A host of names, some realistic, some nonsensical, featured on a long list of bookies odds about who would be the next Hearts manager in November 2019 after Craig Levein was dismissed. Here were the leading candidates, according to the bookmakers at the time.
![The German manager who won the Bundesliga three times as coach actually applied for the job and was listed at 12/1 by the bookies. He was out of football for nearly five years before returning to take over at Hertha Berlin in March 2022. He lasted less than three months](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjI0Yjg0ZWU3LTE1YmQtNDBhOC05YjZlLWE0Y2E4OGI4NWI2YjoxOGU5OTZmZC0xNjgyLTRlMWItODI5Ni0xYzU3MzQwZTkzMjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Felix Magath
The German manager who won the Bundesliga three times as coach actually applied for the job and was listed at 12/1 by the bookies. He was out of football for nearly five years before returning to take over at Hertha Berlin in March 2022. He lasted less than three months Photo: NIGEL TREBLIN
![The former Hearts captain was out of a job at the time after being sacked by Carlisle United and was listed at 10/1. He became head of individual development at Brentford in July 2021](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjMyZDkyMzM4LWQ4OTQtNGE1Ny05MTkxLWU5YWIzNGY5N2MyMzo5NGYyOWIxNC01ZWUxLTQ4M2UtODBkZi01YjI3ZWM2NDhmZGQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Steven Pressley
The former Hearts captain was out of a job at the time after being sacked by Carlisle United and was listed at 10/1. He became head of individual development at Brentford in July 2021 Photo: Alan Harvey - SNS Group
![Surprising but true. The Chelsea legend was assistant at Aston Villa at the time but was a 10/1 to land the Hearts job back then. Recently appointed assistant to Dean Smith at Leicester City](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmVlMWNhMjA3LTdhODQtNGQ1Zi04ZTZkLTM0ODE2NDdkMzNkZTo1Y2NjYWY2MC02NDE5LTQ0ZDgtYWVjYy1kMTQ3M2I3MzFkNWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. John Terry
Surprising but true. The Chelsea legend was assistant at Aston Villa at the time but was a 10/1 to land the Hearts job back then. Recently appointed assistant to Dean Smith at Leicester City Photo: Michael Regan
![One of the out of work managers who was actually interviewed for the job and was one of the favourites at 8/1. He is currently manager of EFL League One side Shrewsbury Town.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmIxMzlkODQxLWJjYzctNGI3YS04M2RiLTg1Y2UzMGJhNmRjYjo2Y2EzZGZkOS1lNWQwLTQwYmMtOTNlNC1iN2EyMTUxZmE0Nzk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Steve Cotterill
One of the out of work managers who was actually interviewed for the job and was one of the favourites at 8/1. He is currently manager of EFL League One side Shrewsbury Town. Photo: Catherine Ivill