POCHETTINO NEW UNITED BOSS?

TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino emerged yesterday as hot favourite to succeed Jose Mourinho, sacked as coach of Manchester United.

Pochettino has been seen as a long-term target for United because of his preference for attacking football and nurturing young talent, neither of which has been much in evidence at the club since the departure of Alex Ferguson in 2013.

With the Portuguese gone, United may make their move for the Spurs boss, who has taken his club to consecutive finishes in the top three but has yet to bring a trophy to North London.

The Argentine was offered at odds of 2/1 against within minutes of United announcing Mourinho’s sacking.

Pochettino is closely followed at 4/1 against by former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who led the Spanish side to three successive Champions League titles. Former United midfielder Michael Carrick, now a coach at the club, is quoted at 10/1, just behind former Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim, on 9/1.

It may be strange for some United fans to countenance but former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is at 20/1, the same as Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

United said they would appoint a caretaker while conducting a thorough recruitment process for a new full-time manager.