The next Manchester United manager odds reveal a potential second coming of a former Red Devils sharpshooter, though he’ll be challenged well by one of Europe’s most forward-thinking coaches, amongst others.
United boss Erik Ten Hag seemingly saved his job following an FA Cup final win over Man City in May. But a club-worst finish of eighth in the Premier League last term has been followed up by a dreadful start to 2024/25, which will see United enter November on 11 points and stuck in the bottom half of the table.
With Ten Hag being sacked on Monday after a 2-1 loss to West Ham United, here’s the latest…
Next Manchester United manager odds*
| Ruben Amorim |
1/3 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy |
12/1 |
| Xavi |
14/1 |
| Gareth Southgate |
18/1 |
| Julian Nagelsmann |
25/1 |
| Graham Potter |
25/1 |
| Thomas Frank |
25/1 |
| Marco Silva |
25/1 |
| Zinedine Zidane |
50/1 |
| Unai Emery |
66/1 |
*Market-best prices available as of 29 October 2024
Selections to watch
Ruben Amorim
We’ve already looked at what Amorim could bring to the table. Although the step up from the Primeira Liga to the Premier League is a significant one, the Sporting CP coach otherwise ticks every box, with his experience of building sides that boast youth, virility and value for money.
Amorim was approached for the West Ham position after David Moyes left the club this summer, and he even had talks about the job. However, he decided to pass on the opportunity and stick with Sporting. This shows that he needs a really appealing offer to consider leaving his current gig, and given the chaos at Man United right now, it might be tough to sway him.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
In terms of box-ready replacements, they don't get much better than Ruud van Nistelrooy from a romantic perspective.
Now 48, the Dutchman made over 200 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 150 goals in his prime during the early to mid-2000s, and such an affiliation with the club places the former Dutch forward high in the next Manchester United manager odds list.
Van Nistelrooy was assistant to Guus Hiddink with the Netherlands national team before coaching in PSV Eindhoven’s youth system. While there, he climbed the ranks from under-18 to under-21 level and eventually took charge of the first team in July 2022.
The former Dutch international was an instant success too, as in just one season in charge, Van Nistelrooy guided his side to Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup triumphs, capitalising fully on a once-dominant Ajax's complacency.
Xavi
Xavi emerged as the new second-favourite with some bookmakers in the hours immediately following Monday's official announcement by Manchester United. He might be younger than some of the other managers on this list, but that doesn’t mean he can’t handle a big job. After racking up several trophies with Al-Sadd in Qatar, he stepped up to manage his childhood team, FC Barcelona.
In the 2022/23 season, Xavi led Barca to victory in both the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup, although the team faced some challenges in the next season. Still, his forward-thinking approach to the game is likely to attract a lot of interest from clubs looking for a fresh perspective.
Gareth Southgate
Having spent several weeks as van Nistelrooy’s main rival for the United job, Southgate effectively ruled himself out of the running in October. However, there may be something the bookies know that we don’t, as he’s still up there amongst the realistic choices.
Gareth Southgate stepped down as England's manager in July 2024 after an eight-year run, ending on a disappointing note with a 2-1 loss to Spain in the UEFA European Championship final. The Three Lions didn’t exactly shine during the tournament, yet they still made it to the final.
Yet, even without any trophies to show for it – and a relegation with Middlesbrough in his only prior engagement with a Premier League club – Southgate's time in charge of England speaks volumes about his abilities, giving some reasoning towards his price.
Zinedine Zidane
It might sound odd considering he has three Champions League titles and two La Liga championships under his belt as a manager, but Zidane remains a bit of a mystery outside of Real Madrid. The unique nature of the Real Madrid position makes it tough to gauge how he would perform in a different setting, and this is reflected by odds that range wildly for Zidane, which are as short as 12/1 and as long as 25/1.
One of Zidane's standout abilities is managing high-profile players in a large squad and keeping them engaged. Man United’s dressing room has plenty of those, even if the results don’t reflect that, so this price has some weight about it. He’s also well-known for delegating most of the coaching and tactical decisions to his staff and the talented players he had at his disposal.
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
