Next Wigan Manager: The case for bringing Jewell back

Paul Jewell was a huge hit in his first stint as Wigan boss

Wigan are reportedly considering re-hiring Paul Jewell; there are at least five examples of such an approach working...

Manchester United fans would certainly jump at the chance to have Sir Alex Ferguson back in the dugout, as would Crystal Palace arguably with Tony Pulis. However, the consensus is that Paul Jewell wouldn't get the same re-welcome at Wigan.

Jewell guided the Latics from the third tier of English football to the Premier League earlier this decade and survived in the club's first season at the top table, against the beliefs of many.

With Uwe Rosler gone, Jewell is now 9.08/1 to be the next Wigan manager and here are five previous examples of individuals who have returned to previous happy environments and been just as successful to suggest that it could well be an inspired move...

Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich)
In four years at Bayern between 1987 and 1991, Heynckes never finished outside of the top two in the Bundesliga standings, which included two table-topping campaigns. He then returned for a successful caretaker stint before taking over the reins permanently in 2011, where the Champions League was added to more league trophies and he marked his final season with a treble. Heynckes' three most booming managerial spells in terms of win percentage in over three decades in the dugout all came with Bayern.

Marcello Lippi (Juventus)
Three Serie A titles in five years at Juventus saw Lippi's stock rise even higher in Italy and a strong challenge was expected with an Inter side that included the formidable strike force of Ronaldo and Christian Vieri, while Clarence Seedorf arrived from Real Madrid. However, both strikers had their injury troubles and Inter limped to fourth, losing ten games and missing out on the title by 14 points. Lippi lasted one game of the following season before being sacked. A return to Juve was forthcoming, as were another two league titles and a Champions League final, which was lost on penalties.

Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth)
In his first stint at Portsmouth, Redknapp guided them to Premier League promotion, but he then resigned after falling out with owner Milan Mandaric. His next job was up the road at Southampton, where he was relegated, before a return to Portsmouth was touted and secured. The height of this second stint was an FA Cup final victory over Cardiff, which was a first major trophy for the club in over 50 years.

Walter Smith (Rangers)
Smith won 13 major trophies in seven seasons in his first stint at Rangers before making the move to the Premier League to test his credentials with Everton. He could do no better than finish in the bottom half of the standings in three consecutive seasons with the Merseysiders and was eventually sacked to be replaced by David Moyes. After leading Scotland in a failed World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign, he returned to Rangers where another eight trophies followed, alongside a surprise run to the 2008 UEFA Cup final.

Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)
Howe's first rescue mission at Bournemouth saw them survive despite a 17-point deduction and in the following campaign he oversaw a promotion. The bright lights of Championship side Burnley followed but this move wasn't especially successful and he was soon back at Dean Court, guiding Bournemouth to another promotion, this time into the Championship. They currently sit second in the Championship and a first ever crack at the Premier League is rated a serious possibility.