After yet another dismal week of football, it seems United have finally lost patience with manager Erik Ten Hag and he has been dismissed as of the morning of 28th October 2024. With United sitting 14th in the Premier League, taking just 11 points of a possible 27, and with an underwhelming start to their Europa League campaign where they have yet to manage a win, many will feel unsurprised by this decision, even confused as to how it went on this long. With assistant manager and former United star Ruud Van Nistelrooy taking charge for the time being, what do the next Manchester United manager odds say about who will take over at the Theatre of Dreams.

With an extensive list of names available to take on the job, but at a time when many might feel aggrieved that the challenge will come with an indescribable amount of pressure, there are four names at the top of the list according to BetVictor, at the time of writing.

Next Manchester United Manager Odds Update

In fourth place with odds of 6/1, meaning a £10 bet would pay out £70 if correct, is Xavi Hernandez. A midfield maestro in his day and former manager of Barcelona FC, his ‘Cruyff / Guardiola’ style of managing could suit a team without a real sense of purpose, and with photos of his son wearing a United kit emerging recently, rumour seems to have flooded the web that he has already made it clear that the opportunity would tempt him. In third place at slightly narrower odds of 5/1, with a £10 wager returning £60 if Ruben Amorim. The Sporting CP manager has an astonishing 70%+ win rate at all of his previous club appointments, however has never managed outside of Portugal so could be a wild card here. That said, his manager of the year accolade in 2024 will have the caught the attention of the United board, and he certainly would be a breath of fresh air to a club in need of one. In second place at 35/10, with the same £10 bet paying £45 if correct, is the former England manager Gareth Southgate. Long rumoured as Ten Hag’s replacement and now freed up from his international duties after the Euros this summer, his style of management may appear a little too ‘light’ for a club in need of a strong hand, however his knowledge of players like Rashford, Shaw, Mainoo, Maguire and others as England international stars, could give him a strong edge to take the job now it has become available. Top of the pecking order and with odds of just 2/5, meaning a £10 wager would pay out £14, is the interim manager himself, Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Despite only being with United a short time and having had the least amount of managerial experience of the list, his knowledge of the players’ and his legendary status within the club would more than likely see him as a favourite of the fans and accepted as a full-time replacement for Ten Hag.

Whoever takes the role and gets the nod from Ratcliffe and the board will have a difficult task on their hands, to take a once unstoppable force back from the brink to the top once more. With Premier League betting odds showing them firmly out the race and even Europa League odds knocking them down from their previous 2nd favourites position behind Tottenham, the next manager will have to not only appease a weary set of fans, but also a board that are eager to reverse the club’s run of fortunes as much for status as sponsor approvals. Stay tuned to see what happens next at Manchester United ahead of the Wednesday kick-off at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup to Leicester City. 

Next Manchester United manager odds preview

How do you value a football club?

With the latest Manchester United news hitting headlines this week as Jim Ratcliffe is set to confirm a purchase of 25% for a huge £1.5bn, many fans are less than happy at feeling nothing will change and wondering just how the Glazers have justified reportedly holding out for more money.

When it comes to justifying the price of a football club, it’s not always as straightforward as looking at their profit/loss sheets or stock price. While recent years performances and achievements in terms of silverware are certainly a steer, the true value is based on an amalgamation of many different metrics, including just a few of the below:

The team itself:

• The assets the club owns (e.g. Stadium and training grounds)
• The advertising income at this moment in time (Sponsorships and TV Rights)
• The potential global reach – something that can help determine future profitability

So with United’s team having performed under target recently and needing a huge investment to repair the stadium, can their advertising base and global reach actually justify United’s price tag? As recent as May, Forbes declared United the second most valuable club in the world, behind Real Madrid, but what is more surprising perhaps, is that the valuation they gave was for $6bn, and with the reported bid estimated at £1.5bn for 25%, does this now make United the most valuable team in the world, despite so many repairs needed and a perpetual lack of recent trophies, excluding February’s Carabao Cup win, that have led many to forecast that the next Manchester United manager odds may soon be buzzing?

In the end, maybe it is just as simple as sticking a finger in the air and seeing which way the wind blows. Whatever United’s form has shown, their value is entirely based on what people think they are worth, and with decades of successes and an enviable ability to secure some of the most lucrative advertising deals in the world, maybe United are worth as much as Ratcliffe’s bid suggests. Whatever the reality, if their next matches, United vs Sheffield United or vs FC Copenhagen go against them, perhaps the question will still be buzzing about, how do you value a football club and did Ratcliffe get this one wrong. 

Find out more BetVictor next football manager odds here.