Next Cardiff City Manager Odds

By Matthew Glazier  | 

Jan 26th, 2023 06:27 AM  |  6 mins

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*Odds correct as of 26 January, 2023

Cardiff City fans are still waiting to find out who will replace Mark Hudson as their permanent manager. There have been some significant price movements on betting sites in the past few days, with Dean Smith now trading as the favourite to take charge. It appears likely that the Bluebirds will opt for someone with plenty of experience, although Sam Allardyce and Neil Warnock have drifted on the market.

Smith has been the subject of a gamble for this football betting market and the former Aston Villa boss has plenty of Championship experience. According to the prices on the best betting apps, former Nottingham Forest coach Sabri Lamouchi could also be on the shortlist.

Dean Smith Could Be a Worthy Candidate

Dean Smith is out of work once again after recently parting company with Norwich City. The East Anglian club felt as though they needed to make a change after some underwhelming performances and results, with the former Aston Villa manager now considering his next options. 

Smith has largely had a successful coaching career, with Walsall and Brentford benefitting from him taking charge before Aston Villa came calling. The Brummie was able to steer the Villans into the Premier League and keep them afloat, although he was overlooked in favour of Steven Gerrard more recently.

Although Norwich City were relegated under Smith last season, he inherited a difficult situation and the Canaries initially looked like promotion contenders this season. However, the manager was sacked and could be prepared to consider the Cardiff role.

Time For Big Sam to Play It Again?

Sam Allardyce is now favourite to replace Mark Hudson at Cardiff, and it would mark a sensational return to football management for the former England boss. The 68-year-old is vastly experienced when it comes to managing in both the Championship and Premier League, with Big Sam's last job being in charge of West Brom until the club were relegated to the Championship in 2021.

That relegation was a rare blot on the copybook of a manager who had previously been successful at keeping teams afloat in the top flight, and he's also done well with clubs in the Championship. He has recently enjoyed spells at Everton and Crystal Palace, while he was also successful with Bolton, Blackburn, West Ham and Sunderland.

Perhaps Allardyce will feel as though a short-term contract at Cardiff could be interesting, and it's likely that the club will offer him a bonus for keeping them in the second flight of English football.

Lamouchi Linked to Championship Return

Some football fans might recall that Sabri Lamouchi had a short spell in charge of Nottingham Forest, with the Frenchman enjoying a stint at the City Ground between 2019-20. Forest occupied a place in the Championship play-off spots for the majority of the sason before dropping out in the final few games.

However, Lamouchi has been linked to a return to England and perhaps Cardiff might call upon his services. He has more recently been in charge at Al-Duhail where he presided over 32 games in Qatar and had a solid record of eighteen wins and five draws in thirty-two matches.

Neil Warnock Among Favourites for Cardiff Return

Neil Warnock is a very experienced football manager who could be the safe pair of hands that Cardiff City want and need right now. Ultimately, this is a season where the Bluebirds don't want to find themselves in League One, and the club find themselves three points above the relegation zone after accruing just 29 points from 28 games.

Warnock has previously led Cardiff into the Premier League, and perhaps there has already been a conversation where the 74-year-old has shown a willingness to step in and help the club preserve their second tier status. The leading sports betting apps often get wind of something and this is reflected in the latest odds.

Warnock has managed at a huge number of clubs and was most recently in charge at Middlesbrough last season. He announced his retirement from management on 9 April 2022, although the latest betting market suggests it could have been a false dawn!

Neil Lennon Another Name in the Frame

Neil Lennon has been out of work since leaving Omonia in 2022 after a short spell with the Cyprus club. The Northern Irishman has previously had two spells in charge of Celtic as well as roles at Bolton and Hibernian. It might be that the 51-year-old is prepared to take a short-term contract at Cardiff City, with the best football betting sites now offering single figure odds that he replaces Mark Hudson.

Lennon's time with Celtic certainly means he can handle the big occasion and perhaps the Welsh club will turn to someone who is regarded as a fiery character on the touchline. However, it might be regarded as a risky appointment by many supporters.

Liam Manning Among Cardiff Manager Favourites

Liam Manning is currently a free agent, and he's at the opposite end of the spectrum to Warnock. The 37-year-old is regarded as a promising young manager who was in charge of the West Ham Under-23 team between 2015 and 2019, while he more recently too charge of MK Dons and was regarded as doing a sterling job until this season.

Last year, the Dons could have been automatically promoted from League One and there was optimism that his team would be able to mount a solid challenge this time around. However, Manning was relieved of his duties in December after the Dons could only secure 15 points from 20 games.

Manning could throw his hat into the ring when it comes to the vacant Cardiff position, with the Bluebirds having to decide to go with another young manager or alternatively plump for someone with more experience.

Valerien Ismael Could Be Set for Championship Return

Ismael has taken charge of Barnsley and West Brom in recent seasons, with the Frenchman having done some sterling work with the former, steering the Tykes to the Championship play-offs. After missing out in the 2020/21 season, he was then given the opportunity to jump ship and manage West Brom in the 2021/22 campaign.

Things didn't work at The Hawthorns, where Ismael took charge for just 31 games where Albion won 12, drew nine and lost 10 of their clashes. West Brom and their manager parted company in February, although the former LASK coach was soon back in employment, when taking charge of Turkish club Besiktas between March and October last year.

Cardiff might pin their hopes on a manager who had performed so well on a similar budget at Barnsley, and he was able to make the Tykes promotion contenders, although Ismael might want assurances when it comes to budget.

Will Dean Whitehead Be Promoted From Within?

Mark Hudson went from interim to permanent manager at Cardiff, and perhaps Dean Whitehead will follow the same trajectory. The latter is trading among the favourites to become the next permanent coach. Like any caretaker boss, he will surely have aspirations to take charge and help to guide the Bluebirds away from trouble.

The 41-year-old has never held a main management role at a football club, having been the assistant manager at Shrewsbury Town before having a stint on the sidelines at Besiktas. He has also held a coaching role at Huddersfield and worked under David Wagner at the Yorkshire club, while he helped Port Vale achieve promotion to League One last term.

However, one can't help but feel that Whitehead is keeping the spot warm for a more experienced candidate, even if he might remain at the club in some shape or form.

Chris Wilder Another Experienced Manager in the Frame

Chris Wilder has been in charge of four Football League clubs and he can claim to have enjoyed a successful managerial career. The 55-year-old is best known for his achievements at Sheffield United, with the Blades situated in League One when he took charge. They were swiftly able to land promotion to the Championship before reaching the Premier League and then staying in the top flight.

Wilder left Bramall Lane in 2021 with the club struggling to stay afloat. The former Oxford and Northampton boss more recently had a spell with Middlesbrough. Although things went well last season including an FA Cup run at the Teeside club, Boro were loitering near the foot of the Championship table when Wilder eventually left the Riverside this season.

However, he could well make the shortlist for a role such as this one and would clearly bring some organisation to a Cardiff team who need to get results fast to stay in the Championship.