Gerrard early favourite to succeed Smith: 5 potential replacements at Aston Villa

Villa boss went after five successive defeats

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  Soccer Football - Europa League - Group A - Brondby v Rangers - Brondby Stadium, Brondby, Denmark - November 4, 2021 Rangers manager Steven Gerrard Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. DENMARK OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN DENMARK.

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  John Terry - The former England defender was until recently Smith's assistant at Aston Villa before leaving at the end of last season to “develop my aim and objective of becoming a manager". Terry, 40, may not have envisaged his first post in top-flight management coming at his former mentor's expense, but the ex-Chelsea player is well-regarded by the Aston Villa hierarchy from his time at the club. Reuters

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  Frank Lampard - In what looks a race between former England teammates, Lampard's name is also being linked with the vacant post at Villa Park. Sacked by Chelsea in January, Lampard is keen for a return to the Premier League and is also in the running to replace Daniel Farke following the German's sacking at Norwich City. PA

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  Paulo Fonseca - The Portuguese can be classed as a journeyman at the relatively young age of 48 having managed nine clubs in his homeland, Ukraine and Italy. The former Roma coach was thought to be under consideration by Tottenham to replace compatriot Nuno Espirto Santo before the London club plumped for Antonio Conte. Reuters

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  Graham Potter - Has earned rave reviews for the way he has transformed Brighton & Hove Albion's brand of football from dull to entertaining. The English coach seems destined for bigger things but like Gerrard may not relish the idea of taking over at a struggling club midway through a campaign. Getty Images

Steven Gerrard has been installed as the favourite to be named new Aston Villa manager following Dean Smith's dismissal on Sunday.

Smith became the Premier League's fifth managerial casualty of the season on Sunday following a fifth successive defeat for Villa that left them languishing in 15th in the table.

Friday's 1-0 loss to Southampton proved to be the 50-year-old's final match in charge after three years at the helm.

Gerrard's work at Scottish champions Rangers has not gone unnoticed south of the border. Since taking charge at Ibrox in 2018 Gerrard has re-established the Glasgow giants as a Premiership force and delivered a first league title in 10 years last season, ending Celtic's stranglehold.

Rangers are four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership and are in the running to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League. It remains to be seen whether the Liverpool legend would see a move to a struggling Villa midway through the campaign aligns with his ambitions to one day manage in the English Premier League.

Also in the running are two of Gerrard's former England colleagues.

Former Villa assistant coach John Terry is being linked with the vacant post, as is the out-of-work Frank Lampard.