Mourinho No Longer Favourite in the Premier League Sack Race

Manchester United’s improving league form combined with Fulham’s slump has prompted a shift in the popular Premier League ‘sack race’ betting market.

Favourite to be the first manager to get the sack for much of the season, United boss Jose Mourinho has now been usurped by struggling Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic.

As reported by Gambling.com earlier in October, Jokanovic has this month been the subject of increased betting interest in the ‘Next Premier League Manager To Leave’ market, with Paddy Power seeing the Serb’s price go from 40/1 at the beginning of the month to a current price of 6/4.

That comes on the back of four straight defeats for Fulham, leaving them in the relegation zone and mounting pressure upon their manager, despite Jokanovic masterminding the club’s promotion back to the top tier last term.

By contrast, Manchester United’s form – domestically at least – has been on the up, with their dramatic 3-2 win over Newcastle kick-starting a three-game unbeaten Premier League run, including a creditable draw at Stamford Bridge and a hard-fought win over Everton on Sunday.

Mourinho’s Odds on The Drift

William Hill, Unibet and Betway have all at some point this season had Mourinho as the odds-on favourite to be the first Premier League manager to be dismissed, but the best price on the Portuguese being the first casualty is now 7/2 at Betfair and 888Sport.

It is now thought to be a straightforward two-horse race, with Mark Hughes (6/1 with Coral) and Rafael Benitez (7/1 with Coral) a little further back as third and fourth favourites respectively.

One manager whose price is shortening rapidly, though, is Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Despite defeat to reigning champions Manchester City on Monday night, Spurs are performing well in the Premier League with seven wins from 10 games.

Pochettino, though, is thought to be on the list of candidates to be the next permanent manager of Real Madrid, a potential move which would see bookmakers pay out on the Argentine as the ‘next Premier League manager to leave’.

Next Real Madrid Manager Odds

Madrid sacked Julen Lopetegui on Monday, the final straw of a disastrous reign being a 5-1 defeat to bitter rivals Barcelona, and have since promoted former player Santiago Solari from Castilla coach to interim first team coach.

The Argentine is odds-on favourite – 8/11 with Bet Victor – to make the temporary solution a permanent one, but Pochettino is now second favourite in the pecking order, should Solari fail to convince in the hot seat.

At a best price of 4/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral, the Tottenham boss is as short as 3/1 elsewhere (Betfair and Paddy Power), pitting him ahead of former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Arsene Wenger, who recently stated his desire to return to management.

With Pochettino’s price to be the next Real Madrid manager shortening, so too are his odds on being the first managerial departure of the Premier League season.

Coral report the biggest price swing, going from 50/1 to just 7/1 in a matter of five days between October 25 and October 30.

However, the ‘Next Premier League Manager to Leave’ market could well be settled long before Real Madrid make a final decision on their next manager, as much will depend on the fortunes of Jokanovic and Mourinho.