Chelsea legend Claude Makelele breaks silence on why he walked out of management job after just THREE games in charge
CHELSEA legend Claude Makelele walked out as manager of Greek outfit Asteras Tripolis after just three games in charge.
Makelele, 51, claims his decision came after initial promises were not upheld and club chiefs began to interfere in team selection.
The French tactician crossed over to management after ending his 20-year career in 2011 and worked as a coach at the Blues, Swansea and Paris Saint-Germain as well as manager at Bastia and Eupen.
The legendary midfielder had been a free agent since September 2023 when he left the West Londoners’ coaching staff but returned to the dugout for Asteras in the Greek Superleague.
However, the Real Madrid great’s stint in Greece lasted barely two weeks and he left after just three games, in which he was undefeated.
The former France international claimed club chiefs didn’t keep their word.
Makele told London World: “They promised me full control of the team.
“It was my decision who played or didn’t play. Transfers were not my responsibility.
“If you want to sack me because the results are not good, that’s fine. This is football. But I don’t want people telling me who should or shouldn’t play.”
The final straw took place on Sunday when Asteras visited Kallithea at Leoforos.
Makelele picked up his first victory in charge of the Greek minnows, winning 3-1 thanks to a man-of-the-match performance by Darnell Bile, who registered two assists.
The Chelsea icon claims club chiefs ordered him to bench a “key player” before the match because of his contract situation, but he disobeyed.
Makelele added: “In the last game [at Kallithea], they insisted a key player should be benched. The player has a small amateur salary, but he’s the best player in the team.
“I brought him on for just 20 minutes – he got two assists, and we won the game. But they didn’t want him [to play].
“They thought they could control whether he plays because he hadn’t signed a [new] contract [with the club]. I used him because of his quality.”
Makelele has left Asteras undefeated having won one and drawing his other two games in charge.
However, the ex-Premier League star insists the conditions didn’t allow him to focus on his duties.
Makelele added: “They were used to long balls, second balls, but I made them understand that whether you win, lose, or draw, you need to learn to play football.
“I’m a manager who looks forward. When I take responsibility for the players, I know what I can and cannot do.
“I love the job, but I can’t accept when people interfere and tell me what I can or cannot do.
“They know the name, but they don’t know the human being. You cannot lie with your principles. I built my career on honesty with players and the club. Always honest.
“Football is about human beings, about connection, understanding movement, tactical awareness, technical skill – individually and collectively. We use data, sure, but football is more than that.”