HEYNCKES THE FAVOURITE

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has been installed by several bookmakers as the favourite to take over from José Mourinho at Real Madrid at the end of the season. Madrid announced recently that Mourinho will be leaving the club at the end of the season after three years.

A number of candidates have been linked with the role with the favourite being PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian recently requested his club to give him permission to speak with Real Madrid. However, it was denied by the French club PSG after stating that he still has one year left on his contract.

As a result, it is thought that Real Madrid are looking at alternatives and they have identified by Munich manager Jupp Heynckes as a potential replacement. Heynckes is no stranger to Real Madrid after leading them to the 1998 Champions League success. He is one of the few managers to have been successful with Real Madrid at the European level in recent decades. The odds of becoming the next Real Madrid manager have been slashed to 4/1 by Skybet. According to a Sky bet trader, Real Madrid have made Heynckes as the backup choice if they fail to get Carlo Ancelotti.

“We understood that Heynckes was the back-up option if Real were unable to secure Ancelotti but our punters now seem convinced he will get the job. With third favourite Zinedine Zidane priced up at 25/1, we clearly see it as a two-horse race for the job, with Heynckes now considered the most likely replacement for Mourinho, who has been backed at as short as 1/100 for the Chelsea post,” said Chris Spicer. Heynckes hinted recently that he may retire from his managerial career at the end of the season. He recently led Bayern Munich to yet another Champions League title.