Football

Watford Manager Speculation – Cooper Favourite To Replace Sacked Cleverley

Shane Orton Sports Editor

Published06 May 2025

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Tom Cleverley has been sacked by the Hornets after they missed out on the Championship play-offs – leading to the Sportscasting traders creating the next Watford manager betting odds market.

A former Premier League manager is the favourite to get the job – but a man who beat Liverpool earlier this year is also in the running.

Next Watford Manager Betting Odds: Steve Cooper Fancied To Get The Job

Steve Cooper 4/1
Miron Muslic 13/2
Alberto Garrido 7/1
John Mousinho 9/1
Jose Rojo Martin 10/1
Marti Cifuentes 10/1
Russell Martin 10/1
Sean Dyche 11/1
Gary O’Neil 12/1
Lee Carsley 12/1
Robert Page 12/1
Ruud van Nistelrooy 12/1
David Wagner 14/1
Richie Wellens 14/1
Gary Rowett 16/1
Michael Beale 16/1
Ruben Selles 16/1
Gareth Southgate 16/1
Ivan Juric 20/1
Philippe Clement 20/1
Ryan Mason 20/1
Will Still 20/1
John Eustace 22/1
Steve Bruce 22/1
Dave Challinor 25/1
Danny Rohl 25/1
Garry Monk 25/1
Troy Deeney 25/1
Daniel Farke 33/1
Diego Martinez 33/1
Liam Manning 33/1
Luke Williams 33/1
Frank Lampard 40/1
Rob Edwards 50/1
Wayne Rooney 50/1

Note: Odds are subject to change. Feel free to use these odds in any news publications. Please credit sportscasting.com/uk if you’re using.

Next Watford Manager Betting Odds Market Sees Steve Cooper As Favourite

Steve Cooper has a very good track record in the Championship – which has led to him being installed as the favourite in the next Watford manager market by traders at the best betting sites in the UK.

Cooper was in charge of Nottingham Forest when they were promoted to the Premier League in May 2022. He had taken Swansea to the play-offs in the previous two seasons.

Despite being sacked by Forest and Leicester in the last 18 months, Cooper’s stock is still high, and he is a worthy favourite to become the next Watford manager.

Could Watford Appoint A Manager Who Beat Liverpool This Season?

Watford Manager Speculation - Cooper Favourite To Replace Sacked Cleverley — Miron Muslic

At the start of this year, most English football fans hadn’t have heard of Miron Muslic. Then his Plymouth team beat Liverpool – and that changed.

Muslic had been in charge of the Devon club for less than a month when they knocked quadruple-chasing Liverpool out of the FA Cup.

He has done such a good job at Plymouth since replacing Wayne Rooney that it is surely just a matter of time until another club snaps him up – and oddsmakers have him as the second favourite in the next Watford manager market.

Leicester Boss Ruud van Nistelrooy Linked With Watford

Ruud van Nistelrooy has had a terrible time at Leicester – but he is right in contention to replace his fellow former Manchester United player Tom Cleverley at Watford.

Van Nistelrooy has presided over an awful run of results since he took over as Leicester manager in November, resulting in their relegation from the Premier League.

But he is still a highly-rated coach following his time in charge of PSV Eindhoven, and he is the sort of big-name appointment that Watford’s owner could go for if they decide to get rid of Cleverley this summer.

Russell Martin Tipped As Possible Next Watford Manager

Less than a year ago, Russell Martin guided Southampton to promotion to the Premier League – so it is no surprise that he is one of the favourites for the Watford job.

Martin built a very good reputation for himself at MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton – playing a possession-based style of play.

He was sacked by the Saints in December, but the fact he is a free agent will make him an even more attractive option to Watford.

Commentary: sportscasting.com/uk spokesman Shane Orton reacted to our ‘Next Tottenham Manager Betting Odds’ saying:

“Watford’s owners are not known for their patience and have spent almost £20million on managerial sackings in the last few years, which is an incredible amount of money. There was an air of inevitability about the sacking of Tom Cleverley given their failure to make the Championship play-offs.

“Steve Cooper has struggled in the Premier League, but he’s proven at Championship level and is the obvious favourite for the job.

“However, Miron Muslic has done very well at Plymouth and will be high on Watford’s hit-list.

“Alberto Garrido was recently brought into the club from Real Madrid to be part of Tom Cleverley’s backroom staff. Could he be promoted to the main job?