Monday 25 May 2015 18:12, UK
Following confirmation of Sam Allardyce’s departure as West Ham manager, Sky Bet look at the most likely candidates to succeed him.
Having made 48 appearances for the club between 1996 and 1997, Slaven Bilic appears to be a popular choice among the West Ham support. The former Croatia manager – who is stepping down from his role as Besiktas manager – is also popular among Sky Bet’s punters, with Bilic attracting by far the biggest number of stakes, even doubling the figure of the second most backed candidate – Rafa Benitez (20/1).
Having been linked with the posts at Real Madrid and AC Milan, Unai Emery is a candidate West Ham fans should not turn their noses up at. The Sevilla boss will bid to land back-to-back Europa League titles with the Spanish side on Wednesday, and has guided the club to two consecutive fifth-place finishes in La Liga. With Milan priced at 15/8 to be Carlo Ancelotti’s next job and Rafa Benitez 1/4 to replace the Italian at Madrid, West Ham could well be the most attractive proposition for Emery this summer.
Bearing in mind the job David Moyes did in his reign at Everton, appointing the Scotsman could prove a shrewd move from the West Ham hierarchy. Moyes signed an 18-month contract with Real Sociadad last November, steering them from 15th in the table to a 12th-place finish. Adequate, if unspectacular, it is not yet known if Moyes will see out his deal, but West Ham appears to be his best option for a route back into the English top flight, with Newcastle 14/1 to appoint him.
Since leaving Swansea in February of last year, Michael Laudrup has resisted a handful of chances to return to English football, preferring to honour his contract at Qatar side Lekhwiya instead. He has been busy guiding Lekhwiya to the Qatar Stars League and Crown Prince Cup, but his contract runs out next month, paving the way for a return to the Premier League. The Dane has distanced himself from mid-table opportunities, but it is not clear how inviting he finds the positions at West Ham (8/1) and Newcastle (8/1).
Roberto Di Matteo, who is expected to be sacked by Schalke following their sixth-place finish in the Bundesliga, is next in the pecking order at 12/1. Under-fire Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is the same price as Di Matteo, with Jurgen Klopp rated 5/4 to be the next manager in the door at Anfield. Steve McClaren is a 16/1 shout, while a return for Harry Redknapp is 20/1. Ancelotti has also been linked with the Hammers’ post, but it’s an unlikely rumour at 25/1.
