Next West Ham Manager Odds: New Favourite To Replace Under-Pressure Nuno
Enzo Maresca and Ruben Amorim left their jobs at the start of 2026 and Nuno Espirito Santo could be next, according to one of the betting sites.
The under-fire West Ham boss is vulnerable to the sack less than four months after taking charge at the London Stadium.
The Hammers are on a rotten run of form, having gone 10 Premier League matches without a win.
Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest left the east London side rooted in the bottom three, seven points adrift of safety.
Can Nuno prevent West Ham from dropping into the Championship or is it time for a change?
We take a look at the main contenders for the job should the Portuguese be given the heave-ho and the latest next West Ham manager odds.
Nuno's post-match reaction.
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 6, 2026
West Ham Manager Betting: Carrick Favourite For Return
Michael Carrick is the new 4/7 frontrunner on betting apps to become the next West Ham manager.
A former West Ham player, his instalment in the London Stadium dugout would be taken reasonably well by the club’s fans, notwithstanding his lack of Premier League experience.
Carrick has only ever held one managerial job, a three-year spell at Middlesbrough, but he is reportedly one of the names being discussed if Nuno is shown the door.
He worked behind the scenes at Manchester United where he was also caretaker manager for three games when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021.
Carrick is among the favourites to replace the sacked Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, but whether he is the right man to lead a relegation battle remains to be seen.
Next West Ham Manager Odds: Bilic In The Mix
Slaven Bilic led West Ham to a seventh-place finish in the 2015/16 Premier League season, but things went downhill thereafter.
However, the former Hammers player knows the club well and would at least have the backing of the supporters, who did not take to Graham Potter and are yet to be convinced by Nuno.
Bilic told talkSPORT that he was close to being appointed Hammers boss in September only for owner David Sullivan to be overruled by his fellow board members.
He has been out of work since leaving Al-Fateh in Saudi Arabia in 2024, and the fact two of his last three jobs have been in the Gulf and China may concern the West Ham hierarchy.
Bilic was the 4/7 favourite before the Forest defeat and is reportedly ready to answer an SOS from the Hammers, but he is now behind Carrick at 11/8.
Next West Ham Manager Odds:
Manager | Odds | Probability |
Michael Carrick | 4/7 | 63.6% |
Slaven Bilic | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Ruben Amorim | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Enzo Maresca | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Frank Lampard | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Gareth Southgate | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Kieran McKenna | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Lee Carsley | 20/1 | 4.8% |
Amorim Unlikely To Accept Challenge
Amorim’s sacking came after he was critical of his superiors at Manchester United.
It brought to an end an 18-month tenure at Old Trafford that featured the occasional high and numerous lows.
Amorim’s reputation has taken a dent after his time at United, so he will choose his next job wisely. It is unlikely to be at West Ham, despite current odds of 5/1.
Even if he believes in the club’s potential (which is doubtful given its ownership), Amorim will not want to risk dropping into the Championship next term.
Another sad end for a Manchester United manager in the post-Ferguson era 😔 pic.twitter.com/GHleqiZaxH
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 5, 2026
Maresca Available For Immediate Return
Enzo Maresca left Chelsea on New Year's Day, but could he make an immediate return to management with London rivals West Ham?
Maresca won the Club World Cup and the Europa Conference League during his spell at Stamford Bridge, but increasing tension with the club's hierarchy and poor results led to his departure.
It is understood the Italian also held talks with Manchester City about replacing Pep Guardiola while he was manager of Chelsea, so it appears he has been looking for a new challenge.
Keeping West Ham in the Premier League would be a tough test, but he is one of the favourites at 8/1.
Lampard Restores Reputation At Coventry
Yet another ex-Hammer from his playing days, Frank Lampard is not necessarily popular with the supporters of his first club, who resented his departure for Chelsea.
For that reason alone, it is difficult to envisage the former England international succeeding Nuno at the London Stadium.
Lampard, a 14/1 pick in this market, would also be taking a huge gamble by leaving high-flying Coventry for West Ham.
These two teams could feasibly swap places at the end of the season, with Coventry clear favourites to win the Championship title. Lampard is unlikely to become West Ham’s next boss.
Southgate Among Outsiders
Gareth Southgate (16/1) heads a list of outsiders which also includes Kieran McKenna and Lee Carsley (both 20/1).
The former England manager recently said that he will not necessarily take another coaching job in football, and despite his qualified success with the national team, he has no experience of the club game for almost 20 years.
Similarly, Carsley is a coach with more of a background in international football. He has done a fine job at the helm of England U21s, yet that does not necessarily translate to a Premier League relegation battle.
McKenna would be an interesting pick, but he is unlikely to leave Ipswich until the end of the campaign at the earliest.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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