William Hill Press Room
Ferguson's Odds Throughout The Ages...Hunt For Successor Is Biggest Ever
On January 6th 1990 (the day before Manchester United's FA Cup third round match away to Nottingham Forest), William Hill were offering 2/5 that Manchester United would have a new manager in place by the start of the following season. United were 5/2 to be relegated at the end of the 1989/90 season the same day.
On January 6th 1990 (the day before Manchester United's FA Cup third round match away to Nottingham Forest), William Hill were offering 2/5 that Manchester United would have a new manager in place by the start of the following season. United were 5/2 to be relegated at the end of the 1989/90 season the same day.
"The rumour is that had Mark Robins not scored against Forest, Ferguson was a goner and our odds at the time certainly indicate that is close to the mark," said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.
As the sides lined up to start the first ever Premier League campaign in 1992, William Hill made Manchester United the 6/1 fourth favourites ahead of Arsenal (9/4), Leeds (4/1) and Liverpool (5/1). After a poor start to the season, Manchester United had drifted to 10/1 and on the day that United signed Eric Cantona (27th November 1992) were 8/1 joint fourth favourites although they eventually lifted the trophy.
"Under Ferguson, United went from being 5/1 potential outsiders for the title, into serious contenders every season much to our continued chagrin," said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly.
When Sir Alex announced that he was going to retire in 2001, William Hill made Martin O'Neill the 9/4 favourite to take up the reins followed by Otmar Hitzfeld (4/1), Fabio Capello (6/1) and Steve McLaren (7/1).
Fast forward to 2013, David Moyes is the red-hot favourite to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager as the biggest EVER club manager market continues to prove lively. Moyes is 1/7 with William Hill to get the job ahead of Jose Mourinho at 4/1.
The market has attracted over £70,000 worth of bets after just six hours and has seen just two favourites. Moyes and Mourinho.
"If you compare this to any other club manager market that we have offered in the last 20 years, this dwarfs the lot," said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly. "We have taken six times as many bets in six hours on this market than we did for the entirety of the next Sunderland boss market a month ago."
How The Times Have Changed:
Next permanent Manchester United manager: 1/7 David Moyes; 4/1 Jose Mourinho; 20/1 Jurgen Klopp; 25/1 Ole Gunnar Solksjaer; 66/1 BAR
Manchester United favourites from May 19th 2001: 9/4 Martin O'Neill; 4/1 Otmar Hitzfeld; 6/1 Fabio Capello; 7/1 Steve McLaren; 14/1 Alan Curbishley; 14/1 Jean Tigana; 14/1 David O'Leary; 16/1 Terry Venables; 16/1 Arsene Wenger; 25/1 Sven Goran Eriksson; 66/1 Gerard Houllier
Premier League betting 92/93 season: 9/4 Arsenal; 4/1 Leeds; 5/1 Liverpool; 6/1 Manchester United; 8/1 BAR
2/5 - the odds of Manchester United having a new manager in place for the start of the 1991/92 season before FA Cup third round vs Nottingham Forest
Manchester United were 8/1 to win the Premier League on the day that they signed Eric Cantona (27th November 1992)
further information...joe crilly...07850 518 164
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