Jose Mourinho is 1/2 to leave Manchester United in 2019, but a white-knuckle run of pre-Christmas away days give odds of 15/8 about an Old Trafford departure this year plenty of allure.
Mourinho is currently 4/6 betting favourite in the next Premier League manager to leave market after a demoralising five days that saw United dumped out of the EFL Cup on home turf by Derby County and comfortably bested by West Ham at the London Stadium.
Despite the concept of the Portuguese’s third-season syndrome entering popular parlance, he’s only ever received his marching orders midway through his third campaign at a club once, during his second tenure at Chelsea.
That was of course his previous job, and with a brace of sacking-friendly international breaks to negotiate between now and New Year and some scary away games imminent, once could soon become twice.
Three away games that could put Mourinho out of his Old Trafford misery
Home games against Valencia and Newcastle should see Mourinho through to the first of the two international breaks with his employment intact.
Immediately after the return to domestic action comes their first fixture with serious hammering potential: a trip to Stamford Bridge.
However, it’s the pair of road trips prior to the second international fortnight that seem most likely to land the next manager to leave odds, as well as the 15/8 about Mourinho departing before the end of 2018.
United will travel to Juventus and Manchester City within the space of five early-November days and the potential of both fixtures to administer humbling reverses won’t have been lost on the Old Trafford axe wielders.
The 13-day furlough that follows the latter engagement offers as good an opportunity to embed a new manager as the Red Devils will have before next season, even affording time ahead of the January window for the three-time Premier League winner’s replacement to identify potential signings.
If the Portuguese survives that international break without managing to alter the mood around the Theatre of Dreams, the final leg of the ominous away trio, a trip to Anfield in mid-December, is another assignment with last-straw potential.
Does Mourinho have any serious sack race betting rivals?
As discussed, Mourinho is odds-on to be the next Premier League manager to leave, but there remain very credible reasons that a 15/8 bet on him to exit Old Trafford in 2018 may be better value, with other coaches not far from the cusp themselves.
At 10/1, Rafa Benitez remains winless at Newcastle, yet being a highly-respected coach with proven ability as a trophy-winning caretaker will make him attractive to clubs everywhere.
Mark Hughes, 7/1 to be next out, has won just three of his 15 Premier League games in charge of Southampton, while Claude Puel continues to make heavy weather with a talented Leicester squad.
Who else features in the next Manchester United manager betting?
Former Real Madrid manager Zidane has been installed as next Manchester United manager betting favourite after the Frenchman was reportedly moved to telephone Mourinho to offer personal reassurances he was not agitating for the old Trafford hotseat.
At bigger prices, former United centre-half and Ligue-1-winning manager at both Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain, Laurent Blanc would be a fascinating hire, having crafted a side of rare-trophy-winning appetite during his tenure at the Parc des Princes.
Check out the next Manchester United manager odds in full here.
