The Red Devils might change their leader for the 2026/2027 football season. Or will they?
Michael Carrick, their current manager, gets lots of sympathy among the fans, so the most logical conclusion is that he'll be leading United in the next season, too.
But online bookies have opened an interesting betting market - the next Manchester United manager market. Let's check the odds!
Michael Carrick Most Likely to Stay
There’s an English expression that says ‘possession is 9/10 of the law’ and though that doesn’t often refer to the man currently in the football manager hotseat being appointed manager on a full-time basis, the odds certainly reflect that could well be the case.
But aside from the fact he’s already in the job, there are other crucial factors why he’s the favourite.
For starters, he was extremely successful and well-liked when he played at the club as a rock-solid midfielder for 12 years, enjoying huge success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
His popularity as an easy-going, composed, down-to-earth man remains among both fans and players now that he’s progressed to being the manager.
The team looks like it has a better identity than under Amorim and a clearer game plan, while his system is more flexible than it was under Amorim.
But above all, he’s got results in a results business. Under him, they’ve won seven of their 10 games, drawing twice and losing just once. They’re now up to third in the league and with a great chance of making next year’s Champions League, which is crucial to the club.
Assuming Carrick doesn’t go on a horrible losing run in the Premier League, it’s hard to see any good reason why he doesn’t keep the job. That's why he's the favourite at 1.8 odds.
Contenders to the United Throne
Bookies are, obviously, favouring Carrick. But they are giving four men a chance (and odds!) that they'll take the helm at Manchester United - Julian Nagelsmann, Oliver Glasner, Luis Enrique, and Mauricio Pochettino.
Julian Nagelsman (8.0)
The current Germany manager may fancy a return to day-to-day club management rather than being the coach of a national team that only has matches occasionally outside big tournaments.
Results have been good with Germany; he’s already managed at a huge club before (Bayern Munich) and likes to give chances to youngsters, which has always gone down well at Old Trafford.
Oliver Glasner (10.0)
The current Crystal Palace boss has already said he’s leaving Selhurst Park at the end of the season, so at least he’ll be available in the summer.
He also knows the Premier League well from two and a half years at Palace and has done an excellent job, winning the FA Cup in 2025 and guiding Palace to a credible 14th place at present on a shoestring budget, while seriously improving players such as Marc Guehi (now at Manchester City), Adam Wharton, M Lacroix and Ismaila Sarr, while also progressing in this year’s Conference League, so he ticks plenty of boxes.
Luis Enrique (12.0) and Mauricio Pochettino (20.0)
As the odds suggest, these are far more unlikely candidates, but you could just about make arguments for both.
Enrique may fancy a new challenge after a few years at PSG and proving his worth in the Premier League would be another box ticked on his CV.
As for Pochettino, like Naggelsman, he may want a return to club management and has been on United’s radar for a few years now, so if available and keen after the World Cup, he could be a good fit.
