
Next Barcelona Manager Odds: Mikel Arteta early favourite to replace Xavi

Xavi will vacate his post as manager of Barcelona at the end of the season, with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta installed as the early favourite to replace his fellow Spaniard at the Nou Camp.
Below we run through the early runners-and-riders for one of the most high-profile jobs in world football.
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Xavi broke the news on Saturday, a day after Jurgen Klopp revealed that he would be leaving Liverpool.
Both bosses will depart at the end of their respective campaigns and, given the size of both clubs, it's no surprise to see certain managers linked in each market.
Below we explore the early contenders to succeed Xavi at Barcelona.
Mikel Arteta: 6/4
Mikel Arteta is likely to be high up on Barcelona’s wishlist with bookmakers installing the Arsenal boss as the early odds-on favourite with many bookmakers for the Barcelona job, while William Hill go 6/4.
The former Barcelona B player has been linked with the top job at Barcelona before and has previously spoken of his desire to return to his homeland to manage in the future. To add fuel to the fire there were also reports over the weekend that the 41-year-old could step down at the end of the season, something that has since been denied.
Arteta, who is contracted to Arsenal until 2025, will no doubt feel that he has much more to accomplish at Arsenal first. He has made significant strides at the club since replacing Unai Emery - he won the FA Cup in his first eight months - and came close to leading Arsenal to Premier League glory last term. He once again has his side in title contention, while they are set for their first Champions League knockout stage tie since 2016/17.
Roberto De Zerbi: 8/1
Brighton will have to start getting used to Roberto De Zerbi being linked with top jobs given his impressive body of work on the south coast and former clubs Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Italian, who is also being linked with Liverpool, has caught the eye at Brighton in particular, with whom he propelled to 6th in his first full season. The tactically astute and versatile boss certainly has the potential to make the step up the managerial ladder, although Potter’s switch from Brighton to Chelsea highlights the risks involved.
Thiago Motta: 8/1
Barcelona have a trend for appointing former players as managers, with Thiago Motta the shortest price in this category at 8/1.
Motta won two league titles and two Champions League trophies during his time in the Barcelona ranks and has since channeled his focus into management with Italian sides Genoa, Spezia, and current club Bologna, who are currently 7th in Serie A and knocking on the top-four door.
It's been an impressive spell to date with Motta overseeing wins against Roma and Atalanta before Christmas and a 2-2 draw at Milan last weekend.
Managing Barcelona - and the pressure that comes with it - would represent a big step up.
Rafael Marquez: 10/1
Speaking of former Barcelona players, Motta's old teammate Rafael Marquez is also in the mix at 10/1.
The 44-year-old has less managerial experience on his CV but does currently hold the Barcelona B job, which in the past has been held by the likes of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique who both went on to win trebles with the first team.
"Who wouldn't want to be Barca coach?," Marquez said when asked about the job. "I will continue working hard, it's only my second season as a coach."
Hansi Flick: 12/1
The last time Hansi Flick managed at club level he enjoyed a trophy drenched 20 month spell at Bayern Munich where he won as many cups (seven) as he had games lost (seven). This included the treble with his overal win rate an incredible 81.40%.
Flick's decision to switch the German giants for the German national team didn't work out. His side suffered a group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup and were hammered 4-1 by Japan back in September, a result which cost him his job and saw him depart with the second-worst point rate (1.72) of any DFB boss.
Flick is now believed to be keen to return to management and is reportedly a name on the list of president Joan Laporta.
Jurgen Klopp: 16/1
Jurgen Klopp sent shockwaves through football when he revealed that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
Barcelona would surely jump at the chance to lure over the elite boss, however, Klopp appeared adamant that he will step down in the summer to rest and recuperate, citing a lack of energy as the main reason behind his decision.
It would therefore come as a surprise if he was to instantly throw himself back into management in such an intense environment such as Barcelona.
Other Contenders for the Barcelona Job
Michel (20/1) - not to get confused with the former Sevilla boss - is the talk of the town in Spain this season after propelling Girona to the summit after 22 matches.
His side have won 17 of their games so far and lost just once, which puts them a point ahead of Real Madrid and 11 points clear of defending champions Barcelona.
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso - who is the early favourite for the Liverpool job - and Germany's Julian Nagelsmann are also available at 20/1, while Aston Villa's Unai Emery follows at 25/1.
Could Barcelona go for a former Real Madrid manager? Julen Lopetegui is currently out of work and priced at 25/1.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is admittedly an unlikely choice at 25/1...but you never know.
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