Two former Swansea City managers in the frame for Oxford United job as Russell Martin made odds‑on favourite

Betano have Martin as the odds‑on favourite to land the job, with Sheehan priced at 4/1.

Russell Martin: From Swansea rebuild to Oxford favourite

Martin, who managed Swansea City between 2021 and 2023, is now tipped to make a rapid return to management after a turbulent spell north of the border.

During his two seasons at the Swansea.com Stadium, Martin oversaw a full‑scale stylistic rebuild, implementing his trademark possession‑heavy approach. His tenure produced eye‑catching football at times — including a late surge in the 2022/23 season — but also inconsistency and defensive frailty that frustrated supporters.

He left SA1 in the summer of 2023 to join Southampton, then in the Premier League, before taking charge at Rangers. That move lasted just four months, ending after what Scottish media described as a disastrous start to the season.

Now, with Oxford United sitting in the relegation zone and searching for a reset, Martin has emerged as the leading candidate to take over at the Kassam Stadium.

Alan Sheehan: Former Swans boss also in contention

Also in the running is Alan Sheehan, who had a short and bruising spell in charge of Swansea earlier this season.

Sheehan was appointed in February 2025 and guided the club to safety last season, but his second campaign unravelled quickly. A 4–1 defeat to Ipswich Town left Swansea 21st in the Championship, and he was sacked three days later.

Despite that, Sheehan remains highly regarded in coaching circles and has already held talks with Oxford United, according to reports in Oxfordshire. The club are said to be keen to speak to him formally as they weigh up their options.

Betano odds – next Oxford United manager

Russell Martin
4/6

Will Still
6/4

Alan Sheehan
4/1

Matt Bloomfield
6/1

Oxford’s search intensifies

Oxford United dismissed Gary Rowett just before Christmas after a run of one win in ten matches left them deep in relegation trouble. Caretaker boss Craig Short has overseen a win over Southampton and a defeat to Swansea during the interim periodOxford Mail.

With the club eager to stabilise quickly, both former Swansea managers are now serious contenders — but Martin’s odds suggest he is the man most likely to get the call.

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Swansea City confirm Vítor Matos as new head coach

The 37‑year‑old Portuguese coach arrives from Marítimo on a contract running until the summer of 2029 and will take charge of Tuesday’s Championship fixture against Derby County.

Matos was identified as the club’s preferred candidate after what Swansea described as a “thorough but concise” recruitment process. His arrival follows a period of uncertainty in the dugout, with Darren O’Dea stepping in as interim boss for one game after Alan Sheehan’s departure earlier this month

Background and experience

Matos brings significant experience from elite football environments. He spent five years at Liverpool as elite development coach under Jürgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders, helping bridge the gap between academy and first team. During that period, Liverpool won the Premier League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups, while Matos worked closely with emerging talents including Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Neco Williams.

He began his coaching career at FC Porto, spent time in China, and most recently managed Marítimo, where he reshaped their playing style and guided them into the upper reaches of Liga Portugal 2. He also holds a UEFA Pro Licence completed with the Football Association of Wales.

Swansea’s coaching carousel — from Sheehan to Matos

Alan Sheehan sacked
Swansea parted company with head coach Alan Sheehan earlier this month after a poor run of results.

Darren O’Dea interim appointment
Former Celtic defender Darren O’Dea stepped in as caretaker boss for one game before leaving the club.

Interim defeat at Bristol City
O’Dea’s only match in charge ended in a 2–1 loss away at Bristol City.

Speculation and bookies odds
Russell Martin, Kim Hellberg and Brendan Rodgers were all linked during the search for a new head coach.

Matos release clause confirmed
Portuguese club Marítimo confirmed Swansea had paid Vítor Matos’s €1m release clause.

Appointment made official
Swansea City have now confirmed Vítor Matos as head coach on a contract until 2029.

Swansea’s tradition of young coaches

Swansea City CEO Tom Gorringe said Matos was the standout candidate:

“We spoke to a range of candidates and Vítor was the clear stand‑out with a cohesive plan of how to take our squad forward and improve. He is committed to playing an attacking brand of football, and to developing players technically and tactically, and we are sure supporters are going to enjoy watching his Swansea City team in action.”

