Smith left Brentford for Aston Villa on Wednesday.
The former Aston Villa manager Roberto Di Matteo has emerged among Sky Bet’s favourites to succeed Dean Smith at Brentford.
Smith was confirmed as Aston Villa’s new manager on Wednesday night, creating a vacancy at Griffin Park.
And while his former assistant, Thomas Frank, remains odds-on (1/2) for the Brentford job, Di Matteo (7/2) is suddenly right behind him.
The Italian has been out of management since leaving Aston Villa two years ago, but has also managed Schalke 04, West Bromwich Albion and Milton Keynes Dons and won the Champions League while Chelsea’s interim boss.
Luton Town’s Nathan Jones (12/1) is the only other manager with odds shorter than 16/1.
The reported Aston Villa target, Rui Faria (now 18/1), was the early frontrunner at 7/1.
Smith will be a tough act to follow at Brentford, who achieved top-half finishes in each of his three campaigns in charge at Griffin Park.
Would the former Aston Villa boss be a good appointment for Brentford?
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