AND, FINALLY, THE ONE WE REALLY WANT...

Carlo Ancelotti

How much does Denis O’Brien really have in the bank? If John Delaney can seduce him into spending an additional €5 million per annum on the Irish cause, then Carlo Ancelotti could indeed be the man to take over from Martin O’Neill. He may not be a bundle of laughs, but having managed at Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris St. Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Carlo (as we know know him here in Hot Press) has an extraordinary win ratio, better even than Alex Ferguson, across what has been a hugely successful career to date, with 607 wins in 1030 games – delivering a win percentage of 58.93 (and far fewer losses than draws). A league winner in Italy, France, Spain, Germany and England (with Chelsea), and a renowned tactical genius and innovator, Ancelotti would doubtless relish the challenge of turning a team of what have been dismissed by some clearly misguided commentators as journey-man pros into an unstoppable global force. Would be sure to get the most out of Glenn Whelan. Odds: 1000/1