Gus Poyet is now odds-on favourite to make a dramatic return to Sunderland, more than five years after they sacked him as manager.
Having started the day priced at 2/1, the Uruguayan went as short as 1/10 with Sky Bet before drifting back out to 1/2; some bookmakers even suspended betting for a time during the afternoon.
Should Poyet return to the Stadium of Light then he will walk into a very different environment to the one he left in 2015, when Sunderland were an established Premier League club.
Next permanent Sunderland manager odds
- Gus Poyet - 1/2
- Danny Cowley - 2/1
- Paul Cook - 5/1
- Nigel Pearson - 16/1
Click for the full Sky Bet market
Odds correct at 1545 01/12/20
Phil Parkinson was sacked on Sunday with the Black Cats eighth in Sky Bet League One and on a five-game winless run in all competitions.
They were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first-round stage by League Two side Mansfield last month.
After taking over from Paolo Di Canio in 2013, Poyet oversaw Sunderland's most successful campaign in recent memory.
They beat Chelsea and Manchester United en route to the League Cup final, before eventually losing a tight encounter to Manchester City at Wembley. The Black Cats then avoided relegation with a superb late run of form.
๐ด ๐๐ช๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฎ๐๐ฉ
โ Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) December 1, 2020
โช๏ธ Dick Advocaat
๐ด Sam Allardyce
โช๏ธ David Moyes
๐ด Simon Grayson
โช๏ธ Chris Coleman
๐ด Jack Ross
โช๏ธ Phil Parkinson
โ๏ธ ๐๐ช๐จ ๐๐ค๐ฎ๐๐ฉ
๐ Surely not...
๐๐โโฌ #SAFC #Sunderland
But the following season, with Sunderland narrowly above the drop zone approaching the final stages of the campaign, Poyet was sacked.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder has since had short spells at several clubs, including Real Betis and Bordeaux, but with limited success.
Whoever does replace Parkinson on Wearside will be under pressure to deliver promotion, as Sunderland look to avoid a fourth successive season in the third tier of English football.
Follow Sporting Life on social - find us on Facebook here or tweet @SportingLifeFC
Related football content
- Chance missed to make a statement
- WATCH: Klopp rant after Reds draw
- Premier League: Talking Points
- Latest football previews and tips
- Sporting Life App: Android & iOS
Responsible gambling
We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.
Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.
