We look at the five favourites to replace Javi Gracia as the next permanent Leeds manager after Sam Allardyce was brought in until the end of the season.
Sam Allardyce - 5/2
Sam Allardyce has been drafted in initially for the final four matches of this season. The 68-year-old will reportedly be paid a basic salary of £500,000 with a bonus of more than £2.5 million if he can maintain the club's top-flight status (4/7 to stay up).
His plan, according to Sam McGuire, is an obvious one. Allardyce is going to set Leeds up to not lose games. However, that is easier said than done.
Only Southampton have kept fewer clean sheets in the league this season (four to Leeds’ five) while Leeds keeper Illan Meslier is one of the worst shot-stoppers in the league. Per FBref, the Frenchman has conceded 10 more goals than the average goalkeeper would have this season.
Having successfully navigated Everton and Crystal Palace out of tricky situations in the Premier League, Allardyce was relegated for the first time in his career with West Brom in 2021.
Brendan Rodgers - 9/1
Brendan Rodgers had been in charge of Leicester City since February 2019, but was relieved of his duties at the start of last month having overseen a six-match winless run - leaving the Foxes in the Premier League relegation zone.
At the time, the Northern Irishman became the 11th Premier League manager to depart their role, which was already the most since the competition began back in 1992. He has since been followed by Graham Potter, Cristian Stellini and most recently Javi Gracia.
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Steven Gerrard - 10/1
Another man looking to rebuild his managerial career is Steven Gerrard, who was sacked by Aston Villa in October after his side folded to a 3-0 defeat against Fulham in West London.
The Liverpool legend, 42, had only been in charge at Villa Park since November 2021. He took over from Dean Smith at Aston Villa when they were two points off relegation in 16th. Almost a year on, he left them in 17th - only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Prior to his time in the Midlands, Gerrard spent three years at Ibrox with Rangers, leading the side to the Scottish Premiership title in 2020/21 and spoiling Celtic's attempts to lift the trophy for the 10th year in a row.
Graham Potter - 12/1
Given his nightmare tenure at Chelsea, it's easy to forget why Graham Potter landed the top job at Stamford Bridge. The Englishman, now 47, had been linked with managing a ‘big’ club ever since he arrived in England in 2019 after taking Ostersund from the fourth tier in Sweden to the top flight, as well as taking them into the UEFA Europa League - a remarkable rise in such a short space of time.
Potter spent more than three years with Brighton, recording 15th, 16th and 9th place finishes with the Seagulls before leaving them in a top four place in early September 2022.
Marcelo Bielsa - 14/1
The fifth and final manager on our list of permanent replacements for Gracia at Elland Road is Marcelo Bielsa, who will always be remembered as the man who finally restored Leeds to the Premier League after a 16-year absence from top-flight football.
However, would he be tempted to return a little over a year on from his sacking. Bielsa's Leeds side conceded 60 goals in just 26 league games in the 2021/22 season, conceding 21 times on the way to losing five of his last six.
Next Permanent Leeds Manager Odds:
| Name | Best Price | Worst Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Allardyce | 5/2 | 2/1 |
| Brendan Rodgers | 9/1 | 8/1 |
| Steven Gerrard | 10/1 | 10/1 |
| Graham Potter | 12/1 | 10/1 |
| Marcelo Bielsa | 14/1 | 12/1 |
*Odds accurate as of 13:30 on 03/05/2023.
