Next PSG Manager Odds: Zinedine Zidane Fancied To Take The Job

Believe it or not, Mauricio Pochettino is still the Paris Saint-Germain manager at the time of writing – but betting sites and the rest of football know that it is only a matter of time before he is looking for a new job.

On the face of it that seems harsh. Pochettino did not win the Ligue 1 title in 2020/21, but he only took charge midway through the campaign. His PSG side did scoop the prize last season by finishing 15 points clear of their closest challengers, but domestic success is no longer enough at the Parc des Princes – and for good reason given the substantial sums of money PSG have spent in recent years.

Pochettino’s position was always likely to be under threat after his team’s defeat by Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League. The fact that PSG have seldom looked equal to the sum of their parts under the Argentine means his imminent sacking is not really a surprise.

So, who will be next through the door in the French capital? You can find the latest odds below, and then we will run through some of the main contenders.

Next PSG Manager Betting Odds

Marseille-Born Zidane In Pole Position

Zinedine Zidane has been backed from 2/1 into as short as 1/5 with football betting sites to succeed Pochettino, who missed out on the Manchester United job after the Red Devils chose Erik ten Hag instead. 

Since his second spell at Real Madrid ended in 2021, it has always seemed likely that Zidane would return home to France. However, that might not necessarily be good news for PSG.

Zidane was born in Marseille and grew up as an OM supporter. That does not necessarily mean he would refuse to work for PSG, their arch-rivals, but it is a complication. More significant perhaps is the likelihood that the France job will available after the 2022 World Cup.

Even if Didier Deschamps guides les Bleus to glory in Qatar, he will probably move aside after more than a decade in charge. Zidane is among the favourites to replace him, so he may opt to continue waiting in the wings for now.

Is Galtier A Big Enough Name For The New Galacticos?

Christophe Galtier is the current second favourite for the role, with UK bookmakers pricing him at 6/1 to take charge at the Parc des Princes. The 55-year-old knows French football well and has managed in Ligue 1 without a break since 2009. Most impressively, he won the title with Lille the season before last, pipping PSG to top spot, but he also did fine work with Saint-Etienne over an eight-year period.

Galtier is currently at the helm of Nice, who narrowly missed out on Europa League qualification last term. He only joined the club last year but would no doubt be willing to move to PSG should the champions come calling in the coming weeks.

The biggest doubt is whether he is a big enough name for PSG’s Qatari owners, whose appointments since they purchased the club include established names like Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel and Pochettino.

Mourinho The Big Mover As PSG Consider Next Step

The big development this week concerns Jose Mourinho, whose odds have tumbled to 8/1 with William Hill after standing at 50/1 as recently as last Saturday. There is no smoke without fire in cases like this, and reports in each of France, Italy and England suggest the Portuguese is a genuine contender for the position.

Mourinho won his fifth European tournament when he lifted the Conference League trophy as Roma boss last month. His outstanding record in continental competition is naturally appealing to a club that is desperate to win the Champions League for the first time in its history.

Mourinho has developed a strong bond with the Roma fans and he might be wary of severing that after just a year at the helm. Ultimately, though, PSG would be a step up and it could prove too attractive an opening to turn down.

Gallardo And Motta Are Very Different Outsiders

Marcelo Gallardo and Thiago Motta are both priced at 20/1 with Betfair, but that is where the similarities between them end. It is true that the two men did play for PSG, but Gallardo’s stint was brief while Motta was present for an extended period.

His managerial inexperience could count against him, however. The former holding midfielder only has one full season under his belt as a senior coach, although he did perform impressively by guiding Spezia to safety in Serie A last season. 

Motta still has connections at PSG and was the boss of their Under-19 team in 2018/19. It would be a gamble, though, to hand the reins to someone at the start of his managerial journey.

Gallardo has never taken charge of a European outfit, but the success of his eight-year spell at River Plate will surely earn him a chance on this side of the Atlantic sooner rather than later. Whether that opportunity comes at PSG, one of the main contenders to win the Champions League each year, is doubtful.

Amorim And Conceicao Unlikely To Succeed Pochettino

Among the outsiders are Ruben Amorim and Sergio Conceicao, each available at 33/1. The former is the current manager of Sporting CP, whom he led to the Primeira Liga title in 2020/21. A bright young coach who is well regarded in his homeland, this job may nevertheless have come slightly too soon for the 37-year-old.

His compatriot Conceicao is a decade older and might be better cut out for the task of controlling the big personalities in the PSG dressing room. 

He has won three Portuguese titles with Porto, including the last one, and has been mentioned as a contender to replace Pochettino at various points this year, having previously been linked with the Manchester United job.