Next Man Utd Manager Odds: Xavi, Van Nistelrooy and Nagelsmann among favourites to replace Ten Hag
After what has felt like a long time coming, Manchester United finally took the decision to dismiss manager Erik ten Hag on Monday morning, following the defeat to West Ham on Sunday.
Ten Hag leaves the role following a run of eight matches across all competitions with just one victory. The 11 points amassed after nine matches are the second-lowest total for a United side in the Premier League era.
Ruud van Nistelrooy - Interim at Manchester United
Having only arrived in the summer as a new assistant manager, with the aim of supporting Ten Hag following his new contract at the club, former Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy now finds himself in interim control of the first-team.
Van Nistelrooy may be the most obvious man to turn to at this stage, but there is no doubt that he will hope to stake a claim for the role on a permanent basis. The Dutchman has one senior management season under his belt so far, with PSV in 2022/23, where he led the side to the Johan Cruyff Shield and the KNVB Cup before resigning, over an alleged lack of support from above.
Current odds: 5/2 best price with bet365.
Xavi - Last with Barcelona
After departing Barcelona back in May, Xavi could soon find himself back in a management role at Manchester United. Indeed, it has been reported that the club have sounded out the Spaniard over the last few weeks with a view to potentially replacing Ten Hag, should he be sacked.
In just under two-and-a-half years at the helm in Catalonia, Xavi led Barcelona to the 2022/23 La Liga title and the 2023 Supercopa de Espana.
Current odds: 6/1 best price with BetVictor.
Gareth Southgate - Last with England
Former England boss Gareth Southgate is available after resigning from his position in charge of the Three Lions following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain in July.
Southgate has only ever managed at club level on one occasion, a three-year stint with Middlesbrough which culminated in relegation back in 2009. It remains to be seen whether a Premier League club, particularly one of United's stature would take the risk of appointing him.
Current odds: best price 10/1 with Ladbrokes.
🏴 Gareth Southgate to become the next #MUFC manager:
— oddschecker (@oddschecker) October 28, 2024
✅ Best price - 10/1
❌ Worst price - 10/3 pic.twitter.com/2gYCQ0Oiep
Thomas Frank - Brentford
If it’s Premier League experience that United look to prioritise, then Thomas Frank will likely be high on the wishlist. The Dane has worked wonders with Brentford on a fairly modest budget and despite flirting with relegation earlier in the year, Frank is still a wanted man in England.
Frank switched between a 4-2-3-1 and a three-man backline over the course of the campaign with injuries not helping his Brentford side this season. Indeed, he had to make do without key men Bryan Mbeumo and Ethan Pinnock for chunks of 2023/24, and his Bees team suffered as a result. However, he continues to work well with the tools at his disposal and does so without kicking up much of a fuss. This may well suit the newly-installed United hierarchy.
Current odds: 11/1 best price with 10Bet.
Graham Potter - Last with Chelsea
Former Brighton and Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has been out of work for more than 18 months now, following his departure from Stamford Bridge in April of last year. The Englishman has made it no secret that he would like to return to management in the near future, and his failure to be considered for the England role means he is still available.
The 49-year-old possesses crucial Premier League experience, and retains credit for the impressive job he did at Brighton, but his struggles to adapt to one of the division’s bigger sides in Chelsea could go against him in the running for the United position.
Current odds: 16/1 best price with Ladbrokes and Betfred.
Julian Nagelsmann - Germany
Germany national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann could crop up as an option for Manchester United, despite extending his contract until after the 2026 World Cup, back in April.
Nagelsmann is held in high regard across Europe for his work with RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, before what continues to be seen as a short-sighted decision to replace him with Thomas Tuchel in March of 2023.
Nagelsmann guided Germany to the quarter-finals of the summer’s European Championship on home soil, where they were ultimately knocked out by eventual champions Spain.
Current odds: 40/1 best price with BoyleSports.
Massimiliano Allegri - Last with Juventus
A six-time Serie A champion with Juventus and AC Milan, Massimiliano Allegri will surely be another name under consideration by the Old Trafford hierarchy following Ten Hag’s dismissal.
Allegri was last in work during a second stint with Juventus, which came to an end in May following an incident after the Coppa Italia final.
Current odds: 50/1 best price with Paddy Power.
Simone Inzaghi - Inter
In just two full seasons with Inter, Simone Inzaghi has led the Nerazzurri to a host of titles, including Serie A, the Coppa Italia (twice) and the Supercoppa Italiana (three times).
Inzaghi also guided Inter to the final of the Champions League in the 2022/23 season, ultimately coming up short against Manchester City.
The 48-year-old is currently one of the most highly-regarded coaches in Europe, known for maximising the output of the players at his disposal - and it would surely come as a surprise if he were to accept a job offer from United at this stage.
Current odds: 40/1 best price with Paddy Power.
Ruben Amorim - Sporting
After being heavily touted as Pep Guardiola’s eventual successor at Manchester City, could rivals Manchester United tempt Sporting’s Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford?
39-year-old Amorim has had an unbelievable impact with Sporting since his appointment in March 2020, leading them to a first league title in 19 years during the 2020/21 campaign. Sporting would repeat that feat under Amorim last season, too, with a second league title one of five domestic honours won during his reign.
Current odds: 8/1 best price with BetVictor.
All odds included in this article are correct as of 13:00, 28.10.2024, via oddschecker.
