Shock manager favourite to be first Premier League boss sacked with Man Utd's Erik ten Hag second on the list

A shock name is the bookies' favourite to become the first Premier League manager to leave his role this season.

With the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season less than three weeks away, fans are getting excited and dreaming about what their sides will achieve over the next nine months.

However, a reality of football is that some clubs will struggle, and when a team underperforms, the manager is first in line to receive the blame.

Gary O'Neil and Steve Cooper were the only two coaches to be sacked last season, although Roy Hodgson did resign amid intense pressure for him to be dismissed from his position at Crystal Palace.

Ahead of the new campaign, Betfair has revealed their odds for the first managerial sacking, and the favourite might surprise you.

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is the 9/2 favourite to leave his role first, amid links with the vacant England managers position.

Howe guided the Magpies to a fourth place finish and a return to the Champions League in 2022-23, but last season his side struggled to a seventh place finish.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is the second favourite at 11/2, after he survived Sir Jim Ratcliffe's post-season review following a disappointing campaign.

Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Leicester City manager Steve Cooper are both 10/1 to be sacked first, followed by Everton's Sean Dyche and Southampton's Russell Martin.

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, also linked with the England job, has odds of 14/1.

Eddie Howe during a pre-season Newcastle United training session. Image: Getty

Betfair has given Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who has entered the final year of his contract, odds of 33/1 to leave first.

The least likely manager to walk first is Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who 50/1 odds are the same as for no manager to be dismissed.

The odds for the first Premier League manager to leave their role in 2024-25 are:

Eddie Howe: 9/2

Erik ten Hag: 11/2

Nuno Espírito Santo, Steve Cooper: 10/1

Sean Dyche, Russell Martin: 11/1

Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva: 12/1

Kieran McKenna: 14/1

Ange Postecoglou, Enzo Maresca: 16/1

Fabian Hurzeler: 18/1

Thomas Frank, Julen Lopetegui, Gary O’Neil: 20/1

Arne Slot: 25/1

Unai Emery, Pep Guardiola: 33/1

Mikel Arteta, No Manager To Leave: 50/1