Michael Carrick has suddenly become the leading candidate in the bookmakers’ market to be the first Premier League manager dismissed during the 2026/27 season, following Manchester United’s disappointing opening-day defeat to newly promoted Hull City.

Carrick’s position had appeared relatively secure before the start of the campaign. Manchester United had finished the previous season strongly, made additions to their squad during the summer transfer window and enjoyed a reasonably encouraging pre-season. Expectations were therefore high that the team would begin the new campaign positively, particularly with a relatively favourable opening run of fixtures.

Instead, United suffered a shock 2-0 defeat away to Hull on Saturday. The result immediately placed additional pressure on Carrick, with the performance proving almost as concerning as the final score. Although United enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the match, they struggled to turn their control of the ball into meaningful attacking opportunities and looked vulnerable in several areas.

The defeat was especially damaging because Hull have only recently returned to the Premier League. United were expected to have too much quality and experience for the newly promoted side, making the loss one of the biggest surprises of the opening weekend.

Before the match, Manchester United had reason to feel confident. Their strong finish to the previous campaign had created optimism, while the club had also strengthened several areas of the squad during the summer. A solid pre-season appeared to offer further encouragement that Carrick’s team was ready to make a better start this time around.

However, the defeat exposed several weaknesses that had already been discussed during the summer. United’s squad still appears short of depth in certain positions, something that could become increasingly important as the season develops. With Champions League football added to the domestic schedule, Carrick will need to manage his players carefully while maintaining competitive performances across multiple competitions.

The early fixture list had also increased expectations. United were due to face Hull and Ipswich in their opening two league matches before travelling to Everton for their third game. On paper, this represented an excellent opportunity to collect points and build momentum at the beginning of the campaign.

That makes the defeat at Hull particularly significant. Dropping points against a newly promoted side was not part of the expected plan, and the poor performance has already caused bookmakers to reassess Carrick’s position.

According to Betfair, Carrick’s odds of becoming the first Premier League manager to lose his job have dramatically shortened. He was previously available at 33/1, but following the Hull defeat his odds were cut to 6/1, making him the current favourite.

The dramatic change reflects how quickly perceptions can shift in football. Only one match into the season, Carrick has gone from being a relatively unlikely candidate to the leading name in the betting market. His position is now under considerably more scrutiny, although bookmakers’ odds should not be interpreted as confirmation that Manchester United are planning to dismiss him.

Carrick has moved ahead of Frank Lampard and Sergej Jakirović, who are both listed at 7/1. Jakirović’s position is particularly interesting because his Hull side was responsible for the result that caused Carrick’s odds to collapse in the first place.

The bookmakers have also begun considering potential replacements should Manchester United eventually decide to make a managerial change. One name stands out clearly at the top of that market: former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.

Howe left Newcastle during the summer to take a break from management, but his availability has immediately made him an obvious candidate for clubs searching for a new manager. Betfair currently lists him as the favourite to replace Carrick at Old Trafford should the Manchester United job become available.

Howe’s managerial experience in the Premier League makes him an attractive option. During his time at Newcastle, he helped transform the club into a competitive side capable of challenging near the top end of the league. His reputation for developing players and establishing an organised team structure could make him a natural candidate for Manchester United if the club eventually decides that a change is necessary.

Behind Howe in the betting are two highly experienced coaches with international reputations. Julian Nagelsmann is priced at 10/3, while Thomas Tuchel is listed at 4/1. Both would represent major managerial appointments and would bring significant tactical experience to Old Trafford.

The changing odds were highlighted by Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom, who explained that Carrick had become the leading candidate in the market following United’s unexpected defeat. According to Rosbottom, Carrick’s odds had been dramatically reduced from 33/1 to 6/1 after the opening-day result.

Rosbottom also pointed to several other managers whose positions have come under pressure following disappointing results. Lampard and Jakirović are both available at 7/1, putting them immediately behind Carrick in the betting.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has also seen his odds shorten. Following Tottenham’s defeat to Brentford, his price reportedly moved from 16/1 to 17/2. The change indicates that bookmakers are also paying close attention to the performances of other managers whose teams have made difficult starts.

Unai Emery has experienced an even more dramatic movement. His odds have reportedly fallen from 50/1 to 12/1 after his side suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat against Brighton. Such a significant adjustment demonstrates just how much influence individual results can have on the betting market, particularly early in a season.

Other managers featuring among the candidates include Matthias Jaissle and Regis Le Bris, both of whom are priced at 12/1. Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is available at much longer odds of 40/1 ahead of Chelsea’s opening match against Fulham.

Despite the betting speculation, it would be premature to conclude that Carrick is in immediate danger of losing his job. The season has only just begun, and one poor result is unlikely to determine the long-term future of a manager who had previously earned considerable goodwill through his work with the team.

Nevertheless, the Hull defeat has undoubtedly increased the pressure surrounding Manchester United. The club cannot afford to repeat such performances regularly, especially given the expectations surrounding the team and the demands of Champions League football.

Carrick’s immediate priority will be to ensure that the defeat does not develop into a wider crisis. United have the opportunity to respond quickly in their next fixture against Ipswich, where a convincing performance could help calm concerns and restore confidence.

For now, however, Carrick finds himself in an uncomfortable position. The bookmakers have moved him dramatically from a 33/1 outsider to a 6/1 favourite to be the first Premier League manager sacked. At the same time, Eddie Howe has emerged as the leading candidate to replace him, followed by Nagelsmann and Tuchel.

Ultimately, the situation will be determined on the pitch rather than in the betting market. If Carrick can guide United back to winning form, the current speculation could disappear just as quickly as it emerged. But if the disappointing performance against Hull proves to be the beginning of a poor run, pressure on the Manchester United boss could increase rapidly.

The opening weekend has therefore delivered an unexpected storyline: a manager who entered the season with optimism is already facing questions about his future, while potential successors are being discussed before the campaign has barely begun.