Next Newcastle Manager: 10 Favourites To Replace Alan Pardew

8. Gianfranco Zola (25-1)

Status: Unemployed Definitely an outsider, Gianfranco Zola's name has quietly been mooted for the Newcastle job should Pardew be given the heave-ho. Almost a forgotten man since he resigned as Watford boss in December, Zola has been in relative obscurity in 2014 and hasn't really looked close to take any other job. At Watford, at least initially, Zola impressed many with his passion and the style of football his team were playing. They finished 3rd in the table and only missed out on Premier League football when Crystal Palace defeated them in extra-time at Wembley in the play-off final. His second season however started much less promising and by the time he resigned Watford were 13th in the league and had lost five home games in a row. Prior to his spell at Watford, Zola was West Ham manager, succeeding Alan Pardew's successor Alan Curbishley for the role at Upton Park, his first job as manager. He led the Hammers to a lofty 9th place finish in his first season in charge but then the second season left them crawling away from relegation, barely surviving with a 17th place finish. Bad signings on strikers and pressures of top flight management on the inexperienced Italian led to the end of his spell there when new owners came in, although several years later it will be interesting to see if he has grown the backbone to try the Premier League again.