With news breaking this morning of Erik ten Hag being sacked by Manchester United, there appears to be a two-horse race developing between interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and Barcelona legend and former manager Xavi as to who will take the helm at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman stands as favourite over Xavi, with the pair being priced at 5/2 and 5/1 respectively in most places, but the Spanish legend has some charm of his own that could ultimately swing it.
Xavi next Man United manager odds: How they compare to others
According to current projections, this is where he stands in relation to others:
| Ruud van Nistelrooy |
Evens |
| Xavi |
3/1 |
| Ruben Amorim |
10/1 |
| Gareth Southgate |
10/1 |
| Thomas Frank |
10/1 |
| Kieran McKenna |
14/1 |
| Michael Carrick |
14/1 |
| Graham Potter |
20/1 |
| Massimiliano Allegri |
22/1 |
| Zinedine Zidane |
25/1 |
Having been sacked by Barcelona in the summer of 2024 after finishing 10 points behind Real Madrid, Xavi has been without a club after leaving his role at the club with which he racked up over 700 appearances. The Spaniard had led the Blaugrana through a period of immense financial instability and to a first league title since 2019, but the Barca hierarchy felt that the Catalan club’s lacklustre finish to the 2023/24 season was enough to warrant his dismissal.
Xavi has been waiting for an opportunity to return to management since leaving the club with which he spent his entire career, and a team as prestigious as Manchester United could be the ideal side with which to bolster his managerial credentials.
Amorim no longer likely?
Former second favourite Ruben Amorim has had his odds lengthened after a wider range of reports circulated that Manchester United were interested in Xavi. The current Sporting CP boss has been doing an outstanding job in Portugal, where he has secured two league titles and also has his side in the top eight of the new Champions League all-team format after three matchdays.
With increased stability surrounding his job and the Sporting CP directors desperate to retain his services for the foreseeable future, it now seems unlikely that Amorim would depart his position at a club vying for Champions League qualification in favour of joining a side struggling to progress in the Europa League.
With Amorim less likely to be persuaded by a lucrative offer from the Red Devils, it appears Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain Xavi’s likeliest competitor. Having already made over 200 appearances for the side and held the position of assistant manager in recent months, the Dutchman would be an easy choice for the club’s directors due to his prior knowledge of the side and club ethos.
However, at 5/1, Xavi still appears the most likely candidate if INEOS do opt against signing van Nistelrooy as the manager on a permanent basis.
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.
