23 Favourites to Replace Amorim

Manchester United parted ways with Ruben Amorim in early January following a run of just four wins in the Red Devils’ previous 11 matches across all competitions. The Old Trafford faithful were already split in opinion over his appointment back in November 2024, and his time in the Premier League flashed before him following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United to start the new year.

Replacing Erik ten Hag at the helm of Manchester United, the Portuguese head coach wanted to wait until the summer to depart Sporting CP and join the Red Devils – but, according to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS-led team, it was simple: now or never. But it quickly became apparent that more and more were leaning towards the negative outlook of their new boss as things hadn’t gone swimmingly since.

Losing the Europa League final aside, the league form since he arrived has been nothing short of abysmal – and after a hodgepodge start to the 2025/26 campaign, which saw United win eight of their opening 20 Premier League games, lose to Grimsby Town in the League Cup, and not really improve since, Michael Carrick has been called up to take over on an interim basis until the end of the season.

Who will call the shots from the Old Trafford dugout long-term, however, remains a mystery. That’s why Sky Bet have released the odds for who will be Man United manager at the start of the 2026/27 campaign.

20-15

Xavi, Unai Emery, and Mauricio Pochettino all feature

Sebastian Hoeness would be an excellent fit for Man United due to his proven ability to transform teams and implement an exciting, balanced style of play. At VfB Stuttgart, he remarkably rescued the club from relegation danger, then guided them to a stunning second-place Bundesliga finish and Champions League qualification in the 2023/24 campaign.

A name that has long been on the radar of the Premier League behemoths is Xavi, who has stayed loyal to Barcelona since first joining the famed La Masia academy in 1991. A master of tiki taka football, he briefly served as the Catalan giants’ boss between 2021 and 2024, where he helped them win a La Liga title. But, given the fact his tenure came to an end thanks to disagreements with the hierarchy, it may not be wise for INEOS to take that risk given their own deficiencies.

Like every manager in this section, Carlo Ancelotti has also been handed odds of 33/1, but the fact he will be taking charge of Brazil for the upcoming World Cup likely means he wouldn’t entertain any advances until at least the end of July. Similarly, Mauricio Pochettino, who has managed Spurs and Chelsea in the Premier League, is unlikely to move away from his post in charge of the United States, given that the country will host the upcoming tournament.

Could Zinedine Zidane return to the touchline after becoming a managerial sensation at Real Madrid? His Champions League three-peat proves the Frenchman can operate at the highest level and someone of his expertise would be welcomed with open arms at Old Trafford – but it’s a question of whether he’d be up with the challenge given the downturn of talent at his disposal.

Unai Emery would need no time to adapt to the trials and tribulations of Premier League life, given his success at Villa Park with Aston Villa. The talented Spaniard has been mooted with a switch from Birmingham to Manchester. At face value, Emery’s current project at Villa is much more promising, even if PSR problems saw the Midlands club have a quiet summer in the latest transfer window.

14-8

Eddie Howe is the 11th favourite to lead United in the 2026/27 campaign

Newcastle United have had to give the Eddie Howe project a lot of patience over the last four years, but it has resulted in a steady stream of success in the North East. Whether or not the United hierarchy would offer him the same time is a difficult question in itself, but he’s currently the 11th favourite to take on the role as he may wish to leave the PSR-strapped Magpies behind.

His position in the betting list means he is more favoured than former Brighton head honcho Roberto de Zerbi, the young and hungry Cesc Fabregas, and Fulham’s Marco Silva, who is still yet to sign a new deal at Craven Cottage, meaning he could well be an easy option for the Red Devils to pursue should they wish.

Before Carrick’s interim appointment, Darren Fletcher appeared on the list as well, but has since been replaced by struggling West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, whose odds currently sit at 28/1.

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Should Ratcliffe wish to appoint someone who knows the insides of Carrington and Old Trafford better, though, he might turn to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was recently sacked by Turkish side Besiktas and is now unattached. But INEOS are unlikely to gain much success out of sticking to oldfangled ways, so Ole probably won’t get another spell at the wheel.

Reports emerged recently that Luis Enrique was considering his next move after being offered a record-breaking contract at Paris Saint-Germain. Of course, the Spaniard’s mind will be fully focused on retaining the Champions League crown, but could Man Utd tempt him away in the summer? It’s unlikely, given he’s also linked with Liverpool, but a job the size of Old Trafford’s rescue mission could see his odds of 20/1 slashed in the coming months if he is as ambitious as he makes out to be.

7-1

Oliver Glasner and Michael Carrick among the clear favourites

Next up is Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth, who raised eyebrows upon his arrival on the south coast before becoming one of the top managers in the Premier League last season. United are currently tipped at odds of 20/1 to snatch him from the Cherries’ grasp, which could see him thrive with better funding than he’s currently given at the Vitality Stadium.

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Former England boss Gareth Southgate’s culture-building masterclass could be welcomed at Old Trafford if push comes to shove. Albeit tactically restricted, Southgate has experience of managing in the English top flight, but supporters would be totally against his appointment given his relative lack of silverware in charge of the Three Lions. He has odds of 16/1, which are slightly worse than that of Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann’s 12/1.

Xabi Alonso’s stance on joining Liverpool’s arch rivals has already been previously revealed after he recently stepped down from his position at Real Madrid on his own terms. It’s surprising, then, that he remains fifth favourite to join an even mroe toxic environment, while Thomas Tuchel – hoping to lead England to an elusive second World Cup – is fourth favourite with odds of 10/1

Oliver Glasner is the epitome of a big-game manager, and that was proven in recent back-to-back triumphs at Wembley Stadium, which saw Crystal Palace win their first-ever major honour in the form of an FA Cup before then also claiming the Community Shield. His ability to work with what he’s got could be a major draw and the Austrian, formerly a manager in the Bundesliga, is priced at 11/2, with him having already announced he will be leaving Selhurst Park once his contract expires in the summer.

Albeit fondly remembered as being one of the most underrated players in the history of the Premier League, Michael Carrick’s time at Middlesbrough ended with a fizzle following a run of 16 wins in his first 23 matches in charge. During his time as caretaker at Old Trafford in the liminal period between Ole and Ralf Rangnick, he oversaw three wins from three, which has earned him a role as interim boss this time around.

With the United hierarchy’s next move remaining a mystery, it seems as though many punters are backing the retired midfielder to produce the goods and get given a full-time role between now and the end of the season, with odds that his interim role becoming longer than it currently is made out to be standing at 8/13.

All betting odds per Sky Bet – correct as of 13/01/2026.