Bookies Put a Price on Gabriel Batistuta To Get Boro Job

Chloe Beresford

May 21st, 2019

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A surprise candidate has emerged to take over the vacant managerial position at Middlesbrough following the departure of Tony Pulis.

The club announced the news following the 61-year-old’s failure to reach the Championship play-off places this season as the Teeside-based club finished 7th in the table.

Boro supporters would loved to have seen legendary Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta grace the turf at the Riverside Stadium during his playing days, but the Hartlepool Mail has now reported that they may yet be able to see this 90s hero work his magic on their own turf.

‘Batigol’ has been entered as a 12/1 outsider with Paddy Power, the former Fiorentina man having recently completed his coaching badges just around the corner from his former stadium at the Italy training centre, Coverciano.

The newspaper report quoted an unnamed source close to the player as having revealed that the 50-year-old is “interested in” a managerial move to England, and this opportunity is said to have caught his eye.

Inexperience A Cause For Concern

Of course, the appointment would pose something of a risk to Middlesbrough as – although recently qualified – this would be his first role in football management.

Closer to home, Middlesbrough-born Jonathan Woodgate remains the odds-on favourite to succeed Pulis, and is listed by William Hill as 4/6 to take over the role.

The former Real Madrid defender would also be a novice in terms of managing, but the 39-year-old has already been working in a coaching role at the club since 2017.

Other options for Chairman Steve Gibson are said to include former Boro defender Michael Reiziger at 12/1 with William Hill, as well as potential return for former boss Aitor Karanka, rated at 20/1 with Betfair.

The former is currently in charge of the second team at Ajax, while Spaniard Karanka remains available after leaving his position at Nottingham Forest back in January.

Since Karanka left Teeside in March 2017, ‘Boro have gone through four separate managers, and are now believed to be seeking some stability in their bid to reach the Premier League and are expected take their time to seek a replacement.