Birmingham City next manager: Former Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United men ‘favourites’ as Wayne Rooney pressure grows

Calls for Wayne Rooney to be sacked by Birmingham City were growing louder and louder following yet another loss – a 3-0 thumping away at Leeds United on New Year's Day. It was a game Blues expected to struggle in given the quality Daniel Farke's side possess but the manner of the defeat was particularly poor.

Birmingham made a decent start in the opening half an hour or so but defensive duo Emanuel Aiwu and Dion Sanderson made a calamitous error, getting in one another's way to allow Patrick Bamford space to open the scoring. From that point on, Leeds were dominant.

It could've been a far worse scoreline come the end of the game had John Ruddy not made his seven saves between the sticks. Lee Buchanan and Manny Longelo made a goal-saving block each, too, sparing Blues from total embarrassment at Elland Road.

The disappointing performance saw more and more Birmingham fans jump on Rooney's back, made worse too by the fact just two wins were managed during his 15 matches in charge. For comparison, John Eustace won his last two games before being sacked.

The decision for Rooney to be sacked has now officially been communicated by Birmingham. Markets have opened for punters tipping for who could replace him – and there are some shock names on the list. Here’s a full run-through of the favourites according to gambling.com.