Next Watford Manager Odds & Tips: Steve Cooper Favourite

Steve Cooper makes a lot of sense as a replacement manager at this stage. The Welshman has a fantastic record in the Championship, losing the play-off final against Brentford in 2021 after a fourth-place finish with Swansea and winning the play-off final against Huddersfield in 2022/23.

He struggled in the Premier League, but thinking that far ahead currently isn't wise. After all, Watford are struggling in the Championship. If - and it's a big if - he could be tempted to manage in England again, it would be a fantastic hire.

With him out of a job currently, it's certainly possible.

I'm not going to spend too much time on this price, simply because I don't think it'll happen. Corberan hasn't managed in England since taking Huddersfield Town to the play-off final against Nottingham Forest and if he were to return, the job would have to be bigger than a struggling Watford side.

He's being linked - albeit at a big price - to join Crystal Palace and that would be more fitting. Leaving Valencia to end up coaching Watford would be a huge step down for him; I just can't see it happening.

Now this is a really interesting one. Challinor is one of my favourite coaches in the EFL, considering what he did with Stockport and even Hartlepool before them, and he's currently a free agent after leaving the Hatters in the summer.

Challinor could certainly step up to the Championship; considering his fantastic record, Watford would be making a very smart move. However, their trajectories seem to be a little different. If anyone would be gambling here, it would be Challinor, not Watford...

It'd be a smart hire, but I struggle to see it happening.

Away from those three, there are a few names of interest, but the market as a whole isn't much of an interest to me right now...

Rob Edwards and Jan Dahl Tomasson are currently priced at 12/1, and I think we can discount Edwards now. He managed the Hornets before, got sacked, then took their biggest rivals to the Premier League. It just doesn't seem likely.

You'd be mistaken for thinking Tomasson had managed Watford before too; he certainly has the profile for it. So, I don't mind his odds at 12/1. Again, he's out of a job and his CV is respectable, so it'd make sense.

At 14/1, Richie Wellens is another name of potential interest. His rise up the ranks has been phenomenal and whilst it would be a challenge to take him away from Leyton Orient - who he has coached since 2022 - it wouldn't be impossible. It'd be another smart hire, but whether he'd inspire the fanbase is something else entirely.

Finally, I think Marti Cifuentes could be a name of interest at 25/1. Watford have hired plenty of Spaniards in recent years and Cifuentes could be another on that list. His stock has dropped a lot since his time with QPR, and he currently manages Portland Timbers. A chance to return to England could appeal, though.