Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter for the latest tips and offers Sign up to the Independent's betting newsletter
Marco Silva has been sacked as manager of Everton after a dreadful run of form left the club in the Premier League 's bottom three.
Silva departs the club after a season and a half in charge at Goodison Park, with his final game in charge a Merseyside Derby thrashing at the hands of Liverpool FC .
Duncan Ferguson has been appointed as interim manager but the search is underway for a permanent successor to the Portuguese.
The Independent understandsDavid Moyes and highly-rated globetrotter Vitor Pereira , who came close to succeeding Moyes in 2013, are among the top contenders for the job.
Here we look at some of the leading candidates to succeed Silva at Everton:
Show all 11 1 /11Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? Marco Silva was sacked by Everton on Thursday night with the side in the bottom three of the Premier League amid a dreadful run of form. But who could succeed him as manager at Goodison Park?
Reuters
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 10. Mauricio Pochettino Quite why Mauricio Pochettino would take the Everton job ahead of the four or five potential vacancies around Europe that look like opening up for which he would be an immediate contender is unknown, so it is probably fair to say that he won't succeed Silva. But you never know...
Action Images via Reuters
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 9. Phil Neville Phil Neville has not exactly wowed as manager of the Lionesses, but he is an outside bet for a return to Goodison Park, where he gave many years of solid service at full-back.
Getty
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 8. Mark Hughes Rather stumbled in to and out of his last job with Southampton, but Mark Hughes is very much available and, thus, an option. Talk that he was being lined up to replace Silva has quietened in recent weeks.
Getty
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 7. Mikel Arteta Another excellent Everton servant, but coveted by Arsenal and perhaps man-in-waiting at Manchester City, which means taking the job at Goodison Park would be something of a gamble for Mikel Arteta.
Getty
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 6. Duncan Ferguson Appointed as interim manager, it seems unlikely that Duncan Ferguson will have time to convince the Everton board of his worth as a coach, but he will be hoping to press his claim. A former player, of course, Ferguson will be hoping to be more Ole Gunnar Solskjaer than Freddie Ljungberg.
Getty Images
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 5. Marcelo Gallardo It seems a question of when rather than if Marcelo Gallardo will arrive as Europe's next great coaching darling, with the Argentine extremely well-regarded after his work with River Plate. He may prefer an initial job in Spain, but his interest should be gauged, at the very least.
Getty
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 4. Rafa Benitez Now coaching in China after a number of strong years in charge at Newcastle, Rafa Benitez is the sort of quietly solid figure that would represent a shrewd managerial appointment. Finances would be an issue - he is on a reported £12million-a-year at Dalian Yifang - as, perhaps, would be crossing the Merseyside divide.
Getty Images
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 3. Eddie Howe Touted for every Premier League job even slightly ajar, Eddie Howe has been mentioned in connection with Everton as a potential stepping stone up the coaching ranks. How willing he would be to leave Bournemouth is unknown, and there are questions over Everton in their current plight are even a step up.
AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 2. David Moyes While the stain of his failure at Manchester United remains tough to wash out, David Moyes is something of a legend at Goodison Park, and he did a fine job in not dissimilar circumstances at West Ham. A step-back, maybe, but a steadying hand.
Getty
Who could succeed Marco Silva as Everton manager? 1. Vitor Pereira Heavily considered to succeed David Moyes in 2013 after an impressive spell at Porto, Vitor Pereira has emerged as an unlikely favourite for the vacant managerial role. Currently in charge of Shanghai SIPG in China after stints in Saudi Arabia, Greece, Turkey and Germany.
GETTY IMAGES
Who do you think will take over at Goodison Park? Let us know.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies