Pearson favourite for Middlesbrough post – Ranieri a surprise 12/1 shot
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Middlesbrough announced this morning that manager Aitor Karaka had been relieved of his duties at the Riverside Stadium, and our traders have acted quick to price up his potential successor.
As things stand, it’s former Boro player and ex-Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson who heads the market at 2/1 to take over.
Meanwhile, another ex-Foxes manager also finds himself in the mix at 12/1. Yep, he worked miracles in the East Midlands last year, and Claudio Ranieri is considered to have an outside chance of landing the Teesside role, less than a month after leaving Leicester.
Ahead of him in the market though is former England manager Roy Hodgson at 10/1. Boasting bags of experience, he could be just what Boro need – certainly temporarily – to keep the club afloat in the Premier League.
Alan Pardew is currently the second-favourite for the role, although his history with bitter rivals Newcastle United perhaps makes that an unlikely appointment.
Caretaker manager Steve Agnew is an 8/1 shot to impress the board enough to land him the him the job on a permanent basis.
And that’s a price he shares with Guus Hiddink, who has links with Peter Kenyon – a man who is expected to play a huge part in this recruitment process.
While one former player heads the market, another is the rank outsider.
Juninho is 33/1 to return to the Riverside in what would be his first managerial role, although that would surely be too risky an appointment given the situation Boro currently find themselves in.
With just 11 games to go this season, the North East outfit sit rather uncomfortably in 19th place, having picked up just four points since the turn of the year – scoring two goals in the process.
Up next for Middlesbrough is the visit of Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United. Can they achieve the unthinkable and pick up three points to kick-start their campaign?
Let us know your thoughts on that game – and who you reckon should be appointed – in the comments section below.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
