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Nine possible Ten Hag replacements for Man Utd

Published

11 months ago

November 3, 2023

Erik ten Hag’s time is almost up! Zinedine Zidane, Kieran McKenna & the nine managers Man Utd could target to replace doomed Dutchman

The Red Devils have already lost eight games in all competitions in 2023-24, and it’s inevitable that another change in the dugout will be made

Erik ten Hag is currently overseeing Manchester United’s worst start to a campaign in 60 years – a damning statistic that was confirmed after the team’s dismal Carabao Cup last-16 defeat against Newcastle. There was to be no repeat of United’s final victory over the Magpies last term, as Eddie Howe’s makeshift side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils spectacularly failed to bounce back from a humiliating derby loss to Manchester City, which left them eight points outside the Premier League’s top-four after just 10 games. Ten Hag’s side have also been beaten twice in the Champions League, and face an uphill battle to reach the knockout stages.

“It is below the standards everyone expects from Manchester United,” Ten Hag admitted to reporters after the Newcastle game. “It is not good enough by far and we have to put it right. I take responsibility for it. It is my team and they are not performing.”

Those were the words of a man who knows he is already on borrowed time. The players have stopped giving their all for Ten Hag and the poor results will continue until the United board hand the Dutchman his P45.

The uncertainly surrounding Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposed minority takeover at Old Trafford and the Glazer family’s continued failure to address the falling standards on and off the pitch certainly haven’t helped Ten Hag. But he has blown a sizeable transfer war chest on a bunch of misfits, and hasn’t been able to get a clear philosophy across to a squad in desperate need of some structure.

Ten Hag’s ruthless approach with players that have, in his eyes, stepped out of line – such as Jadon Sancho – has also backfired. Dressing room leaks have become more and more frequent, and the critics have drawn their knives.

The question is: who could United turn to next to lift this group of disheartened, confidence-stricken flops? 90minsoccer is on hand to run through the potential candidates to succeed Ten Hag, starting with a certain Italian genius making waves on the South Coast…

Roberto De Zerbi

If United want a progressive manager with a distinct style of play who can bring entertainment back to a disillusioned fanbase, there are few better options out there than Roberto De Zerbi. The former Shakhtar Donestk and Sassuolo boss has worked wonders at Brighton since his appointment in September 2022, taking the club to the Europa League for the first time in their history.

De Zerbi has been compared to Pep Guardiola because of his possession-based system and insistence on playing out from the back, with some reports even suggesting that he could fill the Spaniard’s shoes when he eventually leaves his post at Man City.

United would be wise to swoop for De Zerbi before their local rivals, and not just because of his obvious tactical nous. The 44-year-old is also a master when it comes to the development of talented young players, with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Kaoru Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan all improving drastically under his stewardship.

Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane has been linked with the United post several times over the last decade, and there may never be a better opportunity to snap up the Frenchman – who has been out of work since calling time on his second spell in charge at Real Madrid in May 2021.

During his first stint at Santiago Bernabeu, Zidane delivered three Champions League titles in a row – a feat that has never been matched – along with six other trophies. He was one of the best footballers of his generation and has also proven himself as an elite manager who can handle the biggest egos and pressure of expectation at the very highest level.

Zidane doesn’t have any experience of rebuilding a team from scratch, but he would instantly command respect in the United dressing room, and his win-at-all costs mentality might be exactly what is needed to lift the club out of it’s current slump.

Graham Potter

It could be argued that had it not been for Graham Potter laying the solid foundations, Brighton would not be the same force they are today under De Zerbi. Potter transformed the Seagulls into a top-10 Premier League outfit during his three-year reign, which earned him a shot at the big time with Chelsea.

The Todd Boehly-led ownership regime put their faith in Potter after buying out Roman Abramovich, having quickly decided against sticking with Thomas Tuchel in the early weeks of the 2022-23 season, and the English coach went unbeaten in his first nine games at the helm.

However, results soon took a turn for the worse as he struggled to manage a bloated squad, and he was powerless to prevent Chelsea dropping into the bottom half of the table. It was no surprise when Potter was sacked just seven months into his tenure, and he’s yet to return to the dugout.

It has been reported that Ratcliffe is considering an approach for Potter if his minority takeover goes through at Old Trafford as expected, and the ex-Swansea City coach would surely jump at the chance to try and rebuild his reputation.

Potter’s coaching credentials are undeniable, but his appointment would likely only alienate United fans further, and he does appear to lack the charisma and self-confidence that is necessary for driving success at a top club.

Kieran McKenna

Kieran McKenna was installed as United’s Under-18s manager in 2016, and impressed enough to earn a role as first-team coach just two years later. The Irishman kept his job at Old Trafford even after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021, but by that point he felt ready to go out on his own.

Ipswich Town took a gamble on McKenna a month later, and he went on to guide the club to promotion from League One in his first full season. The Tractor Boys have made the jump to the Championship look easy, too, rising to second in the table after 13 matches in 2023-24.

