Gareth Southgate being installed as England’s caretaker manager for their next four fixtures has seen him chucked in as favourite for the permanent position. At evens with 888 Sport, Southgate’s continued insistence that he does not want the job seems to be doing little to stop his backers.
Following Southgate in the stakes is the unemployed Steve Bruce. Bruce left his position at the helm of Hull’s ship when they hit choppy waters over summer and the ability to walk straight into Wembley without the strings of club management tying him down might tempt the FA. Sitting at 3/1, Bruce is a clear second favourite for the post.
A cluster of managers are sat at 12/1 with 888 Sport. Glenn Hoddle, who has not managed a team since 2006, will be touted by many an ex-player and pundit for the job but it is hard to imagine even the FA taking such a leap to a man with little recent experience.
Joining Hoddle at 12s is Arsene Wenger. Having reached landmark upon landmark as Arsenal gaffer recently, the Gunners’ icon would surely only be tempted into the role on a permanent basis if it could be worked alongside his club commitment. These odds seem a little short, particularly as both Eddie Howe and Alan Pardew are both at 12/1, too.
Howe, who has suffered a challenging start to the season, led Bournemouth to a comfortable, exciting first Premier League campaign last time around. As a young, unscarred manager, Howe might be favoured by the FA to take the post on a longer-term basis, but there is a distinct feeling that this step has come a little early in his career.
Pardew, however, is primed for the role. If the FA, as one would expect, are to stick to their policy of favouring British managers, Pardew’s odds of 12/1 are potentially excellent value. Despite a rocky 2016 with Crystal Palace, the travelled manager will certainly be in contention. However, after one PR disaster, Pardew might not be the smartest appointment.
If the decision makers at English football’s headquarters look further afield for Allardyce’s replacement, Roberto Mancini at 25/1, Rafael Benitez at 40/1 and Louis van Gaal at 30/1 could be worthwhile longshot bets.
Check out all the latest England manager betting odds here: https://www.888sport.com/football/football-betting.htm#/filter/football/specials/managers
