Next Man Utd Manager: Carrick 13/8 as Red Devils go fourth with win over Arsenal

• Michael Carrick the favourite after stunning start to life at Old Trafford

• Former United midfielder has beaten City and Arsenal in first two matches

• Glasner to quit Palace and is second favourite for Old Trafford job

• View the latest odds for Man Utd Manager for start of 2026-27 season here

• Safe Sub is here for the 2025-26 season - read all about it!

Monday 26 January - Carrick 13/8 fav to lead United into the 2026-27 season

Michael Carrick is 13/82.63 favourite to get the permanent job as Manchester United manager for the next season after his team beat Arsenal 3-2 on Sunday.

In one of the games of the Premier League season so far, Matheus Cunha sealed a famous victory for United with a stunning late strike. 

The result means United are fourth in the Premier League and 5/42.25 to end the season there. It followed last weekend's 2-0 win over Manchester City in Carrick's first game in charge as caretaker manager.

Oliver Glasner is 11/43.75 second-favourite to get the United manager's job but, at present, all the momentum is with Carrick.

At the Emirates United were once again a team transformed, with players looking liberated after the end of the miserable Ruben Amorim era.  Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu both scored for the second match in succession and Cunha played like a man determined to show what he could do when coming off the bench in the second-half. 

United came from behind, after Arsenal went 1-0 up in the first-half, and pushed for a late-winner after Arsenal made it 2-2 in the 84th minute. Carrick has got United playing with the self-belief and conviction that was so lacking during Amorim's reign and, if it continues, the chances of him getting the job permanently will increase. 

Their next match is at home to seventh-placed Fulham on Sunday. After beating Man City and Arsenal, the top two in the Premier League, it will be fascinating to see if United can win against a team that is likely to take a more defensive approach.

Monday 19 January - Carrick gets 42% of next Man U manager bets

Michael Carrick is by far the most popular candidate in the Betfair Sportsbook market on the next permanent Manchester United manager market. 

Carrick, who got off to a dream start with a 2-0 win over Manchester City on Saturday, is 9/25.50 to get the job. He has received 42% of the bets.

The current favourite, Oliver Glasner 6/52.20, comes next with 24% of the bets and you can read more about his future in today's Next Premier League Manager to Leave betting update.

Roberto De Zerbi 25/126.00 has attracted 19% of the bets. The Italian is currently the manager of Ligue 1 side Marseille. Reports today said United had spoken to the former-Brighton boss who impressed during his time with the Seagulls.  

Saturday 17 January - Glasner to quit Palace and goes fav for United job

Oliver Glasner is the new favourite to lead Manchester United out on the first game of next season after he declared in Friday's pre-match press conference that he would be leaving Crystal Palace at the end of the current campaign.

Glasner's contract is coming to an end with Palace, and after Friday's announcement he has been cut from 11/26.50 to 6/52.20 to become United's manager for the start of next season.

Current interim manager Michael Carrick - who has been as short as 4/71.57 - is out to 9/25.50 to still be in charge for the first game of the 2026/27 campaign, while Gareth Southgate remains 6/17.00 third favourite.

Carrick's price remains unchanged despite a winning start to his interim role thanks to an excellent 2-0 win over Man City in the Manchester derby on Saturday. It was a dominant performance by the Red Devils but it doesn't get any easier for Carrick with his second game in charge being a trip to league leaders Arsenal next weekend.

Thursday 15 January - Betfair launch specials on Carrick's Man Utd

Michael Carrick could not have a tougher start to his tenure as Manchester United's caretaker manager and Betfair's new specials markets make him 15/82.88 to lose his opening two matches.

The Red Devils host Manchester City on Saturday before travelling to Arsenal the following weekend. That's two matches against the Premier League's top two.

Beyond that they host Fulham and the Reds are 10/111.91 to conceded six or more goals across the three fixtures. Think the attack will click under Carrick? United are 9/43.25 to score six across the same matches.

Despite a tough opening run of matches, the market fancies Carrick's chances of getting the job permanently. He is 8/111.73 to be in charge for the first game of next season and 7/24.50 to lead them to a trophy in 2026/27.

United currently sit seventh in the Premier League but are 5/16.00 to finish in the top four - an outcome that would give Carrick a good chance of getting the permanent manager's role.

Wednesday 14 January - Southgate 6/17.00 as he becomes most backed

Former England manager Gareth Southgate has shortened to 6/17.00 third favourite to be the man to lead Manchester United out in their first game of next season, and he's currently the 'most backed' manager on the Betfair Sportsbook.

Of all the bets taken since it emerged that Michael Carrick would be the club's interim manager for the remainder of this season, 28% of them have been on Southgate.

One possible reason for the flurry of bets on the 55-year-old is that joining Carrick as an assistant manager is Steve Holland, who has a long friendship with Southgate and was his assistant for more than 10 years at England U-21 and Senior level.

Should United decide to end Carrick's reign at the end of the season, but retain the services of Holland, then Southgate would be a logical choice to team back up with his long-time friend.