McKenna has carved out a reputation as a shrewd tactician in a short space of time, and it won’t be long before he’s back in the Premier League, if not at Ipswich, then with an even bigger club.

A return to United might seem like a stretch at this stage, but the higher-profile appointments in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era have all flopped, and McKenna’s inside knowledge of the club stands him in good stead to at least be considered for an interview.

Antonio Conte

Another household name currently searching for a new role is former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, who saw his reign at Tottenham come to a acrimonious end back in March. The Italian managed to guide Spurs back into the top-four, but ended up losing control of the dressing room and publicly criticised the players and the club for enabling a culture of a mediocrity – which did not go down well with chairman Daniel Levy.

Still, Conte delivered the Premier League title during his time at Chelsea and won a total of four Scudetti across spells at Juventus and Inter. He certainly wouldn’t be daunted by the task of replacing Ten Hag at United, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly in the dressing room.

The downside to Conte is he tends to favour a pragmatic tactical approach akin to former United boss Jose Mourinho, and that rarely makes for a strong spectacle. In the short-term he’d deliver results, which is why he will no doubt be in the frame for the top job at Old Trafford, but the 54-year-old might not be the right man to lift the gloomy mood.

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick served as Solskjaer’s No.2 at Old Trafford before briefly leading the United first-team as caretaker boss, recording two wins and a draw – but he decided against staying on until the end of the 2021-22 season.

Middlesbrough handed Carrick his first permanent head coaching role in October 2022, and he inherited a squad languishing down in 21st in the Championship, one point above the drop-zone. The former United midfielder oversaw a dramatic turnaround, though, as Boro embarked on a thrilling run to the play-offs, only to suffer a narrow semi-final defeat against Coventry City.

Carrick’s side then made a poor start to the new campaign, but they have won five of their last six Championship games to put themselves back in the mix for another play-off berth. The 42-year-old has been mentioned as a possible successor to Ten Hag, and like McKenna, would be well-equipped to have a transformative effect.

He’s already received backing from Solskjaer, who told The Athletic in May: “Michael is a man of value and principles, a big family man, but his knowledge is also second to none. He’s a winner but he’s still in control of his emotions. I cannot see him not being the Manchester United manager.”

Unai Emery

Unai Emery became one of the top managers in Europe after overachieving at Sevilla, and went on to win a host of trophies at Paris Saint-Germain – albeit while falling short in the Champions League. It felt like a natural fit when Arsenal chose Emery to succeed legendary boss Arsene Wenger in 2018, but he wasn’t able to take the club back into the top-four, and only lasted 18 months at Emirates Stadium.

The Spaniard’s stock plummeted as a result, but he reminded everyone of his unique qualities by masterminding Villarreal’s Europa League triumph over United in 2021 and their unlikely run to the Champions League semi-finals the following season.

Aston Villa brought Emery back to the Premier League last October, and he has since proved that he probably should have been given more time at Arsenal. Villa have risen to fifth after 10 games this term, and are the joint top-scorers in the division. Emery has got the best out of players like Ollie Watkins, Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa, while recruiting exciting talents such as Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo.

Emery lifted a squad that had dropped to 14th under Steven Gerrard, and they’re now in with a genuine shout of Champions League qualification. United would be mad not to at least consider the former Arsenal boss, who knows exactly how to maximise his resources and exceed expectations.

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso’s status as Liverpool legend makes him a tough sell for United supporters, but he’s arguably the most promising young coach in the game right now. Bayer Leverkusen were in the Bundesliga relegation zone when he took over in October 2022, but ended up finishing sixth after a herculean effort in the second half of the season. They’ve reached even greater heights this term, leapfrogging champions Bayern Munich to the summit after eight wins and a draw in their opening nine games

Alonso is another manager to have followed a similar tactical blueprint to Guardiola, who he worked with at Bayern during his playing days – and it’s paying off. Leverkusen are a joy to watch under Alonso, having scored 50 goals already this season in just 15 games, and he’s developing a great track record when it comes to improving his players.

He’s destined to step up to an elite club in the near future, and United might just be willing to ignore his Liverpool affiliation given how much potential he has.

Roy Keane

Last but by no means least is United legend Roy Keane, who has not held a head coaching role since his departure from Ipswich way back in 2011. The Irishman struggled at Portman Road but did manage in the Premier League before that at Sunderland, and did also impress in an assistant role for his country between 2013 and 2018.

Keane admitted he is eager to return to the dugout in October, telling the Stick to Football podcast: “I’d like to go back in. I’ve been out of management for a number of years now, but I’m still agitated every Saturday about not having a team and I’ve not managed for 10-11 years, so it never goes away. But it’s about what opportunity you’re going to get. Sunderland wasn’t easy, Ipswich was a tough challenge. It depends on the club, the timing, the contract.”

Ferguson famously engineered Keane’s United exit in 2005 after an explosive fallout, but he returned to the club for the first time in an official capacity when modelling the 2023-24 third kit in the summer. Realistically, Keane won’t be high up on the Red Devils’ list to replace Ten Hag, but stranger things have happened, and the Old Trafford faithful would welcome him with open arms.