Four ex-Red Devils lead bookies race for Irish job

The four Betfair.com bookmakers' favourites to get the vacant Republic of Ireland manager's job are all former Manchester United players - including a former Red Devils manager, and two ex-club captains.

The role is vacant after Stephen Kenny's contract was not renewed after failing to lead his country to the finals of Euro 2024. 

He left the role in November - following a 1-1 draw with New Zealand,

The Republic had a disastrous Euro 2024 qualifying campaign - only taking points off of Gibraltar, and losing all matches home and away against France, Netherlands and Greece. 

Former United defender John O'Shea was placed in interim charge amid the Football Association of Ireland search for a replacement - and while a recent 0-0 friendly draw with Belgium impressed, this was followed by a 1-0 loss to Switzerland.

According to Betfair.com, as of Saturday (13 April) O'Shea is favourite for the role - but is by no means a shoe-in to be offered the post permanently - priced at 13/8 to get the nod. But he's joined in the running by three former Red Devils - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (10/3), Roy Keane (11/2) and Steve Bruce (17/2), with the four former Manchester United men heading up the Betfair Sportsbook market. 

Solskjaer - whose odds recently plummeted for the role - has been out of management since leaving the Old Trafford hot seat in 2021, and has also been linked with the Bayern Munich job. 

Keane, meanwhile, has been out of management since 2011 - when he left Ipswich Town. The former Sunderland boss was recently tentatively linked with the Wales hot seat, and there has been increasing speculation he could be set to return to management after more than a decade out.

Bruce was an early favourite for the role - and remains a bookies rider despite speculation having significantly cooled. The former Manchester United captain, 63, most recently managed West Bromwich Albion - and is the one of the four who most recently managed permanently, having left the Hawthorns in 2022. A stint as Irish boss would be his 13th gig in football management. 

A permanent appointment, however, could be some while away - suggesting there could be value in a longer odds candidate. 

FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill is to leave the organisation at the end of April - suggesting new leadership for the country, who have qualified for just two major tournaments since Sir Jack Charlton's side lit up World Cup 1994 - the World Cup in 2002 and the Euros in 2012.