Next PSG Manager Odds: Antonio Conte, Zinedine Zidane, Thiago Motta linked
On Saturday Mauricio Pochettino secured the first league title of his managerial career after PSG won Ligue 1 with four games to spare.
Within 24 hours reports claimed he was set for the sack.
Football management, it’s a brutal business.
We’ll have to wait and see if the reports from France (Le Parisien) have any validity to them, but while the timing looks harsh, speculation surrounding a possible managerial change in Paris doesn’t come as a surprise.
After all, this is a club that sacked Thomas Tuchel on Christmas Eve (2020) while his predecessor Unai Emery departed despite winning the domestic treble.
Pochettino may now have his mitts on the title but his future has been a red-hot topic of debate throughout the season: PSG were defeated in the Trophée des Champions final by Lille, they blew their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, and were booted out of the Coupe de France in the last-16 by Nice.
These underwhelming cup results coupled with the fact that Pochettino had his sights set on the Man Utd job means a summer departure wouldn’t be a shock at all.
We now know, of course, that Pochettino has lost out on the Man Utd post to Erik ten Hag whose appointment was confirmed last week.
If PSG do - as now is expected - make a change then who could replace Pochettino at the Parc des Princes?
In the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s reports, Antonio Conte was installed as the bookies’ favourite in the next PSG manager market, as his odds were cut to as short as 2/1 - he’s currently a best-priced 4/1 with BetVictor.
Conte was only appointed Tottenham manager in November but his long-term future at the club has frequently made the headlines. The Italian is bidding to propel Spurs to a top-four finish, a target which has hit roadblocks in recent weeks following a return of one point from games against Brighton and Brentford.
However, there’s still all to play for with Spurs 5th, two points behind rivals Arsenal - who they play in May - with five games remaining.
Football is a funny old game. If Pochettino does leave PSG and it’s Conte who replaces him, then this will inevitably fuel a potential return to Tottenham whom he managed for five years, during which he led the club to runners-up finishes in the Premier League, Champions League, and League Cup.
Meanwhile, Pochettino now finds himself as the 6/4 favourite in the next Real Madrid manager market. Current incumbent Carlo Ancelotto has come under pressure at various points this season, yet he's on the cusp of winning La Liga and still has the chance to win the Champions League for a record-breaking fourth time.
Zinedine Zidane, 5/1, has long been linked with a move to PSG. His ability to manage egos, that stunning Champions League record (three trophies), and availability inevitably make the Frenchman a prime target. However, as has long been speculated, Zidane is believed to be waiting it out for the France national team job, which will be available after the upcoming 2022 World Cup.
You can then find Thiago Motta at 8/1 in the betting. The former PSG midfielder won a whopping 18 trophies in just seven seasons as a player at the club and has since ventured into management in Italy at Genoa and current side Spezia, whom he took over in July.
Elsewhere, France manager Didier Deschamps is priced at 14/1, ahead of former PSG boss Thomas Tuchel (Chelsea) and former PSG player Marcelo Gallardo (River Plate) who are both 16/1.
Further afield you can find Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti, and Crystal Palace's Patrick Vieira all at 25/1. Outsiders include Nice's Christophe Galtier (40/1) and the out-of-work Marcelo Bielsa (50/1).
