Derby County have moved quickly to appoint Phillip Cocu as Frank Lampard’s replacement following his move to Chelsea.
The formers Blues midfielder ended a summer of rumours by completing his return to Stamford Bridge after just one year at Pride Park, where he led the Rams to the Championship play-off final before losing out to Aston Villa.
Cocu is the man charged with taking Derby one step further and bet365 are an industry-best 11/2 (6.50) that the Dutchman is able to achieve that in his first season in the East Midlands.
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The Rams have been in the second tier of English football since their ill-fated 2007-08 campaign in the Premier League, which saw them amass just 11 points and claim a single victory all season.
Ending that top-flight drought is surely the club’s aim going forward and that is something Cocu has experience in, winning PSV’s first Eredivisie title in seven years in just his second full term there.
Two more Dutch championships followed during his five-year tenure before a move to Fenerbahce did not work out, meaning the ex-Barcelona man will be out to prove himself once again in one of the world’s toughest leagues.
The 11/2 (6.50) price on Derby earning promotion makes them 10th-favourites in bet365’s market, which is hardly a surprise given that Premier League loanees Harry Wilson and Mason Mount were the catalysts of their top-six finish.
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It is 16/1 (17.0) that Derby win the Championship, something they last achieved in 1987, although they remain some way behind 5/1 (6.0) favourites Leeds and Fulham at 8/1 (9.0).
One market that offers particular interest is the ‘Top Midlands Club’ and bet365 go 7/2 (4.50) that the Rams at least claim bragging rights over rival clubs.
This bet pits the Cocu’s men against West Brom (2/1), Stoke (11/4), Nottingham Forest (7/2) and Birmingham City (7/1), with the winner being settled on whichever side finishes highest in the overall table.
Odds correct at the time of publish. Please gamble responsibly.
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