Next Norwich Manager Odds: Gary O'Neil Heads Queue To Fill Canaries Vacancy

Gary O'Neil is the new favourite to replace Johannes Hoff Thorup as Norwich manager in what is turning out to be a very tight race.

Jack Wilshere, Liam Manning and Pep Lijnders have all had their turns at being the frontrunners, but betting sites now put former Wolves boss O'Neil at the head of the queue.

The Canaries sacked Thorup following a 3-1 defeat at Millwall in April, with Wilshere taking over for the final two games of the season.

Although City took four points from those fixtures under Wilshere, it was later revealed that the former Arsenal midfielder would be leaving the club following their mid-table finish.

So, who will be tasked with trying to get the Canaries back into the Premier League next season? 

Let’s look at potential candidates and the latest next Norwich manager odds. 

O'Neil Tops Canaries Candidates

Gary O'Neil made 51 appearances for Norwich between 2014-16, and now finds himself at the head of the market to replace Thorup.

O'Neil's ability to manage is unquestionable, and he could be the man to guide Norwich back to the Premier League. 

He has plenty of experience coaching in the top flight, having managed at Bournemouth and, most recently, Wolves. 

A lot will depend on whether O'Neil is prepared to drop into the Championship for his next chance, and although his odds are stable at 11/4 with betting apps, he is now the frontrunner for the Carrow Road vacancy.

Next Norwich City Manager Odds:

Is Manning The Man For Norwich?

Liam Manning is one of the most exciting young managers in England, and he is a wanted man after his achievements at Bristol City this season.

The 39-year-old led the Robins to the play-offs which ended in heartache as they were thrashed 6-0 by Sheffield United over two legs.

The question is whether Manning wants to finish what he started at Ashton Gate or accept a new challenge at a club with Premier League ambitions.

He was the 5/4 favourite to get the job recently, but his odds have since drifted to 3/1 with football betting sites.

Pep Talk Goes Quiet

A report in The Telegraph claimed Lijnders was due to hold talks with Norwich last week about the vacancy, but all has been quiet about a potential appointment.

Lijnders spent two spells working in various coaching roles under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before he decided to go his own way and become manager of Dutch club NEC at the start of 2018.

He signed an 18-month contract but was shown the door in May after NEC failed to secure promotion to the Eredivisie via the play-offs.

That prompted a return to Anfield where he helped the Merseysiders win the Champions League and Premier League, but he left for a second time when Klopp announced he was leaving the club at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

A short-lived move to RB Salzburg in January ended after just 29 games following a controversial decision to drop Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager in favour of Leipzig's on-loan Janis Blaswich.

Lijnders has yet to establish himself as a successful manager, but his experiences with Klopp at Liverpool were invaluable and he is also 3/1, out from 5/2, to land his first senior appointment in England.    

Cooper Slashed For City Job

Steve Cooper was 33/1 to replace Thorup in the first week of May, but his odds have been cut dramatically to 7/2. 

Few will forget his achievements at Nottingham Forest, the club he took from the foot of the Championship table to the Premier League via the play-offs in the 2021/22 season.

Cooper was unlucky to be shown the door by Forest at the end of 2023 and a later spell at Leicester lasted just 12 games into the season.

However, Cooper remains a coveted man for what he did at the City Ground and Norwich will do well to bring him to Carrow Road.

Priske A Prospect For Norwich

Brian Priske has won trophies in his native Denmark and in the Czech Republic, but his previous role at Feyenoord ended badly.

Priske signed a three-year contract with the Eredivisie club last summer, but was sacked in February two days after a 3-0 derby victory over Sparta Rotterdam.

That said, he won the Danish title with Midtjylland in the 2019/20 season and enjoyed back-to-back league successes with Sparta Prague in the last couple of years.

Priske is 9/2 to become the second successive Dane to take the reins at Norwich.

Will Still A Wanted Man

Will Still recently left Lens, citing a desire to return to the United Kingdom, so what are the chances he ends up at Carrow Road?

Still is just 32 years of age, but has already caused a stir with his achievements in the French top flight, first with Reims and then with Lens, who finished eighth in Ligue 1 this season.

Belgium-born Still is 6/1 to end up in Norfolk, but he is expected to join Southampton in the coming days, so he looks one to avoid.

Hasenhuttl Highly Regarded

Wolfsburg recently sacked Ralph Hasenhuttl, but the Austrian still has admirers among English clubs.

He has experience of English football after his spell with Southampton between 2018 and 2022.

Although his tenure at the Saints ended in disappointment, he does fit the type of manager Norwich have hired in the past.

Hasenhuttl was 4/1 for the job last week, but his odds have doubled to 8/1, the same price as Magdeburg coach Christian Titz.

The German, who has written several books on training methods, steered Magdeburg to promotion in Bundesliga's second division during his first season in charge (2021/22) and the club have been there ever since, finishing fifth in their last campaign.

Martin Would Be Popular Appointment

Elsewhere, former Southampton boss Russell Martin is 12/1 to get back on the managerial merry-go-round at Norwich, although he now looks favourite for the Leicester job, having also been linked with Rangers.

Tom Cleverley is also one of the outsiders at 20/1 following his dismissal by Watford, who failed to make the Championship play-offs.

Former Reading boss Ruben Selles recently left Hull, who avoided relegation from the Championship by the skin of their teeth.

The Spaniard, also 20/1 to join Norwich, did brilliantly with the Royals under difficult circumstances and it won't be long before he is back in management. 

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