Unai Emery has shortened from 17/2 to 7/2 with Paddy Power, with three of five bookmakers cutting their odds on Manchester United's next permanent manager.
The odds on Unai Emery as Manchester United's next permanent manager have been slashed from 17/2 to 7/2 with Paddy Power, and the Aston Villa man is suddenly a live name in the Old Trafford hunt.
Eddie Howe remains the clear favourite as Manchester United's next permanent manager at a best price of 4/6 with Bet Victor.
Three of five bookmakers have cut their odds on Emery, with Paddy Power, Skybet and Betfair Sportsbook all now at 7/2.
8/1 is still the best price on Emery with Bet Victor and William Hill, which leaves him fourth-shortest in the betting.
Michael Carrick stays in the dugout for the Champions League visit of Roma while the club's leadership reviews his future.
The pressure is coming straight off the pitch. United went down 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Lisandro Martínez sent off for a second bookable offence on Wesley Fofana. That came hot on the heels of a home defeat by Bournemouth. They have now failed to win their last seven matches in the Premier League, the kind of slump that would have any DStv Premiership board reaching for the panic button. The day after Chelsea, the club's executive leadership held crisis talks and chose to keep Carrick in charge for Roma while his position is reviewed. In other words, the job is open for debate, and the market knows it.
So why Emery? He guided Aston Villa to a Europa League title and top-four qualification, and United director of football Jason Wilcox is a big admirer. The noise got louder when Jamie Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast that Emery should manage United, a remark that led Villa chairman Nassef Sawiris to announce legal action against the pundit. Paddy Power reacted by cutting Emery to 7/2, and Skybet and Betfair Sportsbook have followed. The snag is a long contract at Villa Park, which helps explain why Bet Victor and William Hill are still holding him at 8/1.
Manchester United Next Permanent Manager odds
Best odds on Unai Emery are 8/1 with Bet Victor (matched by William Hill), worst 7/2 with Paddy Power (matched by Skybet and Betfair Sportsbook). That is a wide split for one manager, so shopping around pays here.
Last updated: 2 November 2026, 09:01 UK time
Odds below are live and may have changed since publishing this article.
Who is favourite to be Manchester United's next permanent manager?
Eddie Howe heads the odds for Manchester United's next permanent manager at 4/6 with Bet Victor, and it is hard to argue with that. He stepped down at Newcastle United in July and has been identified by Wilcox as a leading target, so he is free of a club and clearly wanted. Behind him, Julian Nagelsmann sits alongside Emery on the shortlist of external alternatives, while Antonio Conte completes the leading group in the betting. Emery is the one moving, but Howe's price still tells you who the bookmakers think is in pole position.
Eddie Howe – 4/6 with Bet Victor, the clear favourite and available after leaving Newcastle.
Julian Nagelsmann – 10/3 with Skybet, Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power, on the club's shortlist.
Antonio Conte – 6/1 with Skybet, Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power.
Unai Emery – 8/1 with Bet Victor and William Hill, the big mover after Paddy Power cut him to 7/2.
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Who will be Manchester United's next permanent manager?
Carrick takes charge of the Champions League visit of Roma on Tuesday, and United then face Emery's Aston Villa in the Premier League the following Sunday. Club chiefs Omar Berrada and Wilcox are weighing up his position ahead of the November international break, so those two outings could shape the timeline, and the Manchester United odds will keep twitching with every result. Our view: Howe is still the man to beat because he is out of work and on the radar of the club's football leadership. Emery's shortening is more than noise, but prising him out of a Villa Park contract that runs until 2029 in the middle of a season is a big ask. At 8/1 with Bet Victor he is worth watching rather than chasing, especially with that meeting against Villa looming.
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