Will Erik Ten Hag be sacked after the West Ham defeat? Van Nistelrooy among the main candidates for the position of coach of Manchester United
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has spent much of his time at Old Trafford fighting rumors about his future, but the rumors may have finally caught up with him.
The Dutchman was never able to build anything concrete at the Premier League giants, who always took one step forward and two steps back.
Last season was difficult at best, but Ten Hag ended the year by leading the Red Devils to an FA Cup title, buying some time after new owners Ineos decided to keep him. The start of the current season has renewed fears of another disappointing season, with four defeats in the first nine league games, most recently against West Ham. After a convincing defeat against Tottenham, in which the captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off (the red card was later canceled), there are also rumors of a possible change. The following week, United blew a 2-0 lead at Porto and narrowly earned a draw after Fernandes was sent off again, before a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa before the international break.
What followed was a 2-1 home win against Brentford, then a 1-1 draw against José Mourinho's Fenerbahce and a controversial 2-1 defeat against the Hammers. Overall, United still gives the impression of a team struggling to progress.
Ten Hag himself is not worried, saying after the Spurs game: “We all made the decision this summer to stay together, as an owner, as a management group... We have some injuries, we need time. We are all on the same page, the ownership, the staff, and the players.
However, that doesn't stop fans and the media from speculating on a situation that could quickly become volatile, regardless of the club's intentions.
Possible candidates to replace Erik Ten Hag as Man United's next manager
Ruud van Nistelrooy
The favorite to succeed Ten Hag from the end of October is former Man United striker and current assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. A new member of the Ten Hag staff at Old Trafford, van Nistelrooy joined the team this summer after spending two years as PSV boss. He won the KNVB-Bekker and Johan Cruyff Shield with PSV in 2022/23, finishing second in the league, but left with one game remaining in the season due to lack of support.
After a year off, he joined Ten Hag's support staff, positioning himself as a potential replacement, someone with deep knowledge of the club, previous managerial experience, and the smoothest possible transition.
Reuben Amorim
New Sporting boss CP Amorim has been in the running for top jobs in the Premier League recently and will surely be hired at some point, but is this the job for him?
Speculation suggests he could be Manchester City's choice to replace Pep Guardiola if the Catalan steps down in 2025. If the reigning champions visited him, you'd think he'd consider the job offer the most reasonable - unless the challenge of turning around United's fortunes didn't appeal to his bolder nature.
At 39, it would be a big step for Amorim, but he certainly has a lot of fans. His contract is said to contain a €15 million release clause, but United must be wary of such spending as they struggle to adapt to financial regulations.
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate has been a controversial figure in charge of England for the past six years but opened up the possibility of a return to club management when he quit the national team following their Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain this summer.
After leading the Three Lions to two major finals but narrowly failing to win a trophy, Southgate could be a candidate to take charge of the Red Devils if Ten Hag departs. The 54-year-old has only had one role at the club during his coaching career, having managed Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009.
Kieran McKenna
One of the Premier League's next big names, Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna could be an option for Ineos if they want to launch their long-term project. The 38-year-old is currently in his first senior management role, which he has held since December 2021, when he was brought in after a spell as an assistant at Man United.
McKenna has guided Ipswich to two successive promotions, and although his Premier League debut has been difficult, the Northern Irishman remains determined to get the job done at Portman Road.
Despite the advantages, dating someone so young and inexperienced carries significant risks.
Other candidates
Thomas Tuchel - Tuchel was the favorite for a while but was appointed as the new England manager in October so is now out of the running.
Thomas Frank - Reportedly meeting with United's new management over the position before staying with Ten Hag, Frank was wanted by the club and is struggling this year with Brentford.
Michael Carrick - After a 12-year playing career at Old Trafford, Carrick moved into coaching where he served as an assistant at his former club, also taking on a caretaker manager role. He impressed at Middlesbrough and is known for his progressive style of play, but has he done enough at Boro to warrant this big move?
Xavi - After leaving Barcelona at the end of last season, former midfield star Xavi remains without a club. His time with the Catalans ended in disappointment and disagreements with the club's decision-makers, but he won the 2022/23 La Liga title and produced some excellent performances. United may be tempted by the fact that he is a free agent, but it is more difficult to judge whether Xavi himself will consider a move to England.
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