Sporting coach Amorim new favourite to replace axed Villa boss Gerrard
Published:
Next Aston villa manager odds: Emery second in the betting
Steven Gerrard was sacked as Aston Villa manager on Thursday evening in the wake of a 3-0 defeat at Fulham.
Former Rangers boss Gerrard paid the price for a run of just two Premier League wins from 11 games this season.
Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim is the new 5/4 favourite to replace him as we take a look at who could be next in the Villa Park hotseat.
Ruben Amorim
The Sporting Lisbon coach has been heavily touted for the job after impressing in Portugal. He guided the club to their first title in 19 years in 2021 but it will cost a huge amount of money to bring him to Birmingham.
The 37-year-old has remained tight-lipped on the reports linking him to the role. “In relation to other clubs, I am Sporting’s coach and there is nothing to say on the matter, once again,” he said.
Unai Emery
The Villarreal coach knows the Premier League having spent 18 months at Arsenal where he had a 55% win record during his spell in charge.
The Spaniard is best known for winning the Europa League in three successive seasons with Sevilla and added a fourth in the 2020-21 campaign with his current club.
Sean Dyche
Sacked by Burnley as they struggled for Premier League survival last season, Dyche continues to be linked with jobs when they have cropped up this season, both in the top flight and Championship.
Whether the current Villa squad would be able to mould themselves into playing full-on ‘Dyche-ball’ would be up for debate.
Mauricio Pochettino
Former Southampton, Tottenham and Paris St Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino is the bookmakers’ favourite for the Villa job.
The Argentinian coach has been available since parting company with the French giants during July, and had been linked with the Old Trafford vacancy before Erik ten Hag’s appointment.
Thomas Frank
The Dane has been at Brentford for four years, leading the club to the Premier League for the first time in 2021 and establishing them as a tough team to beat in the top flight.
The Bees continue to punch above their weight, beating Manchester United 4-0 at the start of the season and by a twist of fate they face Aston Villa at the weekend.
Michael Beale
Beale was assistant to Gerrard before joining QPR in the summer, and remains well thought of at the Midlands club. The 42-year-old has impressed in his first job in management, taking Rangers to the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
Despite turning down the chance to speak to Wolves about their managerial vacancy – insisting there was work still to be done at Loftus Road – it could be a different story should Villa come calling.
Thomas Tuchel
Recently dismissed by Chelsea, German Tuchel would bring an impressive CV with him. A Champions League winner with the Blues in 2021, Tuchel also had successful spells at Borussia Dortmund and PSG, but whether he would be ready for such a swift return to the pressure-cooker of Premier League management remains to be seen.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
