Next Manchester United manager odds: Oliver Glasner early favourite ahead of Gareth Southgate

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·5 January 2026

Next Manchester United manager odds: Oliver Glasner early favourite ahead of Gareth Southgate

Mauricio Pochettino among other early names linked after Ruben Amorim sacked following explosive press conference

Oliver Glasner has quickly emerged as the early bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Ruben Amorim as Manchester United manager, ahead of Gareth Southgate.

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Amorim was sacked from his role at Old Trafford after only 14 months in charge on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after a fiery press conference that followed a 1-1 draw at rivals Leeds in the Premier League.

The angry Portuguese had cast serious doubt over his long-term future at United as he told the scouting department and sporting director to “do their jobs” amid reports of escalating tensions behind the scenes.

Amorim has now been relieved of his duties and former long-serving midfielder Darren Fletcher - now the Under-18s coach - has been placed in caretaker charge for Wednesday night’s trip to Burnley in the Premier League.

Glasner is the initial bookies’ favourite to replace Amorim, having performed wonders at Crystal Palace since replacing Roy Hodgson and delivered both the FA Cup and Community Shield to Selhurst Park, where he is out of contract in the summer and not expected to sign an extension.

Southgate, meanwhile, has been out of work since stepping down from England after eight years in charge following their agonising defeat by Spain in the final of Euro 2024, with his only experience of senior club management to date coming during a three-year stint at Middlesbrough between 2006-09.

However, he was previously linked with the United job after Erik ten Hag was sacked in October 2024 and is said to be admired by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Other contenders in the early odds include ex-Tottenham and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, mentioned in connection with United plenty in the past and currently in charge of the United States national team ahead of a home World Cup in the summer.

Also figuring prominently in the betting are Unai Emery, who has turned Aston Villa into title contenders, plus Barcelona legend Xavi, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Real Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane, ex-United defender Laurent Blanc and Fulham’s Marco Silva, as well as Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Amorim is the second Premier League manager to depart already in the early stages of 2026, with Enzo Maresca leaving Chelsea on New Year’s Day after a souring of his relationship with the club hierarchy.

There should be no overlap in their respective coaching searches, however, with the Blues looking poised to appoint Liam Rosenior from sister club Strasbourg this week.