NEW DELHI: Manchester United’s determination to half methods with Erik ten Hag comes after a poor begin to the season that left the workforce sitting 14th within the Premier League desk.
Ten Hag, who arrived in 2022 with excessive expectations following his success at Ajax, gained the Carabao Cup and FA Cup throughout his tenure on the pink facet of Manchester.
Nonetheless, inconsistent performances, tactical struggles, and participant administration points plagued his time at Outdated Trafford, leading to rising discontent amongst followers and the membership hierarchy.
United’s newest 2-1 defeat to West Ham was the ultimate straw, forcing the board to behave.
The membership now faces the pressing activity of discovering a everlasting alternative. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ten Hag’s assistant, has been appointed interim supervisor, however the seek for a brand new chief to revive United’s fading glory is already underway.
With the Premier League giants determined to return to the highest, a number of high-profile names are being linked with the position.
Right here, we take a look at the highest 5 candidates more than likely to interchange Ten Hag and the challenges they may face in taking over one of the demanding jobs in world soccer.
1) Ruud van Nistelrooy
Having been appointed as interim supervisor, Van Nistelrooy now has the chance to make a long-lasting impression, reminding the followers of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer days in 2018.
A legendary striker at Outdated Trafford, Van Nistelrooy lately coached PSV Eindhoven, the place he gained the Dutch Cup. Nonetheless, questions stay about his lack of top-tier managerial expertise.
Ought to he reach lifting workforce morale and securing leads to the brief time period, United’s board might take into account protecting him past the interim interval.
2) Rúben Amorim
Rúben Amorim is taken into account one of many brightest younger managers in Europe. He led Sporting Lisbon to their first league title in 19 years and is famend for his tactical flexibility and skill to nurture younger gamers.
Though comparatively inexperienced, Amorim’s success in Portugal and his attacking philosophy align with United’s imaginative and prescient.
Sporting’s reluctance to let him go could also be a stumbling block, however United’s ambition—and monetary assets—might persuade Amorim to make the transfer.
3) Simone Inzaghi
Inzaghi has established himself as a dependable coach at Inter Milan, profitable a number of trophies, together with the Serie A and Coppa Italia titles and bringing them closest to Champions League glory.
He guided Inter to the 2023 Champions League remaining, the place they narrowly misplaced to Manchester Metropolis. Identified for his tactical self-discipline, Inzaghi’s groups are defensively stable but able to fast transitions.
If United search construction and tactical readability, the Italian may very well be the best match, although adapting his strategies to the fast-paced nature of the Premier League could be a problem.
4) Gareth Southgate
The previous England supervisor has publicly dominated out an instantaneous return to membership soccer, however United might nonetheless provide a tempting proposition.
Southgate is widely known for uniting the England squad and attaining back-to-back main match finals, though his lack of success in membership administration raises doubts.
Southgate’s expertise with high-pressure conditions would possibly attraction to United, however convincing him to desert his year-long break will probably be troublesome.
Jim Ratcliffe, a long-time admirer of Southgate, might provide a profitable deal to influence him to take cost prior to deliberate. Alternatively, United would possibly depend on interim supervisor Ruud van Nistelrooy for the remainder of the season earlier than bringing Southgate to Outdated Trafford.
In the event that they go for the latter, the membership would probably search a pre-contract settlement to safe his companies, given the Englishman’s recognition and powerful curiosity from different potential suitors.
5) Xavi
The previous Barcelona legend is reportedly on United’s radar, with talks stated to have taken place already. Xavi’s possession-heavy method and tactical intelligence introduced success on the Nou Camp, and he has beforehand expressed a need to teach within the Premier League.
“I might see myself in England, undoubtedly, it’s one of many issues I’d wish to expertise in my profession,” he as soon as admitted.
Lately, Xavi’s spouse, Nuria Cunillera, shared a photograph of their son carrying an previous Manchester United package, sparking hypothesis concerning the household’s connection to the membership amid Xavi’s hyperlinks to the Outdated Trafford job.
If United safe Xavi, it might sign a shift towards a long-term rebuild primarily based on youth and possession-based soccer.
United’s seek for Ten Hag’s alternative is already drawing hypothesis, with different names akin to Thomas Frank, Julian Nagelsmann, Graham Potter, Michael Carrick, Zinedine Zidane, Edin Terzic, and even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer additionally being talked about.
Whoever takes over will face the colossal activity of steadying the ship at Outdated Trafford, restoring self-discipline, and bringing again the attacking id the followers crave.
