A flurry of betting activity has caused bookmakers in the United Kingdom to drastically shorten the odds of U.S. men's national soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann becoming the next coach of England's national team.
Klinsmann opened as high as 33-1 to succeed England manager Roy Hodgson, who stepped down after Monday's stunning loss to Iceland at the European Championship. Klinsmann's odds were bet down to as low as 9-2 Wednesday at Ladbrokes, making him the second favorite, behind only Gareth Southgate, coach of England's Under-21 team and the favorite at 7-4.
The odds on England's next coach have been up only a day, and limits are low at £100. Englishman Glenn Hoddle, a former Chelsea player and manager, also is considered a top-tier candidate and is listed at 5-1 at Ladbrokes. But the bulk of the early action is on Klinsmann.
More than 80 percent of the bets on the odds to replace Hodgson were on Klinsmann, according to Ladbrokes.
Klinsmann has been the coach of the U.S. men's national team since 2011. He led the U.S. to a semifinal appearance in this year's Copa America.