Paolo Di Canio big favourite to replace O’Neill at Sunderland
Published:Paolo Di Canio is the huge 1/10 favourite to take over from Martin O’Neill at Sunderland.
O’Neill was sacked by Sunderland on Saturday evening following a 1-0 defeat against the runaway Premier League leaders Manchester United.
The scoreline doesn’t really do justice to the tameness with which the Black Cats rolled over to have their bellies tickled, but the timing of the sacking has drawn almost universal derision.
All the early money has been going on Di Canio, with the Italian already a huge favourite at 1/10 to take over at the Stadium of Light.
It would be a bold move and a huge gamble for Sunderland to replace the weather-worn O’Neill with a man who only has managerial experience in the lower reaches of English football.
However, at least there is an element of excitement about the potential of Di Canio – and that’s more than can be said for plenty of other names on the list.
Mark Hughes – who was sacked by QPR earlier in the season with the west London side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League – is currently the joint second favourite at 5/1.
He’s joined at that mark by Steve McClaren who is also a free agent having left FC Twente during his second spell with the Dutch side.
Elsewhere, Roberto Di Matteo is 10/1 while his former Chelsea teammate Gus Poyet is out at 12/1.
Alan Curbishley is 40/1 – but that’s because he’s always 40/1 to be the next manager whenever somebody gets sacked.
