Championship Manager Sees Odds Slashed to Replace Nuno Espírito Santo at West Ham Amid Sack Latest

West Ham United are on the brink of sacking manager Nuno Espírito Santo as they languish in the relegation zone, seven points from safety following a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest and a 3-0 loss to Wolves.[1]

Nuno, who replaced Graham Potter in September 2025, faces mounting pressure with bookmakers listing him at 1/7 to be the next Premier League manager sacked, especially ahead of a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.[3][5] The Hammers' recent form has been dismal, marked by heavy defeats and erratic results against teams like Arsenal, Brentford, and Crystal Palace.[5]

Michael Carrick, a former Championship manager with Middlesbrough, has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to take over, with odds slashed to 1/3 (71.43% implied probability) or even 2/5 across bookmakers.[1][3][4] The 44-year-old, a Champions League winner as a Manchester United player, impressed at Boro by reaching the play-offs in 2022-23 but was sacked in June 2025 after failing to repeat the feat.[1][3] Carrick also had a successful interim stint at United in 2021, securing two wins and a draw.[1]

Trailing Carrick are Slaven Bilić at 5/2 or 2/1, the former West Ham boss who led them to 7th in 2015/16 and recently managed in Saudi Arabia,[1][3][4] and Ruben Amorim at 6/1.[1][4] Other contenders include Enzo Maresca (8/1), recently departed from Chelsea after Conference League success,[3][4] Frank Lampard (14/1), and Gareth Southgate.[4]

West Ham's hierarchy seeks an immediate fix to avoid relegation, but appointing Carrick—a manager without Premier League experience—carries risks amid their precarious position.[3] Speculation intensified after recent losses, with Oddschecker confirming the sharp market shift on January 7, 2026.[1]

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