17 December, 2025 h79snht.top 0 Comments 1 category

Well, it’s true, once one of your own fans throws a cabbage at you before a game, your time as manager of a football club is up.

Aston Villa announced this afternoon that they had terminated the contract of their manager Steve Bruce, after a run of poor performances and results, culminating in a home draw with bottom of the league Preston.

In a club statement on the official website, the board said:

“We would like to place on record our gratitude to Steve and his team for their hard work and commitment. We wish them well for the future.

The club also announced that U-23 manager Kevin MacDonald would be in charge for the team’s trip to Millwall on Saturday.

MacDonald has done the job as caretaker boss before, so it is unlikely the board will be looking to make him permanent.

We take a look at the bookies’ favourites for the job.

Michael Appleton 28/1

Soccer Football – Premier League – Leicester City vs Swansea City – King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain – February 3, 2018 Leicester City manager Claude Puel talks to assistant manager Michael Appleton Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. P

Appleton has been without a job since he was Claude Puel’s assistant in 2017.

There’s a reason why he is being tipped at 28/1.

Mikel Arteta 25/1

Soccer Football – Champions League – Group Stage – Group F – Manchester City v Olympique Lyonnais – Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain – September 19, 2018 Manchester City co assistant coach Mikel Arteta gathers the ball during the match REUTERS/Phil Noble

Arteta has been Pep Guardiola’s assistant since 2016 and is surely wanting to take the full reins of a team at some point.

However, he seems to have a good relationship at Guardiola and the timing of this appointment may put him off.

Claudio Ranieri 25/1

FILE PHOTO Soccer Football – Sevilla v Leicester City – UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg – Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Seville, Spain – 22/2/17 Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri after the match Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley Livepic/File Photo

Ranieri recently ended his short spell at Nantes in Ligue 1.

The former Leicester City boss has been linked with other managerial positions in recent weeks, including the Roma job.

Mick McCarthy 22/1

Soccer Football – Championship – Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town – St Andrew’s, Birmingham, Britain – March 31, 2018 Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy Action Images/Alan Walter EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

If the Aston Villa owners are looking to appoint a manager with Championship experience, they should look no further than Mick McCarthy.

The former Wolves boss ended his term at Ipswich in April this year after deciding not to renew his contract.

Slaven Bilic 20/1

Currently the manager of Saudi-Arabian club Al-Ittihad, Bilic managed West Ham for a brief spell between 2015-17.

The Croatian has always expressed his desire to manage again in the Premier League, however, considering he was only named Al-Ittihad boss on 28th September 2018, it is unlikely he will be making the trip to Birmingham.

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