Chelsea next manager: After Jose Mourinho sacking, who is odds on to take over at the Blues?

There is one bookmakers' favourite to replace the Special One and return to Chelsea

Adam Withnall
Thursday 17 December 2015 15:59 GMT
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Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (2015 Getty Images)

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Jose Mourinho has been sacked as Chelsea manager after the club's worst start to a season in almost 40 years - so who could replace the Special One?

Dutch national team manager Guus Hiddink has been installed by SkyBet, BetVictor and Paddy Power as the current firm favourite, with odds as low as 4/1 on with the former.

Juande Ramos is most bookmakers' second choice, with a report in The Times before today's news suggesting the current free agent could take over on an interim basis.

At 8/1, SkyBet makes the Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola its third option to replace Mourinho, with German media already reporting this week that the former Barcelona man will commit to leaving the Bundesliga by the end of this season.

Carlo Ancelotti is currently the bookies' fourth favourite, with odds at 14/1 with Sky Bet.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Independent earlier this month, he told Mark Ogden he was enjoying having a spell watching from the sidelines - but that a return to the Premier League appealed.

Ancelotti said Manchester United and Arsenal were his preferred potential options - but did not rule out a return to the Blues. He nonetheless said he wouldn't want to take a job in mid-season.

"The Premier League is the best in the sense of atmosphere, ambience," he said. "It is also competitive, so I would like to come back, especially for the atmosphere."

Jose Mourinho's worst post-match interviews in 2015

A number of bookmakers also have short odds on Diego Simeone. The Argentine has been a success at Atletico Madrid since 2011, and was touted recently as a possible long-term replacement for Mourinho if he could be tempted away.

Former England manager Fabio Capello is generally considered a decent option, rated at 14/1 with Paddy Power.

Betters can also get Brendan Rodgers at around 10/1, while outside choices include Didier Drogba on 33/1, Roberto Mancini on 50/1 or Gianfranco Zola at 100/1.

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