Bet365 Share Manchester United Manager Odds; Antonio Conte In Frame

UK bookmaker Bet365 has stirred things by compiling a special on who will be the next Manchester United manager. The market details who will assume the Old Trafford hotseat as of January 1 2027, and there are a few familiar faces in the mix.

Former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is currently the short-priced favourite at 4/1, while ex-Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is tucked in just behind at 5/1.

Although there are lines floating about at other bookies, such as ‘Next Permanent Manchester United Manager’, the Bet365 market will likely fuel further rumours over whether Michael Carrick will keep his job in the New Year.

Stats don’t lie

Despite an impressive interim spell last term, United’s slump under Carrick this season has been alarming. The following statistics underpin their malaise:

• United have claimed just six points from their opening six league games this season, representing their fewest at this stage of a domestic campaign since 1986-87 when they picked up just four under Ron Atkinson before he was replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.
• The Red Devils have failed to win five of their six league games this season (D3 L2), which is already as many as in 17 league games under Carrick last term (W12 D3 L2).
• Points-wise, United are closer to the relegation zone than the Champions League spots.

Michael Carrick feeling the heat

While United are believed to have no immediate plans to chop and change, there is no disguising the fact that Carrick has come under increasing scrutiny.

The distinctly sub-par league performances have carried over into Europe, and in midweek, they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away to Atletico Madrid.

In the wake of the loss to Atletico, Lisandro Martinez launched a withering attack on United’s hierarchy and technical director Jason Wilcox’s supposed inability to invest in the squad over the summer. This, Martinez attested, left Carrick ill-equipped to deal with this season’s challenges, but the defender later issued an apology over his outburst.

Nevertheless, Martinez’s remarks has done little to deflect the heat away from Carrick, who, in the wake of the 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham last weekend, conceded he isn’t shying away from United’s grim reality.

He said:

“I’m not happy with the amount of points we’ve got so far, for sure, you know. I’m not hiding, there’s no hiding from that. We need to put things in a direction, in a positive direction quite quickly, that’s pretty plain.”

Who is in the mix?

As mentioned, Conte, who has been out of work since leaving Napoli in June, is leading the charge in the Bet365 manager special. Reports emerged this week that the Italian’s representatives had reached out to United to discuss the prospect of taking over if Carrick is deposed.

Meanwhile, ex-Newcastle boss Howe has been on United’s radar before, and he was mooted as a potential candidate when Erik ten Hag was sacked in 2024.

A look through the other names on the Bet365 list highlights several managers with plenty of experience, including Julian Nagelsmann at 10/1, while Mauricio Pochettino (20/1) and Carlo Ancelotti (25/1) are longer shots.

Next challenge

For United, a journey across the M62 to face Leeds in the Premier League on Sunday may have been the last thing they wanted. Ruben Amorim was sacked after the trip to West Yorkshire last season, and given Leeds’ impressive start to the campaign, Daniel Farke’s charges are unlikely to give Carrick any immediate respite.