Erik ten Hag is the favourite to be the next Premier League manager to depart this season, with online bookmakers pricing him at 1/2 to get the chop. Manchester United, under ten Hag’s leadership, have had their worst start to a season in 35 years, securing just eight points from their first seven matches and currently sitting 14th in the Premier League table.
Despite a promising opening match victory against Fulham, Manchester United has struggled to maintain momentum, with their only other league win coming against Southampton. The team’s performance has also been lacklustre in cup competitions, prompting Premier League betting sites to push their title odds out to 150/1.
Criticism of ten Hag’s managerial capabilities began to emerge last season when Manchester United finished in eighth place in the Premier League, 31 points behind the champions. However, a victory in the FA Cup final over City earned ten Hag a contract extension until 2026 and significant funds for player signings in the summer, bringing his total spending to £616m.
Despite facing a rash of early-season injuries, ten Hag’s future at Manchester United hangs in the balance as the team faces crucial fixtures against Brentford, Fenerbahce, West Ham, and Leicester in the coming weeks. Wolves manager Gary O’Neil stands as the next in line in the sack race odds, priced at 4/1 after a poor start to the season, while Southampton’s Russell Martin’s odds have also shortened due to a lacklustre performance so far.
Other Premier League managers such as Oliver Glasner, Sean Dyche, and Julen Lopetegui are also under scrutiny with odds of 20/1, highlighting the competitive nature of the league. Despite initial struggles, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has seen his odds in the sack race market rise to 25/1 along with Leicester’s Steve Cooper.
Interestingly, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has been priced at 25/1 by BetVictor to be the next manager to leave, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. Betting sites strive to offer a safe platform for online gambling, but remind users to gamble responsibly and seek help if needed from organisations such as GambleAware or Gamblers Anonymous.