Who is going to be the next manager of Manchester United? On May 8, 2013, Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary manager who had been at the helm of Manchester United for 26 seasons, announced his departure. Since then, the club has been on a steady decline, with the 23/24 season marking a new low for what many consider the biggest football club in the world. Therefore, the next Manchester United manager holds the key to the club's future, potentially leading them back to their former glory.

One glimmer of hope for United fans is the new ownership model, with the most notable figure being INEOS CEO Jim Ratcliffe, who is in charge of hiring the next permanent Manchester United manager. In a witty remark earlier in the season, pundit and United legend Gary Neville said that 'the club needs Daniel Ratcliffe, not Jim Ratcliffe.' His impact on the club will be telling either way.

Despite this season being shocking on almost every front, with the FA Cup run excluded, there were signs last year that United found their next permanent Man Utd manager in Erik Ten Hag. However, there is a consensus among many now that he simply has to go since they have lost 14 games in the league this season, and after two full seasons, it is difficult to put forward a case that there are signs of a plan in action.

Who are the potential candidates for the next permanent Manchester United manager? Let's look at the odds of the next Manchester United manager, available on the best betting sites.

Kieran McKenna began his management career with Tottenham Hotspur’s under-18’s side in 2015 before moving onto the Manchester United youth setup - which may mean he could make a surprise return. A fresh coach bursting with ideas, he could be what Manchester United need to improve their chances in the Premier League.  

The Englishman had since led Ipswich Town in a challenging EFL Championship season to promotion to the Premier League last season.

Photo by James Cracknell / CC BY 4.0 / Cropped from original

The Argentine had finished his spell at Chelsea in good form, but was ultimately chosen to be sacked by the London club. While not all was good at Chelsea, it could mean a different outcome for the Red Devils.

His time at Spurs showed his pedigree and that he can in fact succeed in the Premier League. United certainly could move for a manager of high quality and standard such as Mauricio Pochettino.

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Since joining Brighton, De Zerbi's style of play and fiery edge have made him a likely candidate for big jobs when they become available. Brighton has seen a heavy decline in form for the past few months, including being on the wrong side of a thumping in Europe from Roma. The Italian is also considered for the soon-to-be vacant Bayern Munich job, so if United want him, they will need to act very quickly.

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The German manager has been highly regarded for over a decade, but his potential appointment at Manchester United would be fraught with danger. He took over Bayern Munich towards the end of last season, and it's the first time in 11 seasons they have had to watch another team lift the Bundesliga instead of them.

He is undoubtedly a talented manager, but another thing that follows him is his reputation for being difficult to work with. Maybe his odds to be the next Manchester United manager don't represent good value though.

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The current England manager would be the most polarizing appointment the Manchester United board could make. We say this because of how he splits the English fan base. On the one hand, he has guided England to the semi-finals and finals of major tournaments, but there is always the feeling that Southgate could be better tactically. 

Considering the attacking talent at his disposal, many feel that other managers would get more from the squad. However, he is used to being part of the latest news, so he could handle the scrutiny of becoming the next Manchester United manager.

He also lacks the presence of Pep Guardiola or Liverpool's departing manager Klopp. Men that the Manchester United manager will inevitably be compared with.

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Brentford were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 2021 under the guidance of Thomas Frank, who has done a fantastic job establishing the side in the most competitive division in the world. 

He certainly plays the right brand of attacking football that should appeal to United fans, but he doesn't have the pedigree of the managers with whom he will inevitably be compared. 

Defensive Principles | Thomas Frank eŸ—￡??

Key Points a?‡??

a–a?? Playing with a Back 5.
a–a?? Creating an overload on the sides.
a–a?? WB-CB-CM (& DM) to create a 3v3/4v3.
a–a?? Defending with 3 in the box.
a–a?? Preventing balls into the middle.
a–a?? Can only switch the ball the long way around. pic.twitter.com/zc1hp0XIIl

— Tom Skeath (@tom_skeath) May 27, 2024

The 48-year-old who won plaudits for how his Brighton team played, which subsequently earned him the Chelsea job, has a unique story. Potter spent seven years with Swedish club ?stersund, where he took the reigns when they were in the fourth tier of Swedish football, and during his tenure, they ended up playing European football.

His time at Brighton might have been a success, but his reign at Chelsea was a disaster. It could be argued, however, that he inherited chaos at Chelsea, and a team like United could benefit from giving him a second chance. When betting on Manchester United's next manager, consider whether United will go for a man of Potter's pedigree.

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Although only 36 years old, Nagelsmann has already managed for the better part of eight seasons. 

The young German is so highly thought of that it was a surprise when Bayern pulled the trigger last season and sacked the talented manager. The next step was the German job, which, considering his age, would most likely be a temporary position. His German side are one of the favorites in the Euros, considering they are the hosts. If his German side performs well, the odds of him becoming the next Manchester United manager could increase. Could Bayern's loss be Manchester United's gain?

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Considering all of the Manchester United next manager odds above, Southgate is a solid bet since the rumors persist about his potential appointment. If England has an incredible Euros, his reputation will also be at an all-time high. Tuchel, however, is the manager with the highest pedigree, so it is also worth a bet if you think Manchester United will look to hire a top name.

Understandably, Manchester United is one of the most coveted jobs in world football. With a worldwide fanbase, it is one of the most scrutinized jobs in world football, along with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. You can check out MightyTips, as we cover all of the major teams in Europe.

The list of managers above does appear to be underwhelming, though. The elite managers in world football are already employed, and managers like Xabi Alonso are most likely waiting for other jobs to become available. Therefore, as Liverpool did with their appointment of Feyernood's Arne Slot, United might have to select a manager with a good reputation in the hope he can become a Manchester United legend.