Edin Terzić? Laszlo Balint? Christophe Galtier? Franco Varrella? Who are the five unknowns linked with the Sheffield Wednesday job by the bookies?
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..but a cursory leaf through the other few dozen names making up Sky Bet’s roll call of contenders for the vacant Sheffield Wednesday job make for, well, interesting reading.
The Hillsborough stints of Carlos Carvalhal and Jos Luhukay haven proven that Dejphon Chansiri is not afraid of springing a surprise with a left-field appointment from the European leagues. But who are the largely unknown names on the bookies’ long-list?
Let’s take a look at five of the more ‘out-there’ names..
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Hide AdEdin Terzić – 40/1
A 38-year-old German of Bosnian descent, Terzić is a talented young coach very much of the David Wagner mould, having cut his teeth first as a youth coach then as an assistant at German giant Borussia Dortmund.
A name that is regularly featured in connection with manager’s jobs at this level, the fluent English speaker spent five years away from Dortmund working as a close assistant to current West Brom boss Slaven Bilic, first at Besiktas and then West Ham.
His lack of experience would be a concern to some, but it’s not the case that he has never presided over a first team fixture – he stood in for an unwell Lucein Favre for a Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim back in February 2019.
Jocelyn Gourvennec – 40/1
Possibly the most recognisable name from a playing career point of view, Gourvennec was a midfielder of reasonable standing in Ligue 1, playing in the 1999 UEFA Cup final for Marseille as they lost to Parma and picking up a handful of caps for France B.
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Hide AdOn retirement, Gourvennec left the small provincial team of La Roche after two seasons to join Guingamp in 2010.
Six reputation-building years followed, during which he won a historic Coupe de France and took the club to the Europa League. He was rewarded with a chance at Bordeaux, lasting two years, before a return to Guingamp. Has not worked since May 2019.
László Balint – 14/1
Balint is at shorter odds than the likes of Danny Cowley, Ryan Lowe and Lee Johnson, which is frankly remarkable given he has spent all but 10 matches of his managerial career in the second and third tiers of Romanian football.
Aged 41, he has managed seven different teams in as many years, all in Romania.
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Hide AdIt’s a head-scratcher, that’s for sure. Fun fact; as a player, Balint played under the management of former Owls full-back Dan Petrescu at Unirea Urziceni.
Christophe Galtier – 50/1
This one would be something of a coup, we dare say.
Galtier is manager of Lille in France, having earned his stripes during an eight-year stint in charge of St Etienne that saw him win the Ligue 1 manager of the year award, tied with Carlo Ancelotti.
The 54-year-old has managed in the Europa League with both clubs.
Franco Varrella – 66/1
As manager of San Marino, Varrella has possibly the toughest job in world football. He’s 66/1 to take on another one.
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Hide AdHas vast experience in the sub-leagues in Italy, having lead the likes of Brescia, Monza, Salernitana, Reggiana, Triestina and Ravenna.
He’s 67. Another real head-scratcher.