Barcelona next manager odds – Xavi & Pirlo favourites to replace Koeman after Champions League defeat, Arteta in the mix

XAVI and Andrea Pirlo are favourites to replace Ronald Koeman as Barcelona manager.

That's according to bookmakers Betfair, who've drastically altered their prices after a flurry of activity in the betting market.

BETFAIR – GET £20 IN FREE ACCA BETS*

Koeman's tenure took another downward spiral on Wednesday when losing 3-0 to Benfica.

The defeat was their second-consecutive Champions League loss by that scoreline having been brushed aside by Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp.

The drubbing in Portugal leaves the La Liga heavyweights bottom of Group E and facing the prospect of dropping into the Europa League.

Reports in Spain suggest president Joan Laporta has lost patience with the 57-year-old and is seriously considering his options.

The frontrunner for the coveted position is club legend Xavi Hernandez.

Barcelona next manager

Betfair odds

  • Xavi Hernandez – 2/1
  • Andrea Pirlo – 11/4
  • Marcelo Gallardo – 4/1
  • Roberto Martinez – 6/1
  • Alfred Schreuder – 15/2
  • Antonio Conte – 10/1
  • Oscar Garcia – 10/1
  • Mikel Arteta – 14/1
  • Erik Ten Haag – 14/1
  • Domenec Torrent – 14/1
  • Joachim Low – 14/1
  • Marcelo Bielsa – 16/1
  • Thierry Henry – 16/1
  • Luis Enrique – 19/1
  • Andre Villas Boas – 19/1
  • Ernesto Valverde – 19/1

BETFAIR – GET £20 IN FREE ACCA BETS*

Xavi made 767 appearances for the Catalan giants, scoring 85 goals and providing 185 assists in all competitions.

The 41-year-old, now manager of Qatari side Al Sadd, won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and several more major honours during his 17 seasons in Spain.

He was available at 3/1 yesterday but that price has shortened to 2/1 overnight.

Pirlo, 42, has also received considerable support over the last 24 hours – moving from 10/1 to 11/4 second favourite.

The Italian maestro is a free agent having been sacked by Juventus in May after a misery fourth-placed finish.

Highly-rated Argentine boss Marcelo Gallardo is offered at 4s – ahead of Roberto Martinez, who's drifted from favourite to 6/1.

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

 

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

  • Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
  • Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
  • Never chase their losses
  • Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
  • Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
  • Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

*Min stake £5, min odds 2.0. Only deposits made using Cards or ApplePay will qualify. Free bets are awarded after the qualifying bet has settled, valid for 30 days, and must be used on multiples with 3+ legs. Max £20 in free bets. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.Org

    Source: Read Full Article