Next Manchester United manager odds: Two-horse race tipped after Erik ten Hag sacked

Alex Ferguson was axed as an ambassador by Jim Ratcliffe - (Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Manchester United are after a new manager after sacking Erik ten Hag.

Sunday’s defeat at West Ham proved the final nail in the coffin for the Dutchman as it left the Red Devils 14th in the Premier League table with just 11 points from nine games.

Only in the summer, the club’s hierarchy had seemingly explored alternative options as manager before electing to stick with Ten Hag following a mixed season in which they won the FA Cup but struggled for consistency in the league.

Erik ten Hag has been sacked (PA Wire)

Many of the names linked now were also connected with the club in the summer, including former England manager Gareth Southgate.

Now available after bringing his tenure in charge of the national team to an end, Southgate is lower in the current bookmakers’ odds having ruled himself out of a return to management this season - although the lure of United could change that.

The favourite, though, is already employed by Manchester United: Ruud van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford by joining Ten Hag’s staff as an assistant this summer and could step up were his compatriot to depart. The former striker spent a single season in charge of PSV Eindhoven, taking the club to a Dutch Cup win.

As the new interim coach of the team, Van Nistelrooy will get a huge chance to impress in the coming weeks. Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim has popped up near the top of the bookies’ list, with ex-Barcelona boss Xavi not far behind.

Kieran McKenna previously occupied the role Van Nistelrooy now fulfils, and has done fine work guiding Ipswich Town back into the Premier League. The Northern Irishman was linked with a host of clubs in the summer and could be considered for a return to a club at which he spent five years in a variety of roles.

Next Man Utd manager odds

Ruud van Nistelrooy 7/2

Ruben Amorim 5/1

Gareth Southgate 10/1

Xavi 10/1

Thomas Frank 10/1

Michael Carrick 12/1

Kieran McKenna 14/1

Graham Potter 16/1

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