Man Utd next manager odds as clear favourite emerges to replace Erik ten Hag

Manchester United are on the hunt for a new manager after deciding to sack Erik ten Hag following the club’s poor start to the season.

A dramatic and controversial defeat to West Ham on Sunday left United in 14th place in the Premier League and with just one win from their last five league matches.

Ten Hag was informed of the decision on Monday morning, with Ruud van Nistelrooy, brought in as part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff in the summer, asked to take charge on an interim basis.

Ten Hag was appointed as United boss ahead of the 2022/23 Premier League season and guided the club to a third-place league finish in his first season in charge.

The club also won the Carabao Cup in his maiden year but pressure swiftly built on the Dutchman early in his second after four defeats in their first seven game which included dispiriting home defeats against Brighton and Crystal Palace.

That lowly league finish looked to signal the end of Ten Hag’s tenure, with the club’s new owners openly speaking to other candidates, but the 54-year-old was given a stay of execution for United’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.

And having masterminded a shock upset against their arch-rivals at Wembley, Ten Hag was eventually rewarded with a one-year contract extension and a vote of confidence by the club’s senior hierarchy.

However, despite being backed handsomely in the summer with over £200million spent on new signings, Ten Hag’s failed to show signs of tangible improvements to start the season.

Heavy early-season defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham coupled with a disappointing start to the Europa League eventually brought to an end the Dutchman’s spell at Old Trafford.

United have now begun the task of replacing Ten Hag, with Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim now the heavy favourite to take the permanent job.

The Portuguese coach was linked heavily with the Liverpool job prior to Arne Slot’s appointment and has also been mooted as a potential replacement for Pep Guardiola should he leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

However, according to The Athletic, the Red Devils have now begun discussions over a deal for Amorim who is keen to make the move to Old Trafford.

The 39-year-old is seen as a progressive and modern coach and has won the league with Sporting on two occasions since joining in 2020. His side have won all nine league games this season, too, and currently sit six points clear of Porto at the top of the table.

Next Man Utd manager odds

Should a deal for Amorim fail to materialise, Van Nistelrooy is seen as the next most likely to get the job on a permanent basis should he impress during his interim stint.

Former England manager Gareth Southgate, who was linked with the job over the summer, is also high up on the odds list alongside former Chelsea manager Graham Potter and current Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

Former Barcelona head coach Xavi is also fancied for the job, especially after his son was pictured in a United top over the weekend, while Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann may well be another candidate who United might consider.

Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna, who have both previously been part of United’s backroom staff in recent years, are further down the odds sheet, while current Newcastle manager Eddie Howe could also be a surprise pick.

New interim manager Van Nistelrooy won’t have long to work with his new squad, however, with United back in action against Leicester City at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, before playing at home to Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.

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