Jose Mourinho’s former assistant Rui Faria has reportedly ruled himself out of the running for the Aston Villa job, with the club said to have a five-man shortlist to replace Steve Bruce.
Faria had moved into odds-on favouritism for the job after news circulated that he topped Villas’ wish list, but it has now emerged that he has turned down the chance to go for the role at Villa Park.
The market has adjusted accordingly and Brentford boss Dean Smith has now returned to odds-on favourite to take up the role, with Faria moving out to 4/1.
Aston Villa manager betting
John Terry remains well in the frame as he reiterated his desire to move into management when questioned on the topic by Sky Sports at the British masters Pro-Am.
"I have ambitions and aspirations to be a coach, a manager, in the long run."
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 10, 2018
John Terry refuses to discuss @AVFCOfficial job but wants to be a manager: https://t.co/7UaYjtf2i7 pic.twitter.com/ZukyLCVkVI
Villa are said to have a shortlist of around five names now in contention to take up the challenge of leading Villa back into the Premier League, with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers still among the market leaders.
Benfica ‘B’ coach Bruno Lage is a surprise name in contention – he’s being linked due to the Portuguese connection as Jorge Mendes is said to be helping Villa with their manager search.
David Moyes and Sam Allardyce are also in the betting but Thierry Henry seems to have fallen out of contention, with the Arsenal legend and current Belgium assistant now thought to be a possible candidate for the Monaco job.
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Odds correct as of 1830 BST on 10/10/18
