Roberto Mancini favourite to replace Claudio Ranieri as Leicester manager, but who else is in contention?
Friday 24 February 2017 17:01, UK
Who is the favourite to replace Claudio Ranieri as Leicester manager? Sky Bet take a look at the latest odds for the leading contenders.
The Italian has been removed from his position, despite leading the Foxes to one of the greatest ever sporting achievements less than a year ago and defying odds of 5,000/1 to win the Premier League.
However, the bookmakers are now pricing up who will fill his place in the dugout after the Leicester board made their move with the club just a point above the relegation zone.
Here's a look at the leading contenders for the post…
Roberto Mancini - 5/2 with Sky Bet
The Italian was installed at the head of the list and was been backed into odds-on for the job amid reports that he has already been approached, although his price is now on the drift amid Sky sources understanding that he is not interested in talking to the club.
Mancini was cherished by Manchester City fans for bringing them their first Premier League title but also paid the price for heightened expectations from ambitious owners at the Etihad Stadium. He has since managed Galatasaray and Inter Milan, for a second spell, but left both clubs by mutual content.
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Having finished his playing career with the Midlands side, Mancini has a brief affinity with the club, but is yet to experience a relegation battle from the dugout.
Alan Pardew - 9/2 with Sky Bet
One man who certainly holds relevant experience on the relegation battling front is Pardew, having endured his fair share of struggles during spells at Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Southampton, Charlton, West Ham and Reading.
The 55-year-old was sacked by Palace at the end of last year after winning just six out of 36 games, but still holds a reputation for making an immediate impact in dressing rooms.
Nigel Pearson - 7/1 with Sky Bet
Leicester surely couldn't turn back to the man who they sacked to appoint Ranieri, could they? The 52-year-old guided them to safety against all odds in 2014-15, winning seven of their final 10 games to avoid relegation.
However, his reign came down following a breakdown of working relations with the board, having also engaged in spats with the media and opposition players. He did construct the majority of the Premier League-winning side but has since endured an unsuccessful and, yet again, controversial spell at Derby.
Guus Hiddink - 9/1 with Sky Bet
The Dutch veteran has steadied the Chelsea ship in recent years, coming in for interim spells following the departures on Luiz Felipe Scolari and Jose Mourinho. He is also out of work since leaving the Blues last summer and boasts experience from spells in charge of the likes of Real Madrid and the Netherlands.
However, it remains to be seen whether at 70-years-old, he has the appetite for the fight at the opposite end of the table to the one he is used to competing at.
Frank de Boer - 10/1 with Sky Bet
A similar concern could be aimed at De Boer, who has done little other than fight for titles with Ajax. The 'little other' had a brief spell in charge of Inter, where he was sacked after failing to manage the hight expectations for new owners.
That is likely to make the Leicester job appear even less appealing, especially having recently revealed he rejected the Liverpool in 2012 with the justification that "the project has to be right" for him to come to England.
Craig Shakespeare - 12/1 with Sky Bet
Interim boss Shakespeare looks set to have the opportunity to impress with the world watching on Monday Night Football, with Leicester hosting Liverpool live on Sky Sports.
He will be looking to extend a 100 per cent management record in that game, having previously overseen a 2-0 triumph at West Brom in his only over previous time in charge of a side as a caretaker boss.
While the 53-year-old's experience will naturally be a concern, he did witness first hand how to get the best out of the champions.
Gary Rowett - 12/1 with Sky Bet
If there's an award at the end of the season for 'most harshly sacked manager' then Rowett might well run Ranieri close, having had his largely impressive spell ended by Birmingham in December.
The Blues board removed Rowett despite the club being sat just outside the Sky Bet Championship play-offs, with his replacement Gianfranco Zola since overseeing a drop down to 16th.
Rowett is yet to return to management but is sure to have offers, although the prospect of working amid high expectations again is unlikely to appeal.
