According to Bet 365, Marcelino is now the favourite to take on the Crystal Palace job from Oliver Glasner this summer. But who is he and what is his style of play?
With Oliver Glasner departing Crystal Palace in the summer, the question keeps being asked - who will be in charge next season?
It is a fair question at the best of times, but it seems particularly pertinent when Palace are on the brink of winning their third trophy in two seasons under Glasner.
The Austrian also opts for a very unique playing style and whether Palace progress and push for Europe going forward may well depend on how the next manager can get the best out of the squad.
Well, now there is a new favourite according to Bet365, with Marcelino taking the top spot off Thomas Frank and coming in at 9/4.
But who is he?
Who is Marcelino?
Marcelino is a Spanish manager who played as an attacking midfielder in his playing career.
Born in Villaviciosa in Asurtias in the north of Spain in 1965, Marcelino has been involved in football since 1983, when he made his playing debut aged 18.
He went on to represent Sporting Gijon, Racing Santander, Levante and Elche, and represented Spain from U16 up to U21 level but never earned a full cap.
What clubs has he managed?
He began managing in 1997 when taking charge of Lealtad, before he joined the first of his olf clubs, Sporting Gijon, in 2001 when taking charge of their B side.
Making the upgrade to the first team in 2003, he swtiched to Recreativo in 2005 and then joined another of his old clubs in Racing Santander in 2007.
A second spell at Racing Santander followed a six month stint with Zaragoza, before he managed Sevilla from June 2011 until February 2012.
After almost a year out of management, Marcelino took the Villarreal job in January 2013, where he had his longest stay remaining there until August 2016.
He moved to Valencia the following May, where he won the Copa del Rey, before joining Athletic Bilbao.
In June 2023, he made the first and only move out of Spain, taking charge of Marseille, but despite losing only one of his seven matches, he was removed in September of the same year.
Two months later and he returned to Villarreal, where he remains.
What is his style of play?
Marcelino is an old-school manager in that he likes to deploy an ultra-disciplined 4-4-2 formation.
It is a system that focuses on counter attacks as well as defensive compactness and so is very different from Oliver Glasner’s 3-4-2-1, but could still work with the current squad of players.
Who are the other main contenders?
Thomas Frank remains a heavy favourite among several bookies but is behind Marcelino according to Bet 365.
Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola was said to be on the Palace shortlist according to the telegraph, while Robbie Keane, who has impressed at Ferencvaros and Sean Dyche are also heavily backed.
Jose Mourinho is a 66/1 shot, if you were wondering if the Special One was likely to join the Eagles.