Pochettino firm favourite for Real Madrid role

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is firm favourite to become the next manager of Real Madrid with Zinedine Zidane’s position as boss looking increasingly perilous.

Real are currently going through their worse run of form in years. They are in fourth place in the league, behind Valencia, Atletico Madrid and arch-rivals Barcelona – who they trail by some 19 points.

The midweek cup defeat to minnows Leganes has only added to the pressure on Zidane, whose only hope of keeping his job looks like whether or not he can defend their Champions League crown – which they won for a second successive year in Cardiff last summer.

Reports are already suggesting that Spurs boss Pochettino is the man they want.

“Bookmakers are reacting to this market, which is not a shock – perhaps the biggest shock is that Zidane is still in a job,” said OddsMonkey spokesman Peter Watton.

“He is 3/1 to still be in his job by the end of the season, and that price is only getting bigger and bigger – but it does tell everyone that the Bookmakers and the public have little confidence that Real president Florentino Perez will be sticking with him.

“Looking at potential replacements and Pochettino is a short as 5/4 with the likes of Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti and Joachim Low following him in the betting.”

Selected Real Madrid odds:
Zinedine Zidane to last the season 3/1
Mauricio Pochettino to be next manager 5/4