Erik ten Hag will be dismissed as Manchester United boss following the FA Cup final (Picture: Getty)
Mauricio Pochettino has been installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to become the next Manchester United manager, with the club deciding to axe Erik ten Hag after this weekend’s FA Cup final.
Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday evening that Pochettino had left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after just one season in charge of the club.
The 52-year-old was given the tough task of rebuilding Chelsea with a young and inexperienced squad, and after a difficult campaign it looked like he was going in the right direction, winning the last five league matches to finish sixth in the top flight.
But Pochettino finds himself as a free agent once again, just 12 months on from his appointment in west London, and the former Tottenham boss is being linked to a host of top jobs, with his stock clearly still high.
Ten Hag remains in the hot seat at Old Trafford for now, but it’s now emerged that the Red Devils plan to dismiss the Dutchman, regardless of the result at Wembley tomorrow afternoon.
It’s been an immensely tumultuous campaign at United both on and off the field, with the side finishing rock-bottom of their Champions League group and ending the season down in eighth in the top flight – their worst ever showing in the Premier League era.
Ten Hag can end the season on a high by exacting revenge on Manchester City for last year’s FA Cup final, but it will be his farewell game, and several high-profile names are in the running to succeed the 54-year-old.
Pochettino, who appeared on the verge of becoming United manager in both 2018 and 2022, is the man the bookmakers fancy to replace Ten Hag, with Betfair making the Argentine the 6/5 favourite to take over the reins.
Next Manchester United manager odds
Mauricio Pochettino – 6/5
Kieran McKenna – 7/2
Roberto De Zerbi – 9/2
Thomas Tuchel – 11/2
Gareth Southgate – 7/1
Graham Potter, Thomas Frank – 14/1
Ruben Amorim – 16/1
Zinedine Zidane – 20/1
Hansi Flick, Luis Enrique – 25/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair
Kieran McKenna is next in line in the betting at 7/2, though United but may need to fend off competition from Chelsea and Brighton for the Northern Irishman.
The Ipswich boss is widely considered one of the finest young coaches in the English game and previously worked as Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s assistant at the Theatre of Dreams.
Roberto De Zerbi has odds of 9/2 following his recent departure from Brighton, while Thomas Tuchel – a free agent after leaving Bayern Munich – is seen as an outside shot at 11/2.
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The likes of Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter, Thomas Frank and Ruben Amorim are also viewed as clear outsiders for the job, but this could quickly change.
Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: ‘Mauricio Pochettino is the 6/5 favourite to be the next Man United manager amid reports Erik ten Hag will be sacked after the FA Cup final on Saturday regardless of the outcome.
‘Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna trails Pochettino at 7/2, with both Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel, 9/2 and 11/2 respectively, also in the mix to take the Old Trafford hot seat.’
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