed they had received a compensation fee from Chelsea for their former manager, reported to be £13.2 million.
The 33-year-old began his managerial career with Academica de Coimbra in 2009 before joining Porto a year later.
His first season with the Portuguese club proved to be a record breaking one, as he helped his new employers to an unprecedented Primeira Liga, UEFA Europa League and Portuguese Cup treble.
Despite success in his homeland, some Chelsea fans have voiced concerns over employing a manager who is the same age as certain members of the squad.
Dixon admits Guus Hiddink and not Villas-Boas would have been his preferred choice to lead out his former club next season, but he believes Jose Mourinho's former protege will bring an attacking style of play to Stamford Bridge that will win over any doubters.
"I've got to be honest, it didn't exactly come out of the blue, but I was in the camp of Guus Hiddink," he told
Sky Sports News.
Attacking
"The work he did at Porto last year has stood him in good stead. He had a wonderful season. But most importantly the appointment is of a man who plays with an attacking style - something which Roman Abramovich and the board have sought for a long time.
"Andre Villas-Boas was here at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho and he will know a lot of the players and he will have their respect.
"It's going to be interesting to see how he adapts from being the eyes and ears of Jose Mourinho to actually being the boss, the man that makes the decisions.
"Trophies are vital. Everyone knows what is expected when you take the Chelsea job - you have to win things. He will have a squad at his disposal that will be capable of winning things and he's got to bed them all in together, irrespective of ages.
"That is going to be the important factor in winning over not only the established players who he already knows, but also the new faces that he doesn't."
Mentor
Villas-Boas previously worked as an opposition scout under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge before following his mentor to Inter Milan.
He becomes Chelsea's sixth manager in four years and Dixon says every Blues fan is hoping he can have the same impact on the clubs as his countryman did.
"Let's hope from all Chelsea fans' perspective that he does recreate the Mourinho effect," he said.
"Six trophies in three years and coming very close to the sought after prize of the Champions League on a couple of occasions. But let's hope he does it with a bit more flair than perhaps Mourinho did.
"Jose Mourinho is thought by many, and quite rightly so, to be the most successful and best Chelsea manager of recent times and if Andre Villas-Boas can get anywhere near what Jose Mourinho did for the club then I think it would be a very successful appointment indeed."
