Man United manager odds: Howe heads the market — and there’s a Dubliner at 50/1
Michael Carrick is still in charge at Old Trafford, but only just. bet365 have priced up who’ll be Manchester United manager on New Year’s Day, with Eddie Howe a 4/6 favourite and Brentford’s Keith Andrews flying the flag for Ireland among the outsiders.
- Howe 4/6 favourite
- Nagelsmann 5/2 the danger
- Keith Andrews 50/1
It has been a brutal week for Carrick, and the bookies have already started looking for his successor.
A 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como was followed by his captain, Bruno Fernandes, publicly questioning the tactics. Then on Sunday, with Fernandes left on the bench, Bournemouth came to Old Trafford and won 3-0. United are 16th, a point above the drop zone, with seven points from eight games — their worst start at this stage of a season since 1986/87 — and without a win in eight in all competitions.
Only five months ago, Carrick was handed the job permanently after taking United to third place last season. Now the question is not whether the club looks elsewhere, but who it turns to.
To be Man Utd manager on 1 January 2027
bet365 odds| Manager | Odds | Implied | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eddie Howe | 4/6 | 60% |
| 2 | Julian Nagelsmann | 5/2 | 29% |
| 3 | Antonio Conte | 7/1 | 12% |
| 4 | Kieran McKenna | 9/1 | 10% |
| 5 | Unai Emery | 10/1 | 9% |
| 6 | Michael Carrick | 12/1 | 8% |
| 7 | Gareth Southgate | 20/1 | 5% |
| 8 | Darren Fletcher | 25/1 | 4% |
| 9 | Fabian Hürzeler | 25/1 | 4% |
| 10 | Ruud van Nistelrooy | 33/1 | 3% |
| 11 | Cesc Fàbregas | 40/1 | 2% |
| 12 | Thomas Frank | 40/1 | 2% |
| 13 | Keith AndrewsIrish | 50/1 | 2% |
| 14 | Mauricio Pochettino | 50/1 | 2% |
| 15 | Ole Gunnar Solskjær | 50/1 | 2% |
Implied % is the rough chance the price suggests, before the bookmaker’s margin. Odds correct at the time of writing (26 October 2026) and subject to change. This market settles on the manager in charge on 1 January 2027 — check bet365’s rules on how caretaker appointments are treated. 18+. #AD.
Why is Eddie Howe such a short price?
At 4/6, Howe carries an implied chance of around 60%. He’s been out of work since stepping away from Newcastle in July after almost five years, during which he took them into the Champions League twice and won the 2025 Carabao Cup — the club’s first major trophy in 70 years. Reports suggest United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, rates him highly, and he’s been heavily backed since Sunday.
He’s also an option Roy Keane has previously named as his preferred choice for the United job, arguing the club needed a strong character to get a grip of the dressing room. Plenty in Ireland will listen to that.
Nagelsmann, Conte and the chasing pack
Julian Nagelsmann is the clear second favourite at 5/2. He stepped down as Germany head coach after the World Cup in the summer, so like Howe he could start straight away. Between them, the top two account for the large majority of the market’s implied chance.
Behind them, Antonio Conte (7/1) offers proven Premier League title-winning experience, Kieran McKenna (9/1) has history on United’s coaching staff, and Unai Emery (10/1) has Aston Villa going well again after their win over Manchester City — which arguably makes him harder to prise away. Carrick himself is 12/1 to still be in charge on New Year’s Day.
Keith Andrews at 50/1 is more than a novelty price — it shows how far the Dubliner’s reputation has travelled.
The Irish angle: Keith Andrews at 50/1
Andrews, a former Republic of Ireland international, was promoted to Brentford head coach in 2025 after Thomas Frank’s departure and has since agreed a new deal at the club. His Brentford side host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and he’s priced alongside Mauricio Pochettino and Ole Gunnar Solskjær in the betting.
Realistically, a move to Old Trafford before New Year’s Day would be a major surprise — he’s settled at Brentford and the market has him as roughly a 2% chance. But his name being in the conversation at all says plenty about how his work in west London is viewed.
Could a caretaker be in charge on 1 January?
This is the detail that’s easy to miss. The market isn’t about United’s next permanent manager — it’s about who is in charge on a fixed date. United have turned to interim bosses twice in the last two years: Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2024 and Darren Fletcher earlier this year. If Carrick goes and the club takes its time over a permanent appointment, one of them could be in the dugout on New Year’s Day. Fletcher is 25/1 and Van Nistelrooy 33/1 — but read the market rules first, as settlement on interim appointments can vary.
Howe is the most likely outcome
Available, experienced and reportedly favoured inside the club. Nagelsmann at 5/2 is the realistic alternative if United go for a bolder appointment.
These are opinions, not guarantees. Manager markets can turn on a single report, so if you do have a bet, keep the stake small and set it once.
What happens next?
United are at Chelsea on Saturday at 12.30pm. At the time of writing, it’s not clear whether Carrick will be in charge for that game. We’ll update the odds here as the market moves.
Bet with your head, not over it
Specials markets like this stay open for weeks and react to every rumour, which makes it tempting to keep adding small bets. Decide once what you’re comfortable spending, and set a deposit limit in your account before you start.
If betting is affecting your money, mood or relationships, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 936 725. In Northern Ireland, call 0808 8020 133 or visit BeGambleAware.org. Only bet with operators licensed in Ireland by the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland; deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion are available at responsiblegambling.bet365.com.
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