Manchester United's next permanent manager odds: Solskjaer, Pochettino or Zidane?
Manchester United have appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their interim manager until the end of the season.
The Norwegian joins from Molde on a temporary basis, with the Red Devils set to appoint a full-time manager in the summer.
The move buys Ed Woodward and United's hierarchy time to plan for the long-term, identify their man and make a full-time appointment that can return them to the top.
It is fair to say Solskjaer came out of the blue. He was, at one stage on Tuesday, 50/1 with Sky Bet to become Man United's next manager (with the terms of the market covering an interim post), with Michael Carrick the initial favourite after being tasked with looking after the squad for 48 hours.
Talk of the Norwegian surfaced and he was well backed to odds-on before the move was confirmed on Wednesday.
Sky Bet now have a market for who will be the club's manager on the first league game of 2019/20.
We take a look at who is in the running...
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 5/2
The Norwegian may seem like an appointment based on getting fans back on side rather than based on his managerial CV, but if his period as caretaker goes well then they could hand him the reins permanently.
Solskjaer may still be due to return to Molde, but the 45-year-old will undoubtedly see this as a trial.
That being said, he has a number of things to sort in order to get his house in order.
Click here to see what could be on his to-do list
Mauricio Pochettino - 3/1
United may start planning now, but Pochettino's loyalties mean he could be unwilling to talk until the summer - and then Real Madrid could join the race for his signature with Santiago Solari always in danger of the axe.
The Argentinian boss is reportedly the preferred choice to take over at Old Trafford, having impressed with his aura, style of play and overall management at Southampton and Tottenham.
He could have to work with a director of football, with United apparently considering an appointment to help with transfers and provide the dialogue between coaching staff and the board as the middle man.
The first choice for some - including Gary Neville - but should he ditch his Spurs legacy and gamble at United?
That is one of the topics covered in our Manchester United Manager Special Podcast - click here for more information.
Manchester United Manager Podcast Special
The Frenchman has won the Champions League in the last three seasons, as well as La Liga on one occasion, and is now a free agent after choosing to leave Real Madrid in the summer.
He is one of the finest midfielders to grace the game and his managerial record speaks for itself. So could he do the business in England?
He never played the game here, but his skills from managing a European super power in Real Madrid could be transferable and take United forward.
Zidane was linked with the club earlier in the season when things were not going Mourinho's way and that speculation was fuelled further after he was spotted near their London office.
Appointing Zidane, as successful as he has been, could still be seen as a risk and, given the fact David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho did not really work, Woodward might not be prepared to take that gamble.
Laurent Blanc - 9/1
The 53-year-old, who spent two years at Old Trafford as a player in the early 2000s, is a free agent after leaving his role at Paris Saint-Germain in 2016.
There was talk on Tuesday that he would be the man coming in as interim manager, but it has been reported that he is looking for a 'project' and a summer appointment may be more suited to the former centre-back.
He has tasted league success as a manager in France on four occasions, once with Bordeaux and three times with PSG, as well as winning four league cups and two Coupe de France trophies.
Antonio Conte - 16/1
A league winner as a manager in Italy and England with Juventus and Chelsea respectively, Conte is currently out of management and he could revitalise the club.
The animated manager would suit the set up with the director of football, given he worked in a similar model at Juve under Giuseppe Marotta, and The Telegraph claims the Italian would be interested in taking the role. It has also been claimed he has twice rejected Real Madrid' advances.
Whether he would be a long-term solution remains to be seen, but Conte is a winner and he knows what it takes to deliver success.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer/Manchester United 2018/19 specials (via Sky Bet)
Odds correct as of 1300 GMT on 19/12/18
Follow Sporting Life on social media - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Related football links
MOST READ FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL TIPS
