Chelsea secured their place in the FA Cup final after beating Leeds United on Sunday and interim manager Calum McFarlane’s odds of becoming the new permanent boss at Stamford Bridge have been slashed
Chelsea’s weekend victory has seen Calum McFarlane’s prospects of landing the permanent managerial role at Stamford Bridge shorten considerably in the betting markets. The Blues secured their place in the FA Cup final against Manchester City next month with a narrow win over Leeds United, Enzo Fernandez’s header proving the decisive moment at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
It marks yet another domestic final under Todd Boehly’s co-ownership, though their first in the FA Cup, having fallen at the semi-final stage in 2024 at the hands of Manchester City. Their most recent final appearance came in the EFL Cup in 2024, the occasion on which Gary Neville famously branded them the “blue billion-pound bottle jobs”.
The FA Cup final berth has seen McFarlane’s odds with William Hill cut to 10/1 to be appointed permanent manager at Stamford Bridge, nearly halving following Sunday’s victory over Leeds. Nevertheless, there remains plenty of ground to cover before he can genuinely persuade the board of his credentials, with reports suggesting he does not currently feature on their shortlist.
William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “Following Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final success over Leeds, interim boss Calum McFarlane has been cut from 16/1 to 10/1 step into the permanent role. He now follows six names in the betting, including ex-Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, who has entered the market at 8/1 following reports linking him to the role.
“Andoni Iraola still heads the betting at 7/4, from ex-players Cesc Fabregas (7/2) and Filipe Luis (4/1). Conte is next, whilst Oliver Glasner and Frank Lampard are 9/1.”
At present, departing Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola remains the frontrunner to replace Liam Rosenior on a permanent basis. However, convincing him may prove challenging, as Iraola has been heavily linked with a move to Real Betis, though current manager and former Man City boss Manuel Pellegrini is tied to the club until summer 2027, reports the Mirror.
Other prospective candidates include former Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who has earned widespread praise for his work at Como, with the Italian outfit sitting just three points adrift of Juventus with four games remaining as they chase European qualification next season. Fabregas has also been touted as a leading contender on Chelsea’s shortlist, and his history with the club would instantly garner the respect required.
Next Chelsea Manager Odds
- Andoni Iraola – 7/4
- Cesc Fabregas – 7/2
- Filipe Luis – 4/1
- Antonio Conte – 8/1
- Oliver Glasner – 9/1
- Frank Lampard – 9/1
- Calum McFarlane – 10/1
- BAR – 11/1
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Is Conor McFarlane the right man for the job?
Here is what betting expert Tom Phillips makes of the speculation: In short, no he is not. To begin with, McFarlane does not possess the coaching qualifications necessary to take on a permanent role in the Premier League. Despite McFarlane previously playing down the absence of a UEFA Pro Licence — which is a mandatory requirement for any permanent managerial position in the top flight — it remains a significant barrier to him taking charge at the highest level.
This is purely a stopgap measure while the Chelsea board set about identifying the right coach to guide the club back to the glory days their supporters have long been accustomed to. Numerous names have been linked with the vacancy, and some, including Iraola, make considerable sense given the model they are constructing at Stamford Bridge. That said, they must also weigh that up against finding a coach with a proven winning pedigree. It remains baffling that Chelsea are not pulling out all the stops to bring in someone of the calibre of Luis Enrique, for instance.
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