Carrick remains favourite at 8/131.61 to be in charge of first team affairs at the start of next season and he has received 15% of all bets on the market, just one percent shy of Xabi Alonso who is currently the favourite to become the next permanent Liverpool manager should they make a change. The former Real Madrid and Liverpool player is 10/111.00 to lead out United next season.

Percentage of bets received to be United's manager at the start of 2026/27 season:

- Gareth Southgate (28%)
- Xabi Alonso (16%)
- Michael Carrick (15%)
- Oliver Glasner (11%)
- Thomas Tuchel (6%)
- Luis Enrique (5%)
- Mauricio Pochettino (5%)
- Roberto de Zerbi (3%)

Tuesday 13 January - Caretaker Carrick 4/71.57 to get permanent job

Michael Carrick is 4/71.57 to be the next permanent Manchester United manager after the club confirmed he will be in charge for the rest of the 2025/26 season.

The former-Middlesbrough boss will bring with him ex-England assistant manager Steve Holland as his number two. Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion will also join Carrick's coaching staff.

His first game in charge will be Saturday's derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

How United perform in Carrick's 17 Premier League fixtures will determine his chances of getting the permanent job in the summer. 

Darren Fletcher, who took charge for two matches after the sacking of Ruben Amorim last week, said United's target was to finish in the top four. They are 6/17.00 to achieve that and currently sit seventh in the table. 

A top six finish, which would see United qualify for Europe next season, is 5/42.25.

If not Carrick then who for next permament Man Utd manager?

If Carrick's interim tenure is unsuccessful, who will United appoint in the summer?

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is 11/26.50 second favourite. The Austrian appears to be at a crossroads and has seemed unhappy with the club's transfer policy since last summer. Palace's FA Cup third round defeat to non-league Macclesfield on Saturday will have done nothing to help the situtation.

Thomas Tuchel is 10/111.00. United are said to have spoken to the German in the summer of 2024 but decided against appointing him. Would they want him in 2026 and would he want the job? His current focus is on taking England to the World Cup in North America in the summer.

Xabi Alonso is [10/1] after he was sacked by Real Madrid yesterday. His more likely destination is Anfield where the Spaniard is 5/42.25 to be the next Liverpool manager.

For now, all eyes are on Carrick and fans are desperate to see if he can make an impact in his first match this Saturday. Read a full preview of Man Utd v Man City and get the best bets on Betting.Betfair later this week.

Please Note: Our Manchester United manager market refers to who will be the manager of the club for the first game of the 2026/27 season and not who will be appointed as United's interim manager in the coming days/weeks.

Monday 12 January - Carrick to be caretaker and 1/21.50 to get permanent job

Michael Carrick is 1/21.50 to be the next permanent Manchester United manager amid reports that he will be the club's caretaker boss for the rest of he 2025/26 season. 

The odds refer to the market on who will be in charge for the first game of 2026/27. The market is not about the caretaker role. 

Carrick, who played for United from 2006 to 2018 and worked at the club as a coach under Jose Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is reportedly set to be confirmed on a contract until the end of the season.

He and Solskjaer were both interviewed by the club and it was reported on Sunday, following United's FA Cup third round defeat to Brighton, that the ex-England midfielder was the favoured candidate. 

He previoulsy managed United for three matches as caretaker in 2021 and was Middlesbrough boss from 2022 to 2025, leaving last summer. 

After exiting the EFL Cup and FA Cup at the first opportunity, and having no European football, United's sole focus for the remainder of 2025/26 will be the Premier League.

They are seventh after 21 matches and, despite their inconsistency, are only three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

United are 5/42.25 to finish in the top six and 6/17.00 for the top four. If they were to qualify for Europe, Carrick would be in with a shot of getting the manager's job permanently. He has 17 games to make his mark.

Solskjaer is the second favourite at 4/15.00, although if United were not willing to appoint him on a temporary basis it seems unlikely that they would want him permanently.

England boss Thomas Tuchel is 12/113.00 but has indicated that he would like to remain in charge of the national team beyond this summer's World Cup. 

Oliver Glasner, whose Crystal Palace crashed out of the FA Cup against Macclesfield on Saturday, is 14/115.00.

Saturday 10 January - Solskjaer's price unchanged ahead of face-to-face talks

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains the 6/42.50 favourite to be Manchester United's manager on the first day of next season despite reports that the 52-year-old is set to have face-to-face talks with the club on Saturday.

It is thought that the club want an interim manager in charge for next week's Manchester derby and that it will be either Solskjaer or Michael Carrick - who has already had talks with the United hierarchy - that will get the role.

Solskjaer took up a similar role after United sacked Jose Mourinho in 2019 before he was given the job on a permanent basis after a good set of results. He was sacked by the Old Trafford club in November 2021.

Carrick is the third favourite to be in charge of United on the first day of next season at 15/28.50 behind Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner at 5/23.50. Glasner is out of contract at Palace at the end of the season and is thought to be high on United's shortlist to become their next permanent manager.

