Jose Morais, the former Real Madrid coach and close friend of Jose Mourinho, remains odds on favourite for the Port Vale job, however there is an interesting newcomer to the betting in the form of Shefki Kuqi. Remember him?
Well, the footballing journeyman has been backed into being the club second favourite for the vacancy at the League One club. He enjoyed several spells at different clubs in English football, including Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town, Oldham Athletic and Blackburn Rovers.
The 39-year-old, who played over 60 times for the Finland national team, has made the step unto management in recent seasons. He is currently the manager of Finnish top flight side PK-35 Vantaa, where he is also part owner of the football club. Last season they finished second in the Ykkonen league, earning them promotion into the top division. Prior to this he held a managerial role at FC Honka, who are also based in Finland.
Kuqi began his career in Finnish football before making the leap into the British game with Stockport County. Several moves all across the English footballing pyramid would follow before his eventual retirement in 2013 following a brief spell in Scotland with Hibs. Kuqi can also count clubs such as Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Derby County on his playing CV.
If the betting is anything to go by, then it appears to be a straight two-horse race between Kuqi and Morais for the Vale Park vacancy, which has been free ever since Rob Page electing to take on the manager’s job at newly promoted Northampton Town. Should he make the return to the UK, will we be seeing more celebrations such as this next year:
