West Ham next manager: Champions League winner now odds-on favourite to replace Nuno

West Ham Next Manager: Champions League Winner Now Odds-On Favourite to Replace Nuno

Michael Carrick has emerged as the odds-on favourite to replace Nuno Espírito Santo as West Ham United manager, amid growing speculation of an imminent sacking.[1]

West Ham's dismal form has intensified pressure on Nuno, who is heavily backed at 1/7 to be the next Premier League manager sacked. A recent loss in a crucial relegation six-pointer against his former club, Nottingham Forest, has sealed his fate. The Hammers sit perilously low, ranking 18th in goals scored, with just one clean sheet and a dire xG difference of -14.8—worse than all but Burnley. Despite a £57m squad boost and a top-10 wage bill, standouts like Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta can't mask an otherwise average roster plagued by pessimism.[2]

Carrick, a Champions League winner with Manchester United as a player, leads the betting markets as of Wednesday morning. In his debut managerial role at Middlesbrough, he guided them to a Championship play-off finish in 2022-23 but was dismissed in June 2025 after back-to-back missed play-offs. Critics highlight the risk of appointing a manager without Premier League experience to a relegation battle.[1]

Trailing closely is Slaven Bilić at 11/1 odds. The Croatian, who led West Ham to 7th in 2015/16, enjoyed promotion with West Brom and stints at Beijing Guoan, Watford, and Saudi Arabia, parting mutually in August 2024 after a mid-table finish.[1]

Rúben Amorim, recently axed by Manchester United after a poor 14-month spell (24 wins from 63 games), is another contender. His Sporting CP success—two Primeira Liga titles—bolsters his reputation, though jumping into relegation peril raises doubts.[1]

Club owners David Sullivan, David Gold, and Karen Brady face blame for recruitment woes dating back to their 2010 takeover. Nuno risks unwanted Premier League history as the first manager sacked twice in one season.[2]

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