The appointment continues Swansea’s long‑standing tradition of backing ambitious, technically‑focused young coaches — a lineage that has included Roberto Martínez, Brendan Rodgers, and Russell Martin.

Backroom changes

The club confirmed that Leon Britton has joined the coaching team on a short‑term basis, while Joe Allen will also assist with the transition. Darren O’Dea and Richard Stearman have left the club following their interim roles, with Swansea thanking them for their efforts.

Matos will lead Swansea for the first time on Tuesday night against Derby County, with supporters eager to see how his high‑intensity, possession‑based style translates to the Championship.

#alanSheehan #csMaritimo #darrenOdea #swanseaCityFc #swanseaCityHeadCoach #swanseaCityManager #vitorMatos

Darren O’Dea takes interim charge at Swansea City as hunt for new head coach continues

The 38‑year‑old steps in following the departure of Alan Sheehan, who was sacked earlier this month. O’Dea will be assisted by Martyn Margetson, Kris O’Leary and Richard Stearman as the Swans prepare for Saturday’s Championship trip to Bristol City.

In a statement, the club said:

“Swansea City can confirm Darren O’Dea will be in interim charge of the men’s first team while the recruitment process for a new head coach remains ongoing.”

Recruitment battle

The interim appointment comes as Swansea continue their efforts to secure a new boss. As Swansea Bay News has previously reported, Russell Martin, Kim Hellberg and Brendan Rodgers were all linked with a return to SA1 in recent weeks.

Attention has now turned to Portuguese coach Vítor Matos, currently in charge of Marítimo. According to Wales Online, Swansea have already held talks with the 37‑year‑old, but his club insist he will only be allowed to leave if his €1 million release clause is met.

Marítimo president Carlos André Gomes said in a statement:

“Marítimo da Madeira SAD guarantees that Vítor Matos will remain at the club, despite interest from other institutions… his departure can only occur upon full payment of the €1 million release clause, without exceptions or parallel negotiations.”

The Madeiran side, who sit third in Portugal’s second tier, return to action against F.C. Penafiel on Sunday, with uncertainty over whether Matos will still be in the dugout.

What’s next for the Swans

Swansea City say they will update supporters once a permanent appointment has been made. For now, O’Dea will lead the team into a crucial run of fixtures, with fans watching closely to see whether the club can resolve its managerial situation before the busy winter schedule.

#alanSheehan #darrenOdea #swanseaCityFc #swanseaCityManager #vitorMatos

Russell Martin emerges as bookies’ favourite for Swansea City return after Hellberg linked with Middlesbrough

Martin, who managed the Swans between 2021 and 2023, is now priced at evens to return to the Swansea.com Stadium dugout, according to odds from TalkSPORT Bet.

The former Rangers boss endured a difficult spell in Glasgow earlier this season, lasting just 123 days before being dismissed — the shortest tenure of any Gers manager in history. Despite that, bookmakers now see him as the leading candidate to succeed Alan Sheehan, who was sacked last week.

Next Swansea City permanent manager odds

• Russell Martin – evens
• Vitor Matos – 3/1
• Gary O’Neil – 3/1
• Brendan Rodgers – 5/1
• Michael Carrick – 8/1
• Liam Manning – 12/1

Hellberg pursuit falters

Swansea had reportedly held talks with Hammarby IF head coach Kim Hellberg in London last week, but Sky Sports report that Middlesbrough are now actively pursuing the 37‑year‑old.

Hellberg had been Swansea’s number one target, but with Boro and Norwich also in the frame, the Swans may now be forced to look elsewhere.

Other contenders

Vitor Matos is a Portuguese coach who worked under Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool as Elite Development Coach, helping bridge the gap between academy prospects and the senior squad. He left Anfield in 2024 and has since taken charge of Marítimo in Portugal’s Liga 2, marking his first senior managerial role.

Gary O’Neil, meanwhile, is best known for keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League during the 2022/23 season before moving to Wolves, where he guided them to a 14th‑place finish and an FA Cup quarter‑final in his first campaign. The former Portsmouth midfielder has since left Molineux and is currently linked with Championship clubs including Southampton.

