Cardiff City consider Neil Warnock return as Omer Riza struggle continues | OneFootball

The legendary boss may be called on again to help another struggling side.

Neil Warnock is in contention to return to Cardiff City to help them survive relegation, with just four games left to play in the 2024/25 season.

This is according to TBR Football's Graeme Bailey, who has reported that Warnock, 76, is an option that the Bluebirds are considering to replace Omer Riza for the final weeks of the campaign.

Warnock, a current football advisor for non-league side Torquay United, hasn't been involved in management since his brief stint with Aberdeen last season. He only lasted just over a month in Scotland before leaving his position with the Dons.

He is the premier relegation-survival specialist in the EFL, and with that threat looming over Cardiff, they may look to bring their former manager back to the club.

Neil Warnock being considered by Cardiff City

Bailey has revealed that City are thinking of making a change of manager at this late stage of the campaign, with Warnock being a candidate to takeover at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Talks have reportedly been happening between the two parties after the club's devastating loss to Stoke City, which has left them in the hole of the bottom three and needing a lifeline to come and save them. The bat signal has been thrown into the sky, now we must wait to see whether he answers the call.

Warnock previously said that some of the best times in his career came while he was in charge of the Bluebirds from October 2016 to November 2019. He won promotion to the Premier League with them in the 2017/18 season, finishing as runners-up to Wolverhampton Wanderers. They went straight back down the next season, which was followed by Warnock's departure some months later.

Warnock would be handed such a hard task if he returned to Cardiff

The last time he stepped up to the plate to drag a struggling EFL side away from the fiery jaws of the drop was with Huddersfield Town, three seasons ago, who, like Cardiff, Warnock also previously managed. Huddersfield were victorious in his first game back in charge, which eventually sparked a run that saved them from a near-certain relegation.

The one difference in this case is that, unless Cardiff were to act extremely quickly, Warnock would get just four games, potentially only three, to right the sinking ship. That, even for someone of his pedigree in these scenarios, is a daunting task.

Even if he were to come in and take over from Riza before their match on Good Friday, away at Sheffield United - another one of Warnock's beloved former sides - he'd then only have a couple of days between then and their next game, at home to Oxford United, to work with the players.

It'd take a bit of Warnock magic to affect change in this team so quickly, but, hey, if there's anyone who has the superpowers to pull such a feat off, it's him.