Next Premier League manager to leave post: Betting odds

The international break is almost over and so our attention turns back to club football and the Premier League, which resumes once again this weekend. 

We may only be three games into the 2024-25 campaign, but several managers already find themselves under intense scrutiny in the English top-flight. 

Can they turn the tide? Or, if not, who will be the first man to face the axe? Odds Now's Brad Walker runs you through the current market leaders ahead of matchday four. 

Next Premier League manager to leave their post — market leaders

Erik Ten Hag (3/1)

Many felt Erik Ten Hag had been lucky to escape with his job after last season. The Dutchman oversaw a mediocre Manchester United side which languished to an eighth-placed finish - their lowest ever return in the history of the Premier League. 

He would have almost certainly been sacked had he not won the FA Cup against rivals Manchester City in the final game of the season, amid reports of the club speaking to several potential replacements, including former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel.

Bizarrely, the club took two weeks before confirming he would continue in his role into the new season, but a fast start was paramount to extinguish any lingering doubts over his ability to lead the team moving forward.

Things have not quite gone to plan since, though. United have lost two of their opening three matches in the Premier League, including a 3-0 home drubbing to bitter adversaries Liverpool last time out. In truth, the score could have made for even harder reading for United fans, many of whom had vacated the stadium by the time the clock had reached the 80th-minute mark. 

Ten Hag came into the new season at 8/1 to be the first manager axed but his side's poor form now leaves him joint-favourite to be the campaign's first managerial casualty. He no longer has a lengthy injury list to hide behind and was backed heavily in the summer with several high-profile acquisitions. 

With Old Trafford bosses having already held talks with several potential replacements over the summer, coupled with the team's poor form since, Ten Hag may already be on borrowed time. 

Ten Hag watches on as his Manchester United lose 3-0 to rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Sean Dyche (3/1)

Everton rightly drew praise for how they navigated several off-the-pitch distractions to eventually secure a 15th-placed finish under Dyche last season. The club were handed two separate points deduction which severely threatened their place in the English top-flight, yet eventually sat 14 points above the relegation zone after the final day. 

Had they not been docked points, Dyche's men would have been just a single point away from a top-half finish, leading to the expectation they would kick-on and enjoy a less eventful campaign in what will be their final season at Goodison Park. 

However, a miserable start to 2024-25 has led to renewed fears of yet another relegation dog-fight this time around. Everton began the new season with a 3-0 home defeat to Brighton before shipping four at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a week later. 

Dyche was already under pressure to turn results around but a home match against Bournemouth - a side they had a decent record against on home turf - looked to be the perfect fixture to start rebuilding momentum. Or not. 

Everton were cruising at 2-0 as the match headed into the 87th minute when a stunning capitulation saw them ship three goals in quick fashion to suffer a third consecutive defeat in as many matches.

Heading into matchday four without a single point to your name would naturally leave any manager looking over their shoulder. Add John Textor's potential takeover of the club to the mix, a failure by Dyche to improve results may lead to the desire for a fresh start on all fronts at the club. 

Everton travel to Aston Villa this weekend before hosting Southampton in the Carabao Cup three days later.

Enzo Maresca (8/1)

We all knew the Chelsea manager would appear somewhere on this list. A club who are on their sixth manager since Clearlake's takeover in May 2022 was always going to be among the favourites to be the first to see their manager to leave. 

To be fair to Enzo Maresca, he couldn't have been handed a harder start than facing Manchester City on the opening day. The Blues put in a solid showing against the reigning champions but still came up short in a 2-0 loss. 

Nevertheless, the Italian had his first Premier League win under his belt when Chelsea won a thrilling 6-2 encounter against a struggling Wolves side a week later. The final score doesn't tell the full story, though. Remarkably, the hosts finished the game with a higher xG tally than their London counterparts, but poor finishing paved the way for a Chelsea victory.

Maresca's side have since dropped points in a 1-1 draw versus a Crystal Palace side who were torn apart in the summer transfer window. Four points from nine isn't the worst of starts for the 44-year-old but results will need to show signs of improvement to fend off the trigger-happy Stamford Bridge bosses. They don't need encouraging at the best of times.

Maresca can never take his job for granted given Chelsea's track-record for sacking managers. (Photo credit: Alamy Images)

Russell Martin (14/1)

Southampton have offered little to extinguish fears that they could be this season's Burnley. Like Vincent Kompany's Clarets last season, the Saints have at times been heralded for their adamancy to play possession-based football but a continued inability to pickup results could soon leave to accusations of naivety on Russell Martin's part.

The former Norwich City defender oversaw the club's immediate return to the top-flight from the Championship last season in his first term in charge. Southampton have since strengthened in the summer to prepare for life in the Premier League but questions remain over the overall quality of the squad, particularly in forward areas. 

While they have averaged 69% possession across their four matches - higher than any other team in the division - the Saints are still yet to pickup their first point of the new campaign. 

Martin's success in steering the club back to the Premier League will buy him time to improve results but, if form doesn't pickup, those above him could soon be reaching for the axe in a panic to avoid another relegation back to the second tier. 

Steve Cooper (14/1)

Leicester City's survival prospects were granted a significant boost after news broke they will not face a points deduction for alleged profit and sustainability breaches earlier this month. Just as well, given the Foxes' unconvincing start to the new season. 

Leicester have taken just one point from their opening three matches under new manager Steve Cooper's watch and will almost certainly be among the sides battling to stay in the division throughout the season. 

A poor showing in pre-season already left Cooper feeling the heat from the King Power faithful before a ball had even been kicked in a competitive match, though his links to rivals Nottingham Forest will hardly have done him any favours.

The Foxes have four league games before an away meeting at Southampton next month - a match which could already prove pivotal in deciding the fate of each of those sides come May. More poor results in the leadup to that game could leave Cooper's future hanging on a knife edge, meaning a loss at St. Mary's could well be the nail in the coffin to push him through the exit door. 

Odds Now's Pick

Erik Ten Hag's days at Old Trafford are numbered. Club bosses clearly weren't satisfied with the Dutchman's performance last season, otherwise they wouldn't have spent weeks after the FA Cup final chasing potential replacements. 

The only reason Ten Hag remains in a job today is because they were unable to find a suitable alternative but, given the continued poor form at the start of this campaign, it's surely only a matter of time before the axe finally drops and he is relieved of his duties. Unless, of course, he is able to turn results around.

United face Southampton next in what is a nightmare fixture for the 54-year-old. If his side were to win, no praise will be directed towards Ten Hag - United have done what they were supposed to do against a side still yet to pickup a single point so far this term. But should they drop more points, the pressure on Ten Hag will increase tenfold. 

The club's summer business also means he is unable to hide behind the excuse of injury problems, as was the case last season. No one likes to see a man lose their job, but I'll eat my hat if he is still in the Old Trafford dugout come the new year.