Next Middlesbrough Manager Odds: Who Could Replace Under-Fire Carrick?

Middlesbrough's 3-1 win at Stoke was just what the club needed to keep alive their play-off hopes. 

It also takes the pressure off manager Michael Carrick, who went into that fixture on the back of five successive defeats in the Championship.

That run saw Boro drop to 11th in the table and Carrick will hope his side can go on a decent run to get them back in the race to secure a top-six finish. 

Despite the morale-boosting victory at the bet365 Stadium, betting sites will continue to update their odds on who might replace the 43-year-old.

Carrick’s team are still only four points adrift of the top six, but the manager needs a number of wins from games coming up against sides below them in the table.

The former Manchester United and England midfielder was recently given a vote of confidence from the Boro board, but more defeats could force them into making a change.

If Carrick does depart the Riverside Stadium, who could be next through the door? 

Let’s explore that question after checking the latest odds offered by betting apps.

Available Gerrard Favourite For Role

Steven Gerrard has returned to England after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq at the end of last month. 

The Liverpool legend will be looking for his next coaching job, but he is unlikely to get one in the Premier League after his disappointing stint at Aston Villa. 

Like his former England team-mates Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, Gerrard probably needs to drop down into the Championship. 

We don't know if he is willing to do so, but it is easy to see why Gerrard is the 5/4 favourite for the Boro job. 

Next Middlesbrough Manager Odds

Cooper Could Be Tempted

Steve Cooper is another strong contender for the Middlesbrough job, with football betting sites offering a best price of 6/4. 

Cooper struggled at Leicester City earlier this season, but Ruud van Nistelrooy’s subsequent struggles suggest that the Welshman cannot be scorned for the results he oversaw at the King Power Stadium.

Cooper has a good record in the Championship, having led Nottingham Forest from the bottom of the table to promotion. Any second-tier side looking for a new manager would be foolish not to consider Cooper given what he has achieved in the past. 

The question for Boro is whether the former Forest head coach wants to have a few more months out of the game.

Southgate Has History With The Club

Gareth Southgate has only ever taken charge of one club side - and that was Middlesbrough. 

Long before he became head honcho of the England national team, the former defender spent three years calling the shots at the Riverside Stadium. Southgate also played for Boro, so he knows the club well.

Southgate divided opinion as England boss, but having led the Three Lions to two European Championship finals, he may feel (with some justification) that his next job should be at a higher level than the second tier of English football. 

Still, Southgate can be backed at 7/4 to replace Carrick, making him the third-favourite.

O’Neil Waiting For Right Opportunity

Gary O’Neil kept Bournemouth in the Premier League in his first managerial job, before repeating the feat at Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

He struggled to lift Wolves clear of the bottom three this season, though, and it is questionable whether O’Neil will get another offer from a top-flight team given the marketplace for Premier League managers is international these days.

O’Neil has certainly shown enough in his coaching career to date to suggest he has something about him. 

Middlesbrough would no doubt consider him if the club part ways with Carrick, and O’Neil is listed at 2/1.

Could Dyche Drop Into The Championship?

Sean Dyche had offers from the Championship when he was last out of work, but the ex-Burnley boss stood firm and waited for an approach from a Premier League club. 

He did well in his first 18 months at the helm of Everton, but Dyche did not cover himself in glory this term and David Moyes has lifted the Toffees clear of trouble since taking the reins.

Dyche kept Burnley in the top tier for several years and you would not rule out a struggling club appointing him at some point next season. 

The key question is whether Dyche would consider dropping into the Championship before then, particularly for a club in the mix for promotion via the play-offs. Dyche is priced at 3/1 to be Boro’s next boss.

Other names in the frame include former Southampton boss Russell Martin (4/1), ex-Luton manager Rob Edwards (5/1), Des Buckingham (6/1), Dave Challinor (7/1) and Wayne Rooney (10/1).

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.