Ruben Amorim was far from the unanimous choice to replace Erik ten Hag as Man Utd manager among the oddschecker community.
It emerged last night that Man Utd are expected to appoint Ruben Amorim as their new manager (now a best price 1/5), but he wasn't the unanimous choice of the oddschecker community.
Up until 17:00 yesterday, Amorim had taken less than 10% of the share of the bets in the next Man Utd manager odds market - a figure that has now soared to 36% overnight as we approach the 24-hour mark since Erik ten Hag was shown the door.
We've analysed the betting data to pick out the five most backed managers since ten Hag was finally put out of his Old Trafford misery. The first four have each received a greater than 10% share of the bets.
Ruben Amorim
Unsurprisingly, the top pick is Ruben Amorim (1/5 Sky Bet), who has been among the short odds favourites for some time. He received a relative lack of backing from the oddschecker community in the first six hours after ten Hag was sacked but has now attracted 36% of the total bets in the last 24 hours.
The 39-year-old previously attracted Liverpool's attention as a potential replacement for Jurgen Klopp having led Sporting to a first league title in 19 years at the age of just 36 in 2021 before winning his second with the club last season.
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Ruud Van Nistelrooy
The club's legendary striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy was quickly installed as the bookmakers' favourite and was the most popular bet (28%) through oddschecker right up until reports about Amorim started to spread (19% in the last 24 hours).
Van Nistelrooy (now 10/1 bet365) was the most inexperienced of the leading contenders having overseen just 33 top flight matches with PSV Eindhoven before leaving just before the end of the 2022/23 season after he had won the Dutch Cup in his first term.
Xavi Hernandez
The third most popular selection in the next Man Utd manager odds market was Xavi Hernandez (11%), the Spaniard known for producing attacking football as both a player and manager of Barcelona.
Despite winning a league title and a healthy 69.6% win rate in the league, Xavi (14/1 Paddy Power) was relieved of his duties by club president Joan Laporta in May of this year.
The form shown by his former players this season perhaps dampens how his time will be remembered, with the team now flying under Hansi Flick.
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Julian Nagelsmann
Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann (10% backed) was a big market mover immediately after the ten Hag announcement was made, zooming in from 50/1 into a best price 13/2.
Now 37, Nagelsmann (a revised 25/1 on BetVictor) has won 10 of his first 17 matches (four draws and three defeats) in charge of the German national team since September 2023.
His first job was with Hoffenheim from February 2016, when he became the youngest coach in Bundesliga history at the age of 28.
Gareth Southgate
The fifth most popular selection in the last 24 hours has been former England boss Gareth Southgate (6%) - a long-term favourite for the role (now out to 10/1) who poured cold water on his prospects earlier this month by saying he plans a year out of management.
