With Ed Still lasting just three months at Vicarage Road, the next Watford manager odds market has been published here on BetVictor.
Still only replaced Javi Gracia in February but oversaw a poor run of results towards the end of the campaign. The final day 4-0 drubbing by Coventry was deemed the last straw and the Hornets wasted little time in giving Still his P45.
The Belgian-born boss won just three of his 15 EFL Championship games in charge of the Hertfordshire side. The last of those wins came against Wrexham in the middle of March. Since then, Still picked up just two points from 24 and lost his last five in charge.
Now, the Hornets are on the lookout for a new gaffer to fill the dugout in 2026-27. The next Watford manager odds market already contains a number of big names who could potentially replace Still in the new season. Here at BetVictor News, we take a closer look at the early frontrunners.
Next Watford Manager Odds: Former Cardiff Boss Erol Bulut The Early 2/1 Favourite
As it stands, Erol Bulut is the 2/1 favourite to become the 24th Watford manager in the Pozzo era, which began in 2012. EFL fans will recall Bulut’s topsy-turvy stint at Cardiff between June 2023 and September 2024. Which did include some memorable derby-day victories over Swansea.
The Turkish boss had a 36.21% win rate with the Bluebirds having won 21 of his 58 games in charge across all competitions but was sacked after a poor start to the 2024-25 campaign. Bulut was most recently at Antalyaspor.
Russell Martin, Scott Parker, John Mousinho And Liam Rosenior All In The Running For The Watford Job
Russell Martin – who is 6/1 in the next Leicester manager odds market – is the second favourite for the Watford gig. At the time of publication, the former Southampton and Rangers boss can be backed at 5/1.
Elsewhere, Scott Parker, John Mousinho and recently-fired Chelsea gaffer Liam Rosenior can all be backed at 6/1. The former would arguably be the fans first choice having won promotion at this level with Bournemouth, Burnley and Fulham.
Could Steven Gerrard, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Or Ruud Van Nistelrooy Be Named As The New Watford Manager?
For those who like some stronger value when it comes to Championship betting on who will be named as Watford’s new manager, a trio of Premier League legends are all in the mix. Despite being odds on to take the Burnley job, Steven Gerrard is available at 12/1.
Former Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is available at 8/1 but one of the outsiders is none other than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian can be backed at 16/1 and interestingly, he lost the Man United job having been thumped 4-1 by Watford back in November 2021.
*odds correct at the time of publication, May 5, 2026.
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