The pressure is mounting on the Manchester United manager and he's now favourite to be the first top-flight boss to leave his position this season
Tottenham's 3-0 win over Manchester United has seen the bookmakers slash the odds on Jose Mourinho to win the "sack race".
This market refers to which Premier League manager will leave his position first and is often an indicator of confidence in the candidates' current standing at their respective clubs.
William Hill are 10/11 (1.91) that Mourinho is the first manager to leave. The defeat at Old Trafford now means the 55-year-old has lost two of the first three league matches in a season for the first time in his illustrious career.
The Portuguese was 7/2 (4.50) before Monday's clash, but it's understandable to now see him as the odds-on frontrunner, especially after walking out of his post-match press conference citing his achievements compared to the current crop of top flight managers.
While the prices have been adjusted because of Monday’s result, it seems unlikely that the United boss will choose to walk away from his position soon and it would be a huge decision to sack the high-profile manager that was given a new contract in January.
A change might be in offing over the coming months - especially if results don't improve significantly - but there are several other managers coming under pressure following poor starts to the campaign.
The value could be Mark Hughes at 9/2 (5.50). The Southampton manager has drifted because of Mourinho's position, but Saints have started the season poorly and it could get worse based on their schedule.
One point from three matches against Burnley, Watford and Leicester doesn't bode well for future encounters against tougher opposition. Hughes' side visit Crystal Palace next before facing Brighton and Liverpool following the international break.
Failure to secure three points in their opening clashes will only see the pressure mount on a manager who has a thin-looking squad who could only finish 17th last term.
Rafael Benitez is 5/1 (6.0) after a difficult start to the season at Newcastle United, ahead of 7/1 (8.0) shot Claude Puel who remains short in the betting despite back-to-back wins in the Foxes hot seat.
Manuel Pellegrini is 10/1 (11.0) but he and Neil Warnock (11/1) are likely to be afforded more leeway in their roles than those at the head of the market.
CR7ICON
87
there's now a SACK RACE ???
THEanonymousX
83
prakashcr7
71
Guys Jose mourinho needs Respect. Let's take a moment and Respect jose mourinho. 🙏🙏😂😂
RuchinShroff
56
Yeah absolutely! He is not only the bookies fav to get sacked but also in the mind of all football fans to get sacked!
Nusbdlsuz
52
why always accusing coaches?. even players are playing the role for not doing better. if to sack coaches some players need to be sack.
Armathon24
41
Mourhinho is close to getting sacked. He is going to be sacked. No doubt. But the question is when? This 3 weeks? On December? or end of the season? And the main question is who will replace him? Maybe Zinedine Zidane? Or Conte lol. Manchester united have to take an important decision to stay at top 4.
shah2468
38
Tactics was wrong... he set up his team so high with no width and no coordination. United gets the ball to De Gea and he kicks it 60yrds into Spurs half. The full backs were so high up the pitch that they couldn't defend. And Spurs punished United for such set up. One thing Mou wanted to achieve in this game is to show that United can press but pressing isn't done with just full backs very high up the pitch. United were lost in the middle of the park. No build up play... just the old kick and run and football has moved from such style of play. Dnt get me wrong, united has quality players but the set up is just bad. Thats why they can't keep up with teams that can build up play. I think Mou should swallow his ego and come to terms with the way the game is been played now. They were so lucky against Leicester city.