Aitor Karanka has been installed as the early bookmakers’ frontrunner to be appointed the new manager of Leeds United.
Sky Bet have priced the Spaniard, 43, at 8/11 to succeed Garry Monk, who delivered his bombshell resignation to the club on Thursday morning.
Karanka is a long way ahead in the betting of second favourite Marco Silva (6/1), who quit as Hull City manager at the start of the week.
The foreign duo are followed in the betting by experienced lower-league managers Nigel Pearson (8/1) and Mick McCarthy (12/1), as well as recently sacked Premier League bosses Claudio Ranieri (12/1), Alex Neil (12/1), Alan Pardew (12/1) and David Moyes (12/1).
Karanka is also available after quitting as manager of Middlesbrough in March as the club plummeted towards relegation, which could not be averted by his temporary successor Paul Agnew.
The former assistant of Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid spent four years in charge at the Riverside Stadium and guided them to promotion from the Championship in 2015/16 12 months after suffering play-off final heartache at the hands of Norwich.
Leeds announced on their official website on Thursday afternoon that Monk had resigned after making it clear he did not want to discuss a long-term contract with the club.
Monk’s current deal was due to end next week but Leeds had the option to extend it by a further 12 months.