Burley’s Out, But Whose Next in Line?

George Burley has been sacked as Scotland’s national team manager.  The former Premier League Manager of the Year in 2001 could only muster three wins in fourteen appearances over his reign and Scotland was unable to qualify for even a second seed playoff knockout spot in the FIFA World Cup Qualifications this season.  The club lost their final match of the qualifier 1-0 to the Netherlands which guaranteed their vacancy from South Africa this summer.  Burley was scheduled to be under contract until 2012.

And with one manager stepping out the door another (obviously) will enter in his place.  I was watching Sky Sports the other night and here was their list of the potential suitors for the position and the odds currently listed of becoming Scotland’s next national team manager:

Craig Levien 11/4

Levein is currently the manager and Director of Football at Dundee United and has been with the club since 2006.  The forty five year old has coached five different Scottish clubs in his career.

Walter Smith 4/1

The former coach of the Scottish national team for the 2006 World Cup Qualifying effort is currently the coach of the Rangers.  He also coached the Rangers in the early nineties in an earlier campaign, so the guy doesn’t mind coming back to a former squad.

Jim Jefferies 5/1

Jefferies is the current longest serving manager in the Scottish Premier League with club Kilmarnock and the manager has been coaching since 1983 giving him well over twenty years experience.

John Collins 7/1

At 41 Collins is considered one of the youngest potential managers, but the former Scotland national player is currently not coaching a squad.  He was brought up recently for a vacancy at West Ham though.

Jimmy Calderwood 7/1

Managed Aberdeen from 2005-2009, Calderwood has been coaching since 1996 and the former Birmingham City player has coached four different Scottish squads in his career.  

Gary McAllister 8/1

The former Liverpool player and Leeds United coach recently turned down an assistant coaching job with Portsmouth which seems to be a wise move at this time.