Premier League Sack Race Odds: Every manager priced up in early 2022
After a helter-skelter seven week flurry which saw a whopping six Premier League managers lose their jobs, the last six weeks have seen the 20 current top-flight managers remain as they were following Man Utd's decision to switch Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Ralf Rangnick in late November.
However, that's not to say that there aren't managers frantically battling to cling onto their posts in the New Year. In fact, two bosses in particular are both desperate for results, with many more worth keeping an eye on over the next few weeks.
Here's the price of every Premier League manager in the Sack Race...
A two horse race?
Rafa Benitez, who was as short as 1/7, remains the slender favourite to leave next at 6/4 in the betting.
The under-fire Everton manager has only one win in 12 league and cup games dating back to September and is winless on the road since August.
The Toffees have slumped down to 15th in the table, eight points above the drop zone having played a game more than 18th-placed Burnley.
The hierarchy do, however, appear to have backed Benitez through the January additions of Nathan Patterson and Vitaliy Mykolenko, yet an FA Cup third round exit to Championship side Hull could make his position untenable, with Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand and Derby’s Wayne Rooney currently the favourites to replace Benitez should he depart - scroll down for full odds.
Claudio Ranieri (2/1), appointed in October, has lost nine of his 11 league games since replacing Xisco Munoz in the Watford dugout, and is pointless from his last six outings.
In fact, since leaving the then defending champions Leicester in February 2017, the Italian has only carved out all of five wins from his last 27 Premier League matches - containing 19 defeats - following a disastrous 106-day spell in charge of Fulham.
Watford, who now face crunch back-to-back games against relegation rivals Newcastle and Norwich, sacked three different managers during their last stint in the Premier League (2019/20) and the trigger-happy club could well be forced into yet another change in the near future.
The six Premier League casualties so far
- Xisco Munoz (October)
- Steve Bruce (Newcastle)
- Nuno Santo (Spurs)
- Daniel Farke (Norwich)
- Dean Smith (Aston Villa)
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Man Utd)
Thomas Tuchel's odds slashed
Top of the tree at the start of December, two wins from seven games over the festive period has seen Chelsea drop a huge 10 points behind Man City, a margin that could be extended to 13 points should the Blues lose to Pep Guardiola’s leaders in their next match on Saturday 15th January.
The timing of Romelu Lukaku's controversial interview certainly hasn't helped.
100/1 three weeks ago and 66/1 less than a week ago, Thomas Tuchel’s Sack Race price has since fallen drastically to just 15/2 with Paddy Power. However, the Champions League winning German has plenty of credit in the bank.
Dean Smith stuttering after initial bright spark
Eddie Howe’s only managed eight matches since he was appointed at Newcastle but a return of one win has seen Paddy Power reduce his odds to 13/5, although he’s still out at 16/1 with Bet Victor, and is set to be well backed in the transfer window.
After a small manager bounce in which he picked up five points from his opening three games, Dean Smith has since endured a torrid five straight defeats. The rock-bottom Canaries have been dreadful in that period having failed to find the back of the net and conceded 15 goals, although Smith remains a big price at 40/1.
Southampton’s Ralph Hasenhuttl has drifted to 16/1 following a win over West Ham and an impressive point against Spurs, while Marcelo Bielsa is a touch shorter at 12/1. It’s been a difficult season for Leeds but the Argentine will hoped to have turned a corner after a pivotal 3-1 triumph over Burnley.
Ralf Rangnick's philosophy yet to bear fruit
Man Utd interim manager Ralf Rangnick oversaw an abject 1-0 defeat at home to Wolves on Monday night which left his side 7th in the table, four points adrift of the top-four.
It may have only been the German’s first defeat in six matches since replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but his high-pressing, high-octane and attack-minded philosophy has yet to materialise, much to the frustration of supporters whose side are now nearer in points to 20th Norwich than leaders Man City.
Rangnick, the narrow 7/5 favourite for the permanent job, is a 50/1 (Sky Bet) to be the next Premier League casualty, although Coral slashed his odds to 16/1 in the aftermath of the Wolves loss.
Safe as houses…
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are both three-figure prices out at 100/1, as are David Moyes and Steven Gerrard, whereas Antonio Conte, who has yet to suffer a league defeat at Spurs, is an 80/1 long shot and Patrick Vieira is available at 66/1.
Wolves may not have set the league alight in terms of goals - 14 scored and 14 conceded from 19 games - but they are up in 8th and boss Bruno Lage (50/1) has just come off the back of a deserved 1-0 win away to Man Utd; the club’s first victory at Old Trafford in 42 years.
Former betting frontrunner Mikel Arteta is now out at 40/1 after an impressive turnaround which has propelled Arsenal into the top-four, whereas Graham Potter is 40/1.
Burnley are enduring a tough season although it’s highly unlikely that the club would wield the axe on long-serving boss Sean Dyche (25/1) who is fighting to keep his side in the league. Despite Burnley’s poor form, you’d be silly to write off their survival chances just yet.
Elsewhere, Brendan Rodgers and Thomas Frank can be found at 20/1 and 40/1 respectively.
Alternatively, you can back no more sackings at 18/1 with William Hill - full odds below.
