Former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has been linked with a shock return to East London as the pressure continues to mount on an increasingly beleaguered Graham Potter.
Potter is odds-on to be the next Premier League manager sacked with UK betting sites, and it has now emerged that Slaven Bilic is in contention to return to the club he managed between 2015 and 2017. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs has revealed the West Ham shortlist also includes Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche, but the most eye-catching revelation is undoubtedly that owner David Sullivan “favours turning to former boss Bilic”.
Next West Ham manager betting odds
| Manager | Next West Ham Manager Odds | Probability |
| Nuno Espirito Santo | 1/2 | 67% |
| Slaven Bilic | 6/4 | 40% |
| Gary O’Neil | 8/1 | 11% |
| Scott Parker | 10/1 | 9.1% |
| Liam Rosenior | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Sean Dyche | 12/1 | 7.7% |
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Given the update form Jacobs, it’s little surprise to see Espirito Santo featuring prominently in the West Ham manager betting. The Portuguese may have recently been sacked by Nottingham Forest, but he is widely perceived to have done well in his time at the City Ground, guiding Forest back into European competition for the first time since the 1995/96 season.
It’s Bilic who is next on the list, despite being out of work since leaving Al-Fateh by mutual consent in August 2024. Other potential contenders range from more progressive appointments like Liam Rosenior to perceived firefighters like Sean Dyche, while Scott Parker’s presence towards the top of the West Ham manager odds may split the fanbase, given the frosty reception he received after leaving for Spurs as a player.
Gary O’Neil a dark horse to watch
Away from the favourites, it appears that Gary O’Neil also shouldn’t be discounted. The former Bournemouth and Wolves manager also played for West Ham on 56 occasions, and the Independent’s Chief Football Writer, Miguel Delaney, has claimed that he’s an option if West Ham do part ways with Potter. O’Neil is currently a free agent, so the Hammers wouldn’t need to pay compensation for the 42-year-old who has seen his odds to take over trimmed from 16/1 to 8/1.
Why is Graham Potter under pressure?
The appointment of Graham Potter was seen as something of a coup when it was first announced. However just six wins in 24 games since Potter’s appointment have seen the clouds gather, and the pressure gradually mount. The loss of Mohammed Kudus in the summer was a big blow, while the signing of £20 million keeper Mads Hermansen has failed to shore up a leaky defence.
A 3-0 defeat to newly promoted Sunderland on the opening day of the season meant Potter was immediately under fire after the summer break, and heavy home defeats to Chelsea and Tottenham have only heightened the anxiety that surrounds the London Stadium at present.
