Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas made bookies' favourite to replace Carlo Ancelotti as manager of Chelsea

Posted Monday, May 23, 2011 by Goal.com

Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Pep Guardiola are potential candidates to take over at Stamford Bridge after the Italian was sacked following his side's defeat at Everton

Porto manager Andres Villas-Boas has been installed as 2/1 favourite to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea manager after the Italian was sacked just over an hour after losing 1-0 to Everton at Goodison Park.

The 33-year-old, who has been labelled as the new Jose Mourinho, successfully secured the Europa League on Wednesday and has insisted that he is happy in Portugal but it is thought that Roman Abramovich will attempt to persuade him that his future lies in the Premier League.

However, a number of other managers, including Mourinho himself at 7/2, have been touted as potential replacements for Ancelotti, who won the double last year in his first season at the club.

Also ranked at 7/2 is Turkey boss Guus Hiddink, who took charge of the club in a caretaker capacity two years ago.

Other replacements that have been touted include Harry Redknapp at 4/1, Pep Guardiola at 7/1, Dutch legend Marco van Basten at 10/1 and Didier Deschamps who has been ranked at 12/1.

In addition, Frank Riijkard, Rafa Benitez, Martin O'Neill and Sven Goran Eriksson have been suggested as outsiders to take over the west London outfit.

Rumours regarding the future of Ancelotti have been rife since his side all but lost their chance to win successive Premier League titles at Old Trafford a fortnight ago and the bookies have since been inundated with bets over who is most likely to take up the post at Stamford Bridge.

Spokesman for bookmakers William Hill, Graham Sharpe said: "'The Chelsea management markets are a regular source of income for us. A little bit like the first cuckoo of spring we look forward to the first indications that a new manager is on the cards when punters start to look for odds!"

A number of less likely candidates have also been suggested, with one of the most outrageous being Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been tipped at 66/1 to leave Manchester United and join their fierce title rivals.