FRANK RIJKAARD

Age: 49

Born: Amsterdam, Holland

Teams managed: Holland, Sparta Rotterdam, Barcelona, Galatasaray, Saudi Arabia

Teams played for: Ajax, Sporting CP, Zaragoza, AC Milan, Ajax

Profile: A highly decorated player, Rijkaard was given his managerial bow as head of the national team and he took to the semi-finals of Euro 2000. Followed a disappointing time with Sparta Rotterdam, by overseeing Barcelona’s dominance both domestically and in Europe. Has since managed Galatasaray and Saudi Arabia with limited success.

Odds: 10/1

PAUL LAMBERT

Age: 42

Born: Linwood, Scotland

Teams managed: Livingston, Wycombe, Colchester, Norwich

Teams played for: St Mirren, Motherwell, Borussia Dortmund, Celtic, Livingston

Profile: A Champions League winner in 1997 before moving into the dugout with Livingston. From Livingston Lambert joined Wycombe. A move to Colchester was relatively brief before Norwich City acquired his services where significant success followed, winning the League One title in 2010 before securing promotion to the Premier League the following season.

Odds: 16/1

RAFAEL BENITEZ

Age: 52

Born: Madrid, Spain

Teams managed: Real Vallodolid, Osasuna, Extremadura, Tenerife, Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan.

Teams played for: Castilla CF, Parla, Linares.

Profile: As the man to guide them to 2005 Champions League success, Benitez needs little introduction to Liverpool fans. His dismissal in the summer of 2010 divided opinion, perhaps like the man himself with Reds’ supporters, though he also took the club to FA Cup final success the year after Istanbul and to a second-placed finish in the Premier League in 2009. Whether, at 52, he fits the mould for FSG remains to be seen.

Odds: 2/1

BRENDAN RODGERS

Age: 39

Born: Carnlough, Northern Ireland.

Teams managed: Watford, Reading, Swansea City

Teams played for: Ballymena United, Reading

Profile: With a playing career cut short through injury, Rodgers was named Youth Team manager at Reading in 1995 before progressing to the same role at Chelsea in 2004. First team boss Jose Mourinho promoted him to Reserve Team manager at Stamford Bridge two years later before getting a senior break with Watford. From there he moved to Reading and then Swansea – his biggest success to date – including rounding off this campaign with a 1-0 win over Liverpool.

Odds: 12/1

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS

Age: 34

Born: Porto, Portugal

Teams managed: British Virgin Islands, Academica, Porto, Chelsea

Profile: After achieving all levels of his UEFA coaching licence in Scotland, and a brief stint at British Virgin Islands’ boss, Villas-Boas was appointed assistant manager at Porto under Jose Mourinho. He would follow Mourinho to Inter Milan but took sole charge of Academica in 2009 whom he dragged from relegation trouble towards mid-table safety. But it was at Porto where, at still only 33, he made his mark by winning the Portuguese Super Cup, League title, Cup and Europa League, although last summer’s move to Chelsea was not so successful.

Odds: 12/1

ROBERTO MARTINEZ

Age: 38

Born: Balaguer, Spain

Teams managed: Swansea City, Wigan Athletic

Teams played for: Balaguer, Wigan, Motherwell, Walsall, Swansea, Chester City

Profile: Having taken Swansea City into the Championship, Premier League Wigan came calling in the summer of 2009. Scottish giants Celtic also registered their interest in Martinez but he opted to move to the Lancashire club. Despite announcing himself with an opening day win at Aston Villa, Wigan struggled under the Spaniard, shipping nine goals at Tottenham Hotspur and only survived on the final day of the season with a win at Stoke City. This campaign started with similar toil but 21 points from a possible 27 in the last nine games saw them finish seven points clear of the drop zone.

Odds: 7/4