Next England Manager Odds: Manchester City's Pep Guardiola the new favourite

Pep Guardiola is the new favourite to become the next permanent manager of England with bet365 having now taken over a thousand bets on the serial trophy winner.

bet365’s Steve Freeth said: “Lee Carsley may currently be in the England hot seat after the departure of Gareth Southgate, but our customers are seemingly telling us he’s only keeping it warm for one person and that person is Guardiola.

“It feels like it would be quite a coup by the FA to get somebody of the quality and stature of Pep and with so much uncertainty regarding the Spaniard’s future at Manchester City, a lot of punters are putting two and two together with the price tumbling from 25/1 into 2/1 over the last week or so."

Next England Manager odds

(Odds will display when market is available)

Following Southgate's departure after the conclusion of England's Euro 2024 campaign, the Football Association opted to appoint Under-21s head coach Lee Carsley on an interim basis ahead of the upcoming Nations League schedule.

While it will be an opportunity for Carsley to showcase his credentials, the FA reiterated that they will be using the time to conduct an extensive recruitment process and rumours have been circulating as to who is on their shortlist.

Graham Potter, who has remained out of work since his unceremonious exit at Chelsea in April 2023, has long been touted for the position, along with Newcastle United's Eddie Howe.

However, reports emerged in late July that the FA may be willing to bide their time in an attempt to lure Guardiola into the England role.

Overseeing an unprecedented period of success at Manchester City, the Catalan is out of contract at the end of the 2024/25 season and uncertainty remains as to whether Guardiola will remain at the Etihad beyond next summer.

The 53-year-old has previously flirted with the idea of entering international management and if England were to coax Guardiola, their ambitions to win the World Cup in 2026 may be of temptation.

As managerial appointments go, Guardiola taking on the Three Lions job would be one for the ages.

Jaquob Crooke

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