Please Note: Our Manchester United manager market refers to who will be the manager of the club for the first game of the 2026/27 season and not who will be appointed as United's interim manager in the coming days/weeks.

Friday 9 January - Solskjaers drift but remains fav before Brighton tie

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer drifted to 6/42.50 from evens in the next Manchester United manager betting but remains the favourite to be in charge at Old Trafford next season. 

Meanwhile, as Darren Fletcher prepares United for their FA Cup third round tie against Brighton on Sunday, the Football...Only Bettor podcast team have previewed the match and had their say on the managerial vacancy at Old Trafford. 

Listen to the episode and get the panel's best bets.

Wednesday 6 January - From Oliver to Ole, Solskjaer even money for Old Trafford hotseat

Former Old Trafford hero, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the clear favourite to lead Manchester United at the start of next season.

The club legend, who has both played for and managed the club, has superseded Oliver Glasner at the top of the betting following news that Solskjaer and former United midfielder Michael Carrick are set for talks about taking on the caretaker role until the end of the season. 

Solskjaer is the evens favourite to manage the club in the first game of the 2026-27 season, Carrick is 18/119.00. 

Another ex-Utd player, Darren Fletcher, will take charge of the club for tonight's clash with Burnley. 

Tuesday 6 January - Palace's Glasner favourite to get Man Utd job

Oliver Glasner is the new favourite on the Betfair Sportsbook to become the next Manchester United manager following yesterday's sacking of Ruben Amorim.

As the club began their search for a permanent successor, Crystal Palace boss Glasner shortened to 2/13.00, overtaking previous favourite Enzo Maresca, who drifted to 17/29.50, in the market. 

Darren Fletcher 9/110.00 will be in charge for United's Premier League trip to Burnley on Wednesday evening. Contrary to reports in the immediate aftermath of Amorim's sacking, however, it is not certain that the Scot will be the caretaker manager for the remainder of the season.

United could put a caretaker in place to see out the 2025/26 campaign - ex-Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has been mentioned as a possibility - before making a permanent appointment in the summer. Or they could get Amorim's longterm successor in place before then. It remains to be seen. 

For now, Glasner is the leading candidate, according to the market. He has impressed during his Palace reign which began in 2024 and included winning the FA Cup last season. The club are on a poor run but the Austrian's achievements at Selhurst Park over the past two seasons will make him of interest to the Old Trafford hierarchy.

Like Amorim, however, Glasner favours the 3-4-3 formation and has expressed frustration at his own club's transfer policy. Whoever manages United next will need to be comfortable working within the club's structure.  

So far, Glasner and Fletcher have receive the most bets in the next Man Utd manager market, with the pair receiving 17% each. Gareth Southgate is 13/27.50 but has 16% of the bets. 

Monday was a big day for managers. Celtic sacked Wilfried Nancy and Liam Rosenoir said he had reached a verbal agreement with Chelsea to become their new boss.

Monday 5 January - Man Utd sack Ruben Amorim

Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim after he criticsed his bosses following the team's 1-1 draw with Leeds on Sunday. 

The club brought to an end the Portuguese's 14-month reign and said that Darren Fletcher will be in charge until the end of the season. The Scot is 6/42.50 to see the campaign through.

United will then appoint a permanent manager. Enzo Maresca 5/23.50 is the current favourite, with Fletcher 10/34.33 and Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner 4/15.00.  

Ex-Barcelona boss Xavi 9/110.00 is the only other candidate at single figure odds in the market.

Maresca was sacked by Chelsea on New Year's Day and has been mooted as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola if he leaves Manchester City in the summer.

Betfair opened special markets on Fletcher's United tenure. 

His first match in charge is against Burnley on Wednesday. You can get 12/113.00 on the Scot winning his first three matches in charge - a bigger price than the 4/15.00 available on them failing to win all three.

Another season of chaos at Man Utd

Amorim leaves United sixth in the Premier League - and priced at 11/102.11 for a top six finish and 11/26.50 to crack the top four on the Betfair Sportsbook. 

He has the worst win ratio of any United manager in the Premier League era and is unlikely to be missed by fans who were frustrated by his tactical stubborness.

Of ever present teams during his 14 months in charge, only three Premier League clubs won fewer points. Only three conceded more goals.

United finished 15th in the league this season and though their current position indicates a more sucessful campaign they have been dire at times. 

The draw at Leeds followed a 1-1 at home to bottom club Wolves. 

Fans will, however, be dismayed to see the club lapsing into chaos again. Amorim arrived in November last season, meaning the remainder of 2024/25 was a write-off, and now they are changing their manager again.

Relations between Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox reportedly made the Portuguese's position untenable.

His exit comes just months after the club's part owner Jim Ratcliffe said Amorim would get three years to prove himself as United manager. Now his departure marks another miserable chapter in United's recent history.

He was regarded as one of the rising stars of European coaching when he took over in 2024. But the same was true of his predecessor Erik ten Hag. United are getting a reputation for ruining managers and players.

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