Cardiff City next manager odds as Premier League greats tipped but list tells its own story

Wales Online

23-04-2025

Cardiff City next manager odds as Premier League greats tipped but list tells its own story
The Bluebirds will be looking to appoint a new manager at the end of the season
Former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Gary O'Neil
(Image: Getty Images )
Aaron Ramsey's three-match reign as Cardiff City caretaker manager began with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Oxford United on Easter Monday.
Given the Bluebirds were the only team in the bottom five not to win on that day, it makes relegation to League One all the more likely, even if they do still have a puncher's chance in the final two matches.
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Supporters' eyes will doubtless turn to the bookmakers' odds list for who might be in line to take on the job this summer, however in all likelihood it will depend on which division the club finds itself in next season.
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Ramsey (3/1) himself leads the bookies' list of favourites, however the Wales captain appeared to dismiss that out of hand after his first game in charge, insisting he was going to recover from his most recent hamstring injury setback and is determined to don the boots again.
'I am just taking these three games. I'm still recovering from a hamstring operation, I'm still in the middle of rehab and I'm focused on getting back to full fitness," he said. "This is a role where it's going to be an intense 10 days now then I can relax and get back into my rehab. I'm just looking at the next two.'
It's not totally out of the realms of possibility that he takes on a player-manager role, of course, however that places a lot of potential strain and responsibility on him at an already crisis-stricken club. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
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Former Bluebirds midfielder Gary O'Neil is next on the list at 8/1. While Cardiff fans would bite your hand off to have him at the helm following his work with Bournemouth and Wolves, his last two jobs have been in the Premier League and it's highly unlikely he will drop down two divisions.
The same can be said of Sean Dyche (12/1) and Steven Gerrard (12/1), who will surely have their sights set higher. Indeed, former Swansea City manager Steve Cooper (12/1), who guided Nottingham Forest to the Premier League before taking over at Leicester City, was touted for the Bluebirds job after Erol Bulut left, but WalesOnline were told he was aiming higher than a relegation scrap in the second tier - therefore a League One club is almost certainly out of the question.
Rob Edwards (12/1) succeeded in League Two with Forest Green before getting sacked at Watford. He steered Luton to the Premier League, then to relegation again and endured a disaster in the second tier before his sacking. He might just end up keen on a League One club.
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Wayne Rooney (14/1) is an interesting one. A big name, something Vincent Tan is bound to like, a young manager but someone who has failed at three Championship clubs, he is likely to drop into League One. He'd represent a huge gamble, though, given his track record.
Neil Warnock (14/1) was always going to be on the list, but at 76, even for him, a permanent job in the dugout is surely beyond him now.
Another interesting name is Des Buckingham (16/1), who helped guide Oxford United to promotion from League One and has admirers among the City fan base.
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Clearly, though, the below list tells its own story. Full of star-studded names and experienced managers, all of whom are no doubt aiming higher up the pyramid, while the odd name or two sticks out as a potentially reasonable shout.
Either way, the picture is only likely to become far clearer once relegation is confirmed - or not, if that is somehow the case come full time at Carrow Road. The pool will get smaller and those more aspirational names will, very likely, disappear.
Cardiff City next manager odds
Aaron Ramsey 3/1
Gary O'Neil 8/1
Steven Gerrard 12/1
Sean Dyche 12/1
Steve Cooper 12/1
Rob Edwards 12/1
Liam Rosenior 14/1
Wayne Rooney 14/1
Neil Warnock 14/1
Ian Holloway 16/1
David Wagner 16/1
Des Buckingham 16/1
Shaun Maloney 16/1
Ryan Mason 16/1
Darren Moore 16/1
Grant McCann 16/1
Nathan Jones 16/1
Noel Hunt 16/1
Richie Wellens 16/1
Ralph Hasenhutl 20/1
Rob Page 20/1
Leighton Baines 20/1
Leam Richardson 20/1
Graham Alexander 20/1
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(Courtesy of BetVictor. 18+.) Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.