Next Manchester United Manager: Southgate Favourite To Replace Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag needed a positive beginning to the season to justify Manchester United's decision to stick with him as their manager. A 1-0 home win over Fulham gave Ten Hag the start he needed.
However, since then, the Red Devils have lost 2-1 at Brighton and 3-0 to Liverpool in Arne Slot's first visit to Old Trafford as Reds boss. The pressure surrounding Ten Hag before the FA Cup final win over Manchester City is back and the Dutchman is under pressure to keep his job.
It's early in the season but after three games, nothing seems to have changed with the way United have been set up to play. The club have backed Ten Hag in the transfer window, with 12 signings for over ￡610m made since his appointment.
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It will take Ten Hag time to figure out what his best XI is, and with the club already six points behind the early leaders Manchester City and Liverpool, it promises to be another long season for United supporters.
The best betting sites have been monitoring the situation all the time and they continue to update their odds on who might replace Ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.
A number of high-profile managers with big reputations remain available including Gareth Southgate and Mauricio Pochettino, who might just get a call in the coming weeks if United continue to struggle for form.
Next Manchester United Manager Odds
Manager | Odds | Bookmaker |
Gareth Southgate | 2/1 | |
Ruud Van Nistelrooy | 3/1 | |
Mauricio Pochettino | 7/2 | |
Kieran McKenna | 8/1 | |
Thomas Tuchel | 9/1 | |
Thomas Frank | 10/1 | |
Roberto De Zerbi | 20/1 | |
Graham Potter | 25/1 | |
Ruben Amorim | 33/1 | |
Zinedine Zidane | 33/1 |
Southgate Could Replace Dutchman
Gareth Southgate has been the favourite to replace Ten Hag for a number of months.
Even before guiding England to the final of Euro 2024, Southgate was being linked with the role. The former defender has now been able to recharge his batteries after this summer's tournament in Germany and awaits his next job.
United will give Ten Hag a bit more time to find a winning formula, but if they do decide to change their manager in the coming months, Southgate might feel he could turn the club's fortunes around.
Southgate, who is the 2/1 favourite on football betting sites, might be ready for a return to club management and the lure of joining United might be too good to turn down.
Van The Man To Restore Pride To Old Trafford?
If Manchester United are eyeing up candidates to replace Ten Hag, then they might not have to look too far.
Ten Hag brought in fellow Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy to help improve the club's efficiency in front of goal. Last season, the Red Devils scored just 57 goals in 38 league games.
Van Nistelrooy (3/1), who scored 150 goals in 219 games for United, has experience of managing PSV Eindhoven and guided the club to second in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2023.
With a strong Dutch representation in the current United squad, Van Nistelrooy might fancy the job.
Pochettino Continues To Wait For Next Chapter
Mauricio Pochettino is another high-profile manager currently out of work and he is third favourite at 7/2.
Days after the end of last season, the Argentine left his role as Chelsea manager after just one season in charge of the Blues.
Pochettino was beginning to turn the club's fortunes around and ended the season with five straight wins to secure sixth place.
Like Southgate, he is available if the Old Trafford club decide to move on from Ten Hag in the coming weeks or months.
McKenna Might Still Be On United's Shortlist
Kieran McKenna was heavily linked with a switch to Manchester United, with talks held between both parties towards the end of last season.
But the Northern Irishman decided to stay at Portman Road for Town's first season back in the Premier League since the 2001/02 season.
McKenna (8/1) knows keeping Town in the top flight will be a massive challenge, but he will have very little pressure on him because of the job he has done.
Ipswich will likely lose more games than they win, which will be a new experience for McKenna.
If United decide to change their manager, McKenna might be willing to give it a crack.
Tuchel Reportedly Not Interested
It was reported in the summer that Thomas Tuchel was not interested in becoming Manchester United's next manager.
Perhaps the German already knows where his next job will be after his disastrous one season in charge of Bayern Munich, who finished third and failed to win a trophy for the first time in 12 years.
It could have been a better end to the season had Bayern not choked and conceded two late goals to Real Madrid in the closing stages of their Champions League semi-final, second leg.
Tuchel (9/1) has already won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and will weigh up all his options before deciding his next job.
Frank Might Fancy Old Trafford Job
Brentford finished their third Premier League season in 16th place, just two places above the relegation zone.
The 13-point gap meant relegation was never really an issue for the Bees, but it might suggest Thomas Frank has taken the club as far as he can.
Now that star striker Ivan Toney has left to play in Saudi Arabia, would Frank fancy a change of scenery at this stage of his career? The Dane (10/1) will continue to be linked with other jobs.
It's thought Brentford wouldn't stand in his way if Frank did decide to move on from the Bees, but could Old Trafford be his next port of call?
De Zerbi's Stay In Marseille Might Be Short
The Premier League lost one of its most popular managers when Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton and took the vacancy at Marseille, who have taken seven points from their first three games.
The Italian carried on the great work started by Graham Potter before him at the Amex Stadium, and guided the Seagulls to their first ever European adventure last season.
Ligue 1 doesn't have the same appeal as the Premier League and De Zerbi may feel he has unfinished business in England.
Would De Zerbi turn down the chance to manage United? Probably not. The Italian is 20/1 on betting apps.
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 25/1.
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 City and Brighton knows he is a sharp thinker who can combine style with results and his coaching acumen is not in doubt.
Zidane Stays On The List
Zinedine Zidane has been linked with United in the past, but he is 33/1 to make the move to Manchester.
The former France international won two Liga titles and three Champions Leagues across two spells at Real Madrid, where he proved adept at managing big personalities and keeping everyone happy.
Zidane’s tactical astuteness is often underestimated, but he is untested outside the unique environment of Madrid.
He has also been out of work for more than two years, which suggests he is not exactly in a rush to get back into management.
Ruben Amorim is also an outsider for the Old Trafford job at 33/1 on new betting sites.
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