Next Southampton Manager Odds: Will Still Favourite For Saints Role
Southampton continue their search for a new manager as they prepare for life in the Championship and the best betting sites make Will Still odds-on favourite for the role.
Saints have reportedly approached Still to become the club's new boss and are said to be "confident" of making a deal.
The 32-year-old has confirmed his departure from Lens, having guided the club to an eighth-place finish in France’s top flight.
He is understood to be returning to England for personal reasons and has been heavily linked with Southampton following their dismissal of Ivan Juric.
Simon Rusk was appointed interim manager until the end of the season after Juric departed the club, but has lost five and drawn two since taking the reins.
They may have avoided the humiliation of finishing the Premier League campaign with the joint-worst tally of 11 points set by Derby in 2007/08, but Southampton fans are anxious to know who will be given the task of making an immediate return to the top flight.
We look at the leading candidates and the latest next Southampton manager odds.
Next Southampton Manager Odds
Manager | Odds | Bookmaker |
Will Still | 1/3 | |
Danny Rohl | 9/2 | |
Tom Cleverley | 9/2 | |
Gary O'Neil | 12/1 | |
Liam Manning | 16/1 | |
Steven Gerrard | 20/1 | |
Simon Rusk | 20/1 | |
Sean Dyche | 20/1 | |
Gareth Southgate | 28/1 |
Still Favourite For Saints Job
Still has certainly made his mark in French football as head coach of Lens, but could he finally land a role in England?
He recently left his role as manager of the French side after leading the club to an eighth-placed finish in Ligue 1, citing a desire to be closer to home after partner Emma Saunders was diagnosed with cancer.
The Belgian-born Englishman became the youngest manager in Europe's top five leagues at the age of 30 when he was appointed Reims head coach in the 2022/23 campaign, famously steering the club to a 14-game unbeaten run in all competitions at the start of his tenure.
Still has been linked with vacancies in England before, but having stated that he is now ready to return home, betting apps now make him the 1/3 favourite to fill the vacancy at St Mary's.
Saints Ready To Rohl With Danny
Amidst all the mayhem surrounding Sheffield Wednesday, Danny Rohl's work at Hillsborough should not be underestimated.
The Owls finished in the top half of the table under Rohl, who may want to escape a club with many disruptive issues behind the scenes, such as wages being paid late.
Rohl's contract runs out in 2027, but he said in a recent interview that his ideal destination would be a club in the Premier League or Bundesliga.
Saints will no longer be in the top flight next season, but perhaps the German may fancy a crack at ensuring the club make an immediate return to the Premier League.
He was the Evens favourite on football betting sites towards the end of April, but his odds have now drifted to 9/2 to be named Southampton's next manager.
Cleverley In The Frame
Former England and Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley is now available for work following his departure from Watford.
Cleverley took charge as interim manager at Vicarage Road in the latter stages of the 2023/24 season, overseeing a decent run that kept the team in the promotion picture.
Under his leadership, the Hornets remained in contention for a play-off spot for much of the campaign, but a late-season slump ultimately brought his tenure to an end.
The 35-year-old will be seen by many clubs as an ambitious coach with plenty of potential and he is also 9/2 to be the next manager on the south coast.
O’Neil Has Plenty To offer
Gary O'Neil fulfilled his remit of keeping both Bournemouth and Wolves in the Premier League, but he was fired by the latter this season after failing to keep the team clear of trouble.
Still, O'Neil has shown plenty of promise in his managerial career to date, and the former midfielder will be keen to show that he still has lots to offer on the touchline.
Southampton want to get back to the Premier League at the first attempt, and they could do worse than consider O'Neil when the time comes to appoint a new boss.
O'Neil has been linked with several vacancies in the Championship in recent weeks such as Norwich and although he has drifted to take over at St Mary's, he can still be backed at 12/1.
Manning Has Promotion Credentials
Bristol City’s play-off bid may have ended abruptly after losing heavily to Sheffield United over two legs, but that won’t harm the reputation of their manager Liam Manning.
The former Ipswich and West Ham youth coach carved out a name for himself at first team level at Belgian club Lommel, before returning to UK shores to take charge of Milton Keynes Dons, Oxford and then the Robins in 2023.
Promotion to the top flight may have been a step too far for City, but a club the size of Southampton could be primed for an immediate return to the Premier League and Manning is 16/1 to be the next Saints boss.
Gerrard Back In Britain For Next Role?
Steven Gerrard called time on his employment in Saudi Arabia at the end of January.
The former Liverpool and England midfielder is now looking to resume his managerial career closer to home, and Southampton may be one of his suitors.
Gerrard is listed at 20/1 to lead Southampton next season, the same price as current caretaker boss Rusk and former Everton manager Sean Dyche.
Meanwhile, ex-England boss Gareth Southgate is 28/1 in the next Southampton manager market.
