{"id":1410554,"date":"2025-11-13T09:03:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T09:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1410554"},"modified":"2025-11-13T09:52:02","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T09:52:02","slug":"next-swansea-city-manager-odds","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/next-swansea-city-manager-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"Next Swansea City manager odds: Could Kim Hellberg replace Alan Sheehan?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Swansea City are searching for a new head coach following the departure of Alan Sheehan, who was sacked after six months in the permanent job.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheehan leaves the club 18th in the Championship<\/a> with four wins from 15 matches so far this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Swans will now use November’s international break to contemplate potential candidates for the vacancy, which could include Kim Hellberg, who has emerged as the early favourite in the betting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next Swansea City manager odds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Manager<\/th>Odds<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Kim Hellberg<\/td>2\/7<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Brendan Rodgers<\/td>7\/2<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Michael Carrick<\/td>10\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Gary O’Neil<\/td>10\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Russell Martin<\/td>25\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Laim Manning<\/td><\/a>25\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Will Still<\/td><\/a>25\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Wayne Rooney<\/td><\/a>25\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Carlos Corberan<\/td><\/a>25\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Michael Beale<\/td><\/a>25\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Odds courtesy of BetVictor and are correct as of 13\/11\/2025.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beware the high-performing caretaker<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Alan Sheehan made an enormous impact at Swansea in an interim capacity, and his record at the Liberty Stadium is rather impressive if you include his record in temporary charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, for the Swans to have dropped to 18th with one win in seven is somewhat disappointing after a summer of reasonable investment, and whether or not that justifies the ultimate decision, the club have opted for change.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The caretaker can feel like the best option when they\u2019re maximising the squad and the form is electric, but Sheehan didn\u2019t have an enormous coaching pedigree, nor managerial experience, so it\u2019s understandable that the club looked elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kim Hellberg the early favourite<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The hot odds-on 2\/7 frontrunner to replace the former Luton defender is Kim Hellberg, who\u2019s impressing with Hammarby IF, after they finished runners-up to Mjallby AIF in the Allsvenskan last season <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coaches who have enjoyed a meteoric rise in their careers always carry a degree of curiosity and excitement \u2013 they almost appeal from a romantic perspective sometimes as much as a practical one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Hellberg\u2019s case, he began his journey at 23 in 2011 with Kimstad GoIF, winning the Division Five (Swedish 7th-tier) title in his first season, and the rest stemmed from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hellberg’s tactical style and principles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One huge advantage of appointing a coach who has worked with nearly every level of footballer, presumably down to the amateur game, is that they\u2019ve already demonstrated outstanding adaptability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can improve anyone, they know how to implement their ideas in a realistic way, and there\u2019s no challenge you can throw at them that would faze them, because they\u2019ve been a dogsbody at other clubs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, Danny Rohl has got Sheffield Wednesday challenging for the top six with a bottom six squad on paper, with a 2-3-5 in-possession system.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In summary, Hellberg\u2019s sides strategise in response to the opposition: one action for them = another action for us, but there are certain principles of play that remain constant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, his IFK Varnamo side \u2013 a modestly-supported Swedish club with a history in the lower leagues, whom he led to 5th in the Allsvenskan in 2023 \u2013 liked their \u2018artificial transitions\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They responded to the press by playing a slower initial pass to draw the press on further, two quicker ones to unhinge their opponents, followed by one ball that really opens the game up \u2013 whether it\u2019s a through ball or a Crossfield diagonal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That approach could fit nicely with the technical but dynamic midfield Swansea possess, with the likes of Ethan Galbraith and Melker Widell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hellberg is also not a believer in formations, as opposed to shapes, and he likes to change his shapes to combat opponents, but always with the intention of controlling central spaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can deduce from this that the 35-year-old has an agile mind, and prides himself on strong in-game management; Hellberg\u2019s flexibility, underpinned by a set of core principles, makes him a hugely attractive proposition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other potential options for the Swans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As for the other candidates? A return for Brendan Rodgers<\/strong> at 7\/2 seems a tad optimistic, as the Northern Irishman could fancy himself for a Premier League job. Even if his stock has taken a slight hit from his second stint at Celtic \u2013 depending on whether you think his grievances over the way they\u2019re run internally hold water.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking of former managers coming back, Russell Martin <\/strong>is available at 25\/1, which oddly feels likelier than Rodgers. The best stint of his managerial career so far came at the Liberty, he seemed to be well-liked by the Jack Army, and he\u2019s won promotion from this level with Southampton, albeit with a far bigger budget.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Carrick<\/strong> at 10\/1 could be a realistic option too. He fits with the stylistic ethos of the club, and with successful Championship experience, having led Middlesbrough — who are also searching for a new manager<\/a> — into play-off and promotion contention in the last three seasons, despite an underwhelming conclusion to his reign there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liam Manning<\/strong> at 25\/1 would be a tough sell, after an ill-fated stint at Norwich, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer<\/strong> looks a fun outside shout at 33\/1, with the developmental promise he showed at Manchester United \u2013 he relegated Cardiff City in 2014, which would make him an instant hit.<\/p>\n\n\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n