Roberto Martinez increasingly likely to seal Premier League return after manager developments
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Credit: Imago Roberto Martinez increasingly likely to seal Premier League return after manager developments Thu 12 March 2026 16:00, UK Roberto Martinez has been linked with the Manchester United job as the potential candidates are whittled down.Michael Carrick remains the favourite to take over at Old Trafford on a permanent basis, after he was hired as the interim manager. The Red Devils have improved significantly since dismissing Ruben Amorim, but suffered a disappointing first defeat under the Englishman last week.Carrick’s side were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United courtesy of Will Osula’s late stunner, despite having played against 10 men for more than 45 minutes.Man United’s next manager will have to deal with more than just one competition, too, which is the task currently at hand. 👔 Man United Manager News 👔 Get the inside track on the Old Trafford dugout with real-time updates on shortlisted candidates, contract news and Ineos boardroom plans.
VISIT THE MANAGER HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Bookies cut Roberto Martinez oddsMartinez will be available in the summer after leading Portugal at the 2026 World Cup in North America. The Spaniard has been in charge for over three years, and is looking to mark his exit with a second international trophy win after lifting the Nations League in 2025.The 52-year-old was in charge of Belgium for six years before that, and has not returned to club management since leaving Everton in 2016.Roberto MartinezPortugalWins27Draws3Losses6Scored107Conceded39But this year appears to be the one that Martinez will make his return in, and several clubs are interested in his services.Football Insider exclusively revealed last month that Martinez is a leading candidate for Celtic alongside Jens Berthel Askou, ahead of Martin O’Neill’s exit this summer.Man United have now emerged as a serious contender for his next destination, too, although the Spaniard will face heavy competition if he wants that job.Carrick remains the favourite at 11/8 according to one major bookmaker, but Martinez’s odds of taking the job have been shortened to 16/1 after it was revealed that he is being looked at.What Martinez has said about his futureThe highlight of Martinez’s club managerial career so far likely came at Wigan Athletic, where, despite going down to the Championship, the Spaniard lifted the FA Cup.Ben Watson’s 88th-minute header was the difference against Manchester City at Wembley in 2013, marking one of the most iconic FA Cup moments of all time.There is something about club football that cannot be recreated on the international stage, and Martinez may well be keen to experience that once more.“I don’t know, that’s the truth,” he said when asked about his future on The Overlap in February.
“I can never plan my career. I could never imagine what I have experienced.“So, I have always been that when it’s the right time, it’s the right project.