Related articles

• Swansea City step up pursuit of Swedish coach Kim Hellberg
• Could Brendan Rodgers be about to make a sensational Swansea City return?
• Swansea City sack head coach Alan Sheehan

#alanSheehan #garyOneil #kimHellberg #russellMartin #swanseaCityFc #swanseaCityManager #swanseaCityManagerOdds #vitorMatos

Swansea City step up pursuit of Swedish coach Kim Hellberg

Hellberg, 37, has emerged as Swansea’s leading candidate, with discussions understood to be focused on personal terms. The Swede has long been on the club’s radar, having previously been linked with the role earlier this year.

From Sweden to South Wales

Hellberg is regarded as one of the most promising young coaches in Scandinavia. He guided Hammarby to second place in the Swedish top flight and has built a reputation for developing players and implementing a progressive style of football. His success has attracted interest beyond Sweden, with Swansea now making a determined push to bring him to the Swansea.com Stadium.

Contract situation

Reports suggest Swansea would need to pay a compensation fee of around £275,000 to release Hellberg from his current deal. He has one year left on his contract at Hammarby, but hopes within the Stockholm club that he would sign fresh terms now appear slim. The existence of a release clause is seen as a factor that could ease negotiations.

Swansea’s search for stability

The Swans are seeking stability after a turbulent start to the season. Manager, Alan Sheehan was dismissed earlier this week following a poor run of results that left the club 18th in the Championship table. Hellberg is now understood to be the board’s top choice to lead the team forward.

Previous speculation

As Swansea Bay News reported earlier this week, Hellberg was installed as the bookmakers’ favourite to take over, ahead of speculation about a sensational return for former boss Brendan Rodgers. The Swede was also linked with Swansea in the spring, but the club opted to stick with Sheehan at that time.

Appetite on both sides

While sources caution that an agreement is not yet finalised, there is believed to be appetite on both sides to make the deal happen. Hellberg has kept a close eye on developments in south Wales and is thought to have impressed Swansea’s hierarchy when previously considered for the role.

What happens next

It remains to be seen whether Swansea can finalise terms with Hellberg, but the latest reports suggest the club are making a serious push to secure the highly‑rated coach. A decision in the coming days could shape the Swans’ season and set the direction for the club’s future.

#alanSheehan #hammarby #headCoach #kimHellberg #manager #swanseaCityFc #swanseaCityManager #sweden

Could Brendan Rodgers be about to make a sensational Swansea City return?

Rodgers odds cut

According to BetVictor, odds on Rodgers returning to Swansea have been cut dramatically from 6/1 into 2/1 overnight. The Northern Irishman managed the Swans between 2010 and 2012, guiding them to Premier League promotion before moving on to Liverpool. His name back in the frame has sparked excitement among supporters who remember his attacking style and landmark achievements at the Liberty Stadium.

Sheehan’s departure

The speculation comes in the wake of Swansea City parting company with Alan Sheehan following a 4–1 home defeat to Ipswich Town that left the club 18th in the Championship. Sheehan had only been appointed permanently in April after two caretaker spells, but a poor run of form and mounting pressure saw the board act during the international break.

Other contenders

While Rodgers has surged in the betting, Swedish coach Kim Hellberg remains the current favourite at 7/4. Other names in the market include Michael Carrick, Gary O’Neil and Steven Gerrard (all at 12/1), with a host of familiar managers such as Russell Martin, Tony Mowbray and Steven Schumacher priced at 16/1.

What next for Swansea?

The club’s owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen said Sheehan had shown “a tireless work ethic” and thanked him for his contribution, but attention now turns to who can stabilise the side and lift them away from the lower reaches of the Championship.

With Rodgers’ odds shortening and Hellberg still favourite, the coming weeks could prove decisive in shaping Swansea’s season — and perhaps even rekindling memories of one of the club’s most successful managerial eras.

What do you think?

Should Swansea turn back to Brendan Rodgers, or look to a fresh face like Kim Hellberg? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we’d love to hear your view on who should lead the Swans next.

#alanSheehan #brendanRodgers #brendanRodgersReturn #odds #oddsForNewSwanseaCityManager #swanseaCityFc #swanseaCityManager #swanseaCityManagerOdds