Next Manchester United Manager: Tuchel The New Favourite
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Manchester United's season took another turn for the worse after they were humiliated 4-0 at Crystal Palace, to leave the Red Devils eighth in the Premier League table.
Their hopes of qualifying for European football next season come down to two permutations. Win the FA Cup and they qualify for the Europa League.
If their neighbours Manchester City win the FA Cup, then the teams that finish fifth and sixth qualify for the Europa League while the seventh-placed team will play in the Europa Conference League.
Based on the way they have been playing, betting sites don't expect United to win the FA Cup final against Pep Guardiola's side at Wembley on Saturday, May 25.
Erik ten Hag could still make it back-to-back seasons with a trophy, after lifting the Carabao Cup last season. But it's hard to see them beating Manchester City in this year's FA Cup final.
Will Ten Hag be in charge of United next season? Bookmakers continue to have their say on who could replace the Dutchman if he leaves his role.
Former United defender Paul Parker believes the Dutchman deserves more time to continue the work he has started at Old Trafford.
"It (winning the FA Cup) would definitely give him something to say: look at what I’ve done, look at what I’ve achieved in my time with the club," Parker exclusively told Gambling.com.
"With last season, getting to two finals, getting into the Champions League, that would definitely give him something to flap in the faces of the hierarchy.
"He should get the opportunity to actually work for Manchester United. And the opportunity to be able to get what he wants, and the club owe him the opportunity to do that by getting rid of the deadwood."
If Ten Hag gets to stay in charge for a third season, then Parker says he needs to be backed in the summer transfer window by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who completed his deal to buy a 27.7% stake in the Old Trafford club in February.
Parker wants Ratcliffe to give the manager the best chance of succeeding next season, which the defender feels hasn't been the case in recent seasons.
"He (Ratcliffe) has to (back the manager in the transfer market)," Parker told Gambling.com.
"There’s no point in Ten Hag continuing to get last minute deals, and he (Ratcliffe) needs the people who have been brought into those departments to give the manager the best players available with the right characteristics.
“To play for Manchester United you need to be top calibre, and the club needs to bring in players who have the right mental strength and can hit the ground running, which is something they haven’t done in recent seasons.”
Ten Hag has just over 12 months left on his current deal and the arrival of Ratcliffe as new part owner could lead to the Red Devils making major changes in the summer.
So, who will be United’s next permanent manager? Remember, this market remains valid even if Ten Hag stays put for four or five years, although many are beginning to wonder whether he will still be in place by the end of the season.
Tuchel Now The New Favourite
Domestically, it has been a season to forget for Bayern Munich, whose 11-year dominance of the Bundesliga was surrendered weakly to Bayer Leverkusen, who were crowned champions with a handful of games to play.
There is a chance Bayern could finish the season third in the table, but there is also a chance they could win the Champions League.
If that happens, it would be the second time Thomas Tuchel will have led a team to glory in that competition, after the German guided Chelsea to success in 2021.
That's a pretty good CV to have and it might just be enough for the United board to replace Ten Hag with Tuchel, who is now the 7/4 favourite on football betting sites.
Southgate's Odds Begin To Drift
Gareth Southgate has a busy summer ahead of him as he narrows his squad down to 26 for this summer's European Championship in Germany.
Southgate has been the long-time favourite for the Old Trafford job, but the 53-year-old's odds have drifted a little on betting apps and he is now the 5/2 second favourite.
The former defender will hope he can lead his side out for the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday, July 14, which wouldn't give him much time to start work at United ahead of their season opener on the weekend of August 17.
This could be Southgate's last major tournament as England manager and a return to club management could be next on his agenda.
But after 11 years in charge of the national side, he might want to take a break before returning to the day-to-day grind of club management.
Interest In Potter Is Fading
Graham Potter's odds of becoming the next Manchester United manager have gone from 3/1 to 6/1 in the last couple of weeks.
Potter had been the second favourite to return to management at Old Trafford after United's narrow escape against Coventry in their FA Cup semi-final, but he has since drifted.
Potter's coaching acumen is not in doubt. Anyone who witnessed his work at Swansea City and Brighton knows he is a sharp thinker who can combine style with results.
Unlike Southgate, Potter is available now and bookmakers regard the Englishman as one of the candidates for the role.
Aston Villa
Tottenham Hotspur
De Zerbi Deserves To Be Considered
It was always going to be a tough campaign for Brighton and their manager Roberto De Zerbi, as they juggled the Premier League fixtures with their first ever European adventure.
League results suffered as the routine of playing on Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons gradually took its toll.
Qualifying for European football next season looks beyond the Seagulls, but that should not take away from the good work the Italian has done at the Amex Stadium.
He is clearly a good manager and United are one of many clubs that would be interested in taking the Italian off Brighton's hands, but a price of 10/1 means they could face stiff competition for his signature from Newcastle United.
Zidane Stays High On The List
Zinedine Zidane has been linked with United in the past, but he is 12/1 to make the move to Manchester.
The former France international won two Liga titles and three Champions Leagues across two spells at Real Madrid, where he proved adept at managing big personalities and keeping everyone happy.
Zidane’s tactical astuteness is often underestimated, but he is untested outside the unique environment of Madrid.
He has also been out of work for more than two years, which suggests he is not exactly in a rush to get back into management.
Would Emery Leave Villa For United?
Unai Emery remains in the conversation and the Spaniard can be backed at 14/1 to be Manchester United's next manager.
Despite a 1-0 loss at Brighton, Villa remain in pole position to qualify for next season's Champions League.
With two games to play, Villa have a healthy seven-point lead over Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
The question Emery has to answer is, whether he sees a brighter future at Villa than at United? Qualification for the Champions League could see him stay in the Midlands.
Frank Might Fancy Old Trafford Job
The time could be right for Thomas Frank to move on from Brentford.
After finishing 13th and ninth, the Bees have struggled this season and are 10 points above the relegation zone in their third season in the Premier League.
The Bees have steadied the ship in recent weeks with just one defeat in their last seven league games, but four of those have been draws.
Brentford will extend their stay in the Premier League for a fourth season, but will Frank be picking their team next season? Frank is 16/1 to be United's next manager.
Hoeness Has Emerged As A Candidate
Stuttgart are on course for their best finish in 15 seasons under the guidance of manager Sebastian Hoeness.
Currently third in the Bundesliga, where they finished the 2008/09 season, there is a chance they could climb into second spot ahead of Bayern Munich, who are just two points ahead of Stuttgart.
Bayern's focus will be on winning the Champions League so repeating Stuttgart's second-place finish in 2003 is well within their reach.
High profile jobs may be offered to Hoeness (20/1) this summer and this might be the ideal time to take them.
Why Jose Mourinho Is In The Mix
After being sacked by Roma in January, Jose Mourinho has been linked with a number of vacancies in European football.
A return to Old Trafford has been mentioned and he is 16/1 to replace Ten Hag if the club decide on a change of manager.
The Portuguese manager was in charge of the Red Devils between 2016-18, finishing second in his final full season, and winning the Europa League and League Cup during his reign.
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But, after beginning the 2018/19 season with just seven wins in the first 17 Premier League games, Mourinho was sacked. However, he is reportedly keen on a return to Old Trafford saying he would walk to Old Trafford if he was given the chance to manage the club again.
Julian Nagelsmann was in the mix until announcing he would be extending his contract as Germany manager, although he remains 14/1.
One name not likely to be in the Old Trafford dugout next season is Julen Lopetegui, who has agreed to replace David Moyes as West Ham manager.
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