Next Manchester United Manager: Amorim Hot Favourite To Replace Axed Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag’s troubled reign as Manchester United manager finally came to an end this week and the best betting sites have updated their latest odds on a potential successor.

The 2-1 defeat at West Ham left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League table and proved to be the final straw for the club’s hierarchy.

The Dutchman won the League Cup and FA Cup during his two-year spell at Old Trafford, but last season’s eighth-placed finish was their worst since the Premier League started.

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Having lost four of their nine top-flight games, United are in danger of ending up in the bottom half of the table for the first time in 35 years.

They are also 21st in the 36-team Europa League table, having drawn their opening three fixtures.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in temporary charge and was the frontrunner before the news of Ten Hag’s dismissal broke, but Ruben Amorim is now the hot favourite in the next Manchester United manager odds.

Here we take a look at some of the contenders for one of the biggest jobs in world football.

Next Manchester United Manager Odds

United Hold Talks With Ruben Amorim

Manchester United are wasting no time in their bid to find a replacement for Ten Hag and are thought to be holding talks with Sporting manager Amorim, who was reportedly viewed as Pep Guardiola’s successor at arch rivals City. 

The 39-year-old Portuguese was 5/1 to fill the vacancy at Old Trafford before Ten Hag was axed, but news that he is in negotiations with the 20-time English champions has resulted in his odds being slashed to 1/16 with football betting sites.

Amorim won the Primeira Liga with Sporting for the second time last season and his team have made a terrific start to their title defence, winning all nine matches.

At Monday’s press conference in Portugal, Amorim said he did not want to discuss the Manchester United job which only heightened speculation he could be heading to Old Trafford.

Amorim had been linked with Liverpool last season and also held talks with West Ham, something he later revealed was a mistake.

However, it now seems he could be the latest man to restore United to their former glories if negotiations go well with both parties.

Amorim News Sees Ruud Drift

If Amorim decides not to be United's next manager, then the club will have been encouraged by Ruud van Nistelrooy's audition for the role. 

The former United striker was in charge of the Red Devils' 5-2 Carabao Cup win over Leicester at Old Trafford, in a game that saw the home side continually on the attack.

The fans enjoyed it, but Chelsea's visit to Manchester on Sunday will be a much tougher proposition. 

A similar scoreline would enhance the Dutchman's credentials if Amorim said no to United.

Nistelrooy is 5/1 with Coral to turn his caretaker role into a permanent appointment.

United have scored just eight goals in nine league games, with only Crystal Palace and Southampton netting fewer (six each).

Last season, the Red Devils managed to score just 57 goals in 38 league games, which is one of the reasons why they finished the season in eighth spot.

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 games for United, guided PSV Eindhoven to second place in the Eredivisie in 2023 and they won the Dutch Cup in the same season.

He resigned before the final match, claiming he was not supported by the club’s management team.

Xavi Might Fancy United Job

It's been a few months since Xavi called time on his tenure as Barcelona manager, and he is currently a free agent. 

Xavi might find it hard to manage another Spanish club given his love affair with Barca, so his next job might be in another country.

The Premier League loves Spanish managers and Xavi might fancy being the next to join a list that includes Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola and Julen Lopetegui. 

Xavi is 10/1 to be United's next permanent manager. 

Frank Happy At Brentford

Thomas Frank has been linked with the United job for several months, but on the “very delicate question” of whether he would be interested in the job, he told reporters he was “very happy” at Brentford which he described as “one of the best clubs in the world”.

The Dane opened the door for a move at some point over the next few years when he added: “What happens in the future, who knows?”

Ivan Toney's move to Saudi Arabia in the summer was a major blow, but his departure has not affected the Bees, whose incredible 4-3 comeback victory against Ipswich at the weekend lifted them into the top half of the table.

Frank is 14/1 to become the next Manchester United manager.

Ex-England Coach Southgate Is Available 

Gareth Southgate revealed that he was planning to take a year out of management after this summer’s European Championship in Germany and a U-turn does not seem to be on the cards.

It’s possible United have approached the former England head coach about becoming the club’s new manager, but the fact they have moved so swiftly for Amorim suggests he is out of the picture.

Southgate was 5/2 a couple of weeks ago, but his odds have been lengthening ever since and he now finds himself at 8/1.

The former Aston Villa and Crystal Palace defender led the Three Lions to the European Championship final twice as well as appearances in the semi-final and last eight of the past two World Cups.

Potter Still A Candidate, Despite Missing Out On England

After missing out on becoming England's next manager, Graham Potter remains on the list of candidates to replace Ten Hag. Potter's odds of becoming the next Manchester United manager are 20/1.

Potter has been out of work for over a year now and has admitted that he is now ready to return to football management. 

The Englishman is looking to rebuild his career after an unsuccessful spell at Stamford Bridge, which produced just 12 wins in 31 games. 

Anyone who witnessed Potter's work at Swansea and Brighton knows he is a sharp thinker who can combine style with results and his coaching acumen is not in doubt.

Nagelsmann And Silva Dark Horses

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann is a new name in the conversation at 14/1 with betting apps.

Nagelsmann won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in his debut season in 2021/22 following an excellent couple of years with Leipzig.

The 37-year-old German has also helped transform the national team’s fortunes after a terrible spell under Hansi Flick.

Marco Silva’s reputation continues to grow and the Fulham manager is 20/1 to land the United job.

Now in his fourth year at Craven Cottage, Silva led the club back to the Premier League in his first season in charge.

They finished 10th in the 2022/23 campaign, 13th in 2023/24 and are in the top half of the table after nine games of the new season.

The Portuguese has made Fulham a force in the Premier League and the current squad looks capable of challenging for one of the European places.

Silva may relish the challenge of managing an elite club, but will United make the call? 

Carrick Out Of Contention

One name that had started to draw attention in the next Manchester United manager market was former Red Devils midfielder Michael Carrick.

The ex-England international led Middlesbrough to the Championship play-offs in the 2022/23 campaign, although they subsequently missed out on a top-six spot by just four points in Carrick’s first full season in charge.

It’s been a mixed start to the new campaign for Boro, who sit ninth in the Championship table after squandering a 3-1 lead in Sunday's 3-3 draw at Norwich. 

Carrick had a spell as United caretaker manager when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked almost three years ago, winning two and drawing one of his three games in charge. 

Could United turn to their former player again? Carrick was the 14/1 third favourite last week, but his odds have gone out to 33/1.

McKenna No Longer A Target, Terzic Available

Kieran McKenna was heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United, with talks held between both parties towards the end of last season.

But, McKenna decided to stay at Portman Road for Town's first season back in the Premier League since 2001/02.

The Tractor Boys have enjoyed a solid start with four draws following defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City. 

McKenna was 12/1 a couple of weeks ago, but is now 33/1 after Ipswich made it nine Premier League games without a win following their 4-3 defeat at Brentford.

Former Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has joined the race and is 20/1 to replace Ten Hag.