Odds Indicate Five Candidates for West Brom as Manager Pursuit Narrows
West Bromwich Albion have done superbly in the past few years under the guidance of Carlos Corberan. However, with the Spanish head coach heading to his boyhood club Valencia, the Baggies are now looking for a new head coach.
Next West Brom Manager Odds
Below are the latest betting odds for West Brom's next permanent manager at the time of this post.
West Brom need to fill a Corberan-sized gap
After a brief spell in Greece, Carlos Corberan returned to England where the head coach position at West Bromwich Albion was awaiting him. In his first season, the Spaniard guided the Midlands outfit up to ninth and in the following season, he guided his side to fifth place but fell to the eventually promoted side, Southampton.
In the first half of the 2024/25 season, he had guided the club to a top-six spot, and then his boyhood club Valencia came knocking. An offer too good to turn down, and now West Brom are looking for an almost miracle-like appointment.
The Baggies have been a difficult team to manage over the past few years, but Corberan has split things very well, ensuring that things on and off the pitch are kept separate. So now, there is a big task ahead of them to replace him.
Reports have suggested an appointment is being hoped for in the next 10 days at the time of writing (January 8), and with the odds still not showing a clear favourite it is certainly a difficult market to call.
Next West Brom Manager Odds - The Bookies' Favourites
Let's go over the favourites to replace Carlos Corberan and the odds for each manager.
John Eustace - 5/2
Starting this list with a 5/2 shout proves how difficult it is to call who will follow Corberan because whoever takes the job has to be a full package. There are vast differences between Huddersfield Town and West Brom, but when the Spaniard left West Yorkshire, the club collapsed.
It is, therefore, vital that the Baggies get this appointment spot on, and it is certainly possible. John Eustace could be a fantastic appointment in many ways, so he is not a 'bad' place to start.
After a year and a half with Birmingham City, who were struggling on and off the pitch, he moved to Blackburn Rovers last season and has turned the club around somewhat. The Lancashire side sit within the playoff race, despite the continued dramas and frustrations at Ewood.
It could be argued that he is the best possible candidate with all things considered, but the Baggies luring him away from Lancashire will be an enormous challenge mid-season.
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £40 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 7 days |
Raphael Wicky - 3/1
It is nothing new for Championship clubs, especially those towards the top, to experiment with head coaches away from England and Raphael Wicky could be a superb appointment on paper.
The Swissman had a fantastic career across Europe and when he hung his boots up, he managed in America either side of jobs in Switzerland with Basel and more recently Young Boys. With the latter, he won the top flight and Swiss Cup which saw him manage in the Champions League, certainly an impressive CV.
It is perhaps worth noting that Ladbrokes have the Swissman down at Evens, whilst he is priced at 3/1 elsewhere, so perhaps he could be a favoured shout.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
| Min. Deposit | £10 |
|---|---|
| Max. Amount | £30 |
| Turnover | No wagering |
| Expiration | 7 days |
Igor Tudor, Steven Schumacher & Tony Mowbray - 7/2
This trio all provide interesting options, and it is worth offering each air time.
Schumacher, for me, is the most likely of the trio to be appointed. His work with Stoke looks even better with their persistent struggles since his departure, and a move within the Championship is surely calling.
Tony Mowbray and Igor Tudor do not seem like realistic options, and it is quite surprising to see both attached to the odds for this job. Taking a Championship job doesn't really feel logical for Tudor, whereas I'm unsure if Mowbray would provide what is required for the Albion.
The Odds Elsewhere
With the market wide at the top, there are a heap of other names attached to the odds list, each ranging with feasibility.
For example, Jose Mourinho is 66/1 despite becoming the favourite for the Everton job on January 7, whilst Erik ten Hag is also listed as a potential candidate, again at 66/1.
In terms of realistic ideas, Liam Manning is named at 9/1 with Ladbrokes but leaving Bristol City feels slightly silly considering where the Robins are. Gareth Southgate is listed at 10/1, which again feels quite ridiculous on the face of it.
Odds on West Brom to Get Promoted
As of January 8, West Brom are best-priced at 5/2 to be promoted to the Premier League in 2024-25, a big task for any manager coming in.
Ben is an accredited football journalist who follows anything from League One to Serie A, also working for the likes of SempreMilan and Total Italian Football. As an avid punter, he has become the master tester at BettingLounge, refusing to take bookies by their words when it comes to withdrawal times and much more.