Kylian Mbappe has already had a significant impact on football betting worldwide.

A World Cup winner, a multiple champion of France and one of the sport’s biggest stars, Mbappe is destined for greatness. Some would argue he’s already there.

From featuring regularly in Champions League odds to his mega money move to Real Madrid, Mbappe is one of the faces of modern football.

He’s as recognisable as they come. He has already drawn comparisons to all-time greats, including compatriot Thierry Henry and the Brazilian Ronaldo.

Mbappe’s standing in the game cannot be overstated. He provides constant reminders of his talent, underlined by his blistering pace.

The Frenchman is arguably the fastest football player on the planet. Defenders aplenty have been left in his wake, unable to stay in the frame as Mbappe surges through on goal.

He is as valuable off the pitch as he is on it. Marketers love Mbappe, and he’s plying his trade in one of the world’s most glamorous cities alongside the likes of Luka Modric and Vinicius Jr.

• There are a large number of talented coaches available for work at present

• Each season sees a high turnover of managers in the Premier League

• These managers will surely be on many club’s wish-lists in the months ahead 

Being a football manager is a dream job for many sports betting fans worldwide. Even the best in the business don’t have much job security, though, with clubs becoming more and more trigger-happy over the last couple of decades.

Failure can be lucrative in football management with whopping severance packages for the highest-paid managers. Being out of work for months or even years is financially viable for the biggest names, allowing them to wait for the right opportunity to come up.

Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich will both be looking for new managers at the end of the 2023-24 season. Other appealing vacancies are bound to open up. Here are the best football managers out of work as of February 2024…

Zinedine Zidane

Despite leading Real Madrid to three Champions League wins and two La Liga titles, it’s a stretch to call Zinedine Zidane one of the greatest football managers of all-time.

Zidane has excelled as a man manager of star-studded squads, and exercised tactical pragmatism in the biggest games. 

While the former Ballon d’Or winner has been linked with the Juventus and Manchester United jobs in the past, it remains to be seen if he will take the risk of managing elsewhere. The France job seems made for him. 

Jurgen Klopp

A huge hit during his tenure at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp made the decision to stand down at the end of the 2023/24 season - much to the dismay of Liverpool supporters around the world.

Klopp was a beacon of light for Reds fans, transforming the entire mood at the club as Liverpool challenged for trophies on a yearly basis. He even managed to bring a first Premier League title to the club.

It'll be interesting to see whether Klopp takes a job at another top flight club in England or not - with many believing that he will move back to continental Europe if the right position becomes available.

Xavi

One of the greatest players of his generation, Xavi's transition from midfield to manager has been up and down to say the least.

The Barcelona legend made over 500 appearances at Camp Nou during his playing days but his tenure at the helm on the sidelines ended on a sour note after he was dismissed in May 2024.

David Moyes

One of the Premier League's old guard, David Moyes is now a free agent after West Ham United called time on his tenure at the London Stadium in 2024.

He has plenty of top flight experience and is an obvious target for any club looking for a seasoned professional to take over - especially given his wealth of Premier League knowledge.

Graham Potter

Like others who have failed in their first job at a top club, Graham Potter is in a weird spot in his career.

Similar to Cooper, Potter’s chances of success at Chelsea were undermined by bizarre and disorganised recruitment. The Blues did not give him the time he needed. 

Potter needs a team to invest in the wider project. Brighton were a great fit for him. Could Newcastle be a good landing spot if they choose to move on from Eddie Howe? Or is Potter an ideal successor to Gareth Southgate? 

Joachim Löw

In charge of Germany from 2006 until 2021, Joachim Löw is the longest-serving manager in Die Mannschaft history. Löw led Germany to glory at the 2014 World Cup, and was twice named German Football Man of the Year.

His club management record is hardly spectacular, though. Löw has not managed a club team since 2004.

The game has changed drastically since then, and his most high-profile job was with Stuttgart in the 1990s. At 64 years old, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Löw steers clear of club management.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Ole Gunnar Solskjær might not have reignited the glory days at Manchester United, but he did bring much-needed stability. For all his shortcomings, the Norwegian finished with a win rate only bettered by Erik ten Hag, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.

Solskjær has been rumoured as a possible successor to Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich.

His failings in the biggest games don’t appear to have deterred FC Hollywood, but it would be a shock to see Bayern go with Solskjær when there are so many other excellent candidates on the market. 

