Newcastle manager odds: Unai Emery emerges as new favourite to replace Steve Bruce
- Joe Hewlett
- 2 November 2021
Emery previously managed Arsenal, guiding them to fifth position and a Europa League final before being sacked...
Unai Emery is the new favourite to become Newcastle United boss.
Villarreal lost 2-0 to Valencia at the Mestalla in their most recent outing and currently sit in 13th spot. Emery - was previously in charge of Paris Saint-Germain - may fancy another project at a club with deep pockets should they come calling.
Martinez keen if conditions are met
Another Spanish coach linked with the job is Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.
Martinez is currently in charge of Belgium's national team and had seemed intent on taking them to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, according to reports, Martinez wants to delay talks until after the next international break with Belgium on the verge of qualifying for next year's World Cup.
Martinez - who guided Wigan Athletic to an historic FA Cup win over Manchester City in 2013 - took over Belgium in 2014 and has elevated them to the top of the FIFA rankings.
However, despite having an embarrassment of attacking riches including Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium have failed to get past the last-four stage in three major tournaments under Martinez.
Belgium suffered an early exit to Wales in Euro 2016, lost in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and were eliminated by eventual winners Italy in the last eight of Euro 2020.
Martinez has also been in charge of Everton, guiding them to fifth in his first season. A poor follow-up campaign and an underwhelming third saw him dismissed in 2016, although he did reach the semi-finals of both domestic cups in his final season.
Paulo Fonseca still in the mix
Former AS Roma manager Paulo Fonesca was leading the race to replace Steve Bruce until late last week. However, the lack of a swift appointment have seen his odds drift.
The 48-year-old helped the Italian outfit to a fifth-placed finish in his first season in Serie A and led them to a Europa League semi-final a year later, a tie which saw Roma suffer an 8-5 aggregate defeat to Manchester United.
His most successful managerial tenure was in Ukraine where he led Shakhtar Donetsk to three league titles, three domestic cups and a Super Cup.
During his time there he also qualified for the Champions League group stages on two occasions and enjoyed wins over Manchester City, Napoli, Feyenoord and Roma.
The Portuguese manager also worked in his homeland with Braga, FC Porto, Pacos Ferreira and Aves.
Currently out of work, Fonseca reportedly turned down Tottenham in the summer and you have to wonder whether the appetite is there for a move to the Premier League - especially to a club struggling at the wrong end of it.
Lucien Favre would offer Newcastle stability
Favre has been out of work for almost a year after being sacked by Borussia Dortmund last December.
Favre began his management journey in 1993 but has a distinct lack of silverware, with his biggest triumph arguably being the DFL-Supercup.
Nevertheless, he is a manager with a track record of stability and steady progress - something Newcastle could certainly do with following years of stagnation.
Relegation battle too much for Frank Lampard
Still looking for his first job since being dismissed by Chelsea last season, Frank Lampard has been linked with various jobs, including Celtic, the England Under-21s and now Newcastle.
Lampard led Chelsea to a top-four finish in his first season but after a poor run of form, he was replaced by Thomas Tuchel in January.
His other managerial job was at Derby County who he took to the Championship play-off final only to lose to Aston Villa.
While it would be a big-name appointment for Newcastle, Lampard's credentials are questionable and given that the club are in a relegation battle, he doesn't seem like the right fit.
