Ryan Giggs has been priced as a 10-1 fourth favourite to become the next permanent manager of Manchester United following Jose Mourinho’s sacking.
The Wales manager – who has previously managed United in a caretaker role – is behind French pair Lauren Blanc and Zinedine Zidane as well as Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino in the early betting.
United plan to initially make a caretaker appointment until the end of the season, with former Old Trafford hero and ex-Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reported to be among those being considered.
Giggs was given a four-year contract by the FAW when he took over from Chris Coleman back in January, but it was not clarified at the time of his appointment what release clauses had been inserted.
The former Wales and United winger was a popular figure among United fans when he stepped up to take charge following David Moyes’ sacking in 2014.
He returned to being an assistant to Louis van Gaal after the Dutchman’s appointment but was passed over for the manager’s job again when Van Gaal was sacked in 2016.
When Mourinho decided he had no place for him in his own back-up team, Giggs ended his 29-year association with the club by leaving Old Trafford.
But United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said at the time that Giggs’ “rigour and diligence” would help him become a successful manager in the future.
“The experiences and discipline he developed at United will undoubtedly be a big help as he continues to learn his trade,” he said. “He has all the attributes to be a terrific manager in the future.”
Mourinho leaves United after two and a half years in charge following a disastrous start to the 2018/19 season which sees United trailing bitter rivals Liverpool by a massive 19 points as well as being 11 points off fourth-placed Chelsea.
Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Liverpool means Mourinho was in charge of a United team that made the club’s worst start to a Premier League season, amassing just 26 points from 17 league games.
United announced that Mourinho had been dismissed on Tuesday morning. The club will now appoint an interim boss until the summer while they search for a permanent boss.
Besides Giggs, the other names in the frame with bookmakers Betfair are:
- Laurent Blanc 8/15
The former Manchester United defender has turned into a highly respected coach since leaving Old Trafford in 2003. He won Ligue 1 with Bordeaux in 2009 and took charge of the French national team a year later. His side were beaten by Spain in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals but the boss went on to enjoy a highly successful three year spell in charge of PSG. He won the French league in all three seasons, named Manager of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
- Zinedine Zidane 7/1
The French hero is currently out of football, having made the shock decision to leave Real Madrid in the days following his third Champions League title in successive seasons. He also led Los Blancos to the La Liga title in 2017. He had long been discussed as a potential replacement as the pressure grew on Mourinho.
- Mauricio Pochettino 7/1
The Tottenham boss is former United defender turned pundit Gary Neville’s choice to become the club’s next chief. The Argentinian has spent five years managing in the Premier League, first guiding Southampton to an eighth place finish in his first season in charge to earn a move to Spurs. After finishing fifth in his first season in charge, Pochettino has led the north London club to three successive top three finishes. Under contract until 2023, Spurs won’t be easily persuaded to let their man leave, especially for a Premier League rival.
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