Massimiliano Allegri

Regarded by many as one of football's great tacticians, Allegri was sacked just two days after leading Juventus to Italian Cup success over Atalanta in May 2024.

Reports claim that it was down to his conduct during the match, but fans have pointed to a number of flare-ups between the manager and the club's hierarchy during his second tenure in Turin.

He's achieved everything there is to achieve in Serie A so a move abroad wouldn't be out of the question and online news reports believe he could be recruited by a leading Saudi Arabia team in the coming months.

Mauricio Pochettino

The Argentine was a good footballer but management has definitely been his calling and he did incredible things during his stint at Tottenham Hotspur.

His most recent spell at Chelsea was a mixed bag but the Blues finished the season strongly and many were shocked to see Pochettino leave Stamford Bridge in May 2024.

It'll be interesting to see if a Premier League rival takes a chance on Pochettino this summer. There's bound to be some interest from a certain club in the north west...

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• There are seven positions on the netball court, with each player taking on various roles and responsibilities during a game

• The Vitality Netball Superleague is the biggest competition in the United Kingdom

• Our beginner’s guide to the positions and rules of netball can help newbies to enhance their understanding of the sport

Played by over 20 million people in more than 80 countries around the world, netball is a popular sport in schools – particularly in Commonwealth nations.

Fans can watch netball live on Sky Sports in the UK, with the Vitality Netball Superleague attracting plenty of attention throughout the season.

Positions In Netball

• Goal Keeper

• Goal Defence

• Wing Defence

• Centre

• Wing Attack

• Goal Attack

• Goal Scorer

Those into sports betting may know some of the netball positions but can you name every role on the netball court? If not, you’ve come to the right place…

Watching netball can be confusing but hopefully our beginner’s guide to netball roles can help. If nothing else, you’ll learn just what the letters on each player’s bib means!

Here, we look at the different positions in netball – from goal keeper to goal shooter. Plus, netball rookies can familiarise themselves with the extensive list of netball rules below:

Netball Rules

In addition to the various netball positions and roles, there are several rules that fans should be aware of. Here, you can learn about the netball rules of play:

Netball Objective

The aim of netball is to score more points than the opposing team.

You accumulate points by shooting through one of the nets positioned at either end of the court. For each goal you score, your team earns one point.

How Long Is A Netball Game?

According to netball rules, matches are split into four equal quarters of 15 minutes though amateur netball matches may be shorter.

As is the case in ice hockey and basketball, the teams switch ends after each quarter.

Netball Footwork Rules

A player can hold possession of the ball for up to three seconds, with the ball switching to the opposing team for a free pass if this rule is violated. The technical term for this is a held ball.

In addition, players are also prohibited from throwing the ball from one goal third to the other without the ball being touched in the middle third. If a foul is committed, this results in a free pass for the other team.

As well as the three second rule, players are not allowed to replant their landing foot if they raise it from the ground. This means they can take one step with a free leg and raise their landing foot but must pass the ball or shoot before that foot touches the ground again.

Furthermore, players can pivot with their free foot to create a better passing position. The other team receives a free pass if a player replants their landing foot though – and this is known as footwork.

Shooting

There are only two netball positions that allow shooting – Goal Attack and Goal Shooter.

Shots can only be taken within the shooting circle, which is sometimes referred to as the D or semi-circle.

For a goal to be awarded, the ball must pass through the net. When a goal is scored, play then restarts with a centre pass.

Obstruction

The sport is generally a non-contact sport but there is one situation where contact is allowed – however an opponent cannot be impeded in any way.

When a player is in possession, an opponent must stand at least three feet away. If a player is impeded, obstruction is called and the offender must stand away from play while a penalty pass or shot is taken.

As is the case in basketball, a player can continue to pass or shoot while being obstructed if they believe they will gain an advantage.

If they are successful, the umpire will signal advantage and play continues. If unsuccessful, the umpire will stop play and bring it back for a penalty.

Offside

When a player is in possession of the ball in an area of the court that they are not allowed in, the umpire calls for offside. A free pass is awarded to the opposing team as a result.

While a player may not be allowed to enter a specific area, they are allowed to lean on the ball in that part of the court.

This is deemed legal providing no part of the player’s body touches the ground in the area.

Throw Ins

If the ball goes out of play, a throw in is awarded against the team that touched it prior to leaving the court.

The thrown in is taken from the spot where the ball went out of play. Follow live betting on netball with 888sport throughout the upcoming season.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*