Despite finishing in the top four and winning the Carabao Cup last season, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is under increasing pressure just 18 months into the job. Six defeats in 10 matches and disappointing performances has led to speculation over the Dutchman’s future at Old Trafford. Here we take a look at who could replace him in the dugout...
FT: Man Utd 0 - Palace 1.
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) September 30, 2023
United’s worst start to a Premier League campaign in 34 years.
Premier League | Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |  Tottenham | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | +8 | 26 | |
| 6 |  Man Utd | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 24 | |
| 7 |  Newcastle | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | +17 | 23 | |
| Last updated 28/11/2023 | ||||||||
Former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has emerged as the favourite to take over at Old Trafford should United decide to move on from ten Hag.
Zidane has been out of work since he left the Spanish giants in 2021, but has been linked with many big jobs since.
Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he has also had a stellar managerial career so far. He enjoyed incredible success in charge of Madrid, winning three consecutive Champions League titles, in addition to two La Liga Championships.
Some believe he may be holding out for the French national team job, however, he could be tempted by a club with the stature of Manchester United and the allure of managing in the Premier League.
Julian Nagelsmann is the second favourite to potentially replace Erik ten Hag.
The 36-year-old was most recently in charge of German champions Bayern Munich, but has just been appointed as the new Germany manager, replacing Hansi Flick, who he had also taken over from in Munich.
He left with a winning percentage of 71.4%, a feat only bettered by Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti and Flick.
Nagelsmann retired as a player at 20 due to injuries, and began his managerial career at Hoffenheim in 2016. He spent three years there before moving on to RB Leipzig, who he led to a Champions League semi-final.
The current Brighton manager would also be considered for the United job.
De Zerbi has done an excellent job since arriving in the Premier League and replacing Graham Potter at the Seagulls.
In 48 games with Brighton, the Italian has won 24, drawn nine and lost 15, giving him an impressive 50% win rate. Joining in September 2022, he led them to a sixth-place finish and a spot in the Europa League, securing European football for the first time in the club’s history. They currently sit sixth with five wins from their opening seven games.
Before joining Brighton, de Zerbi coached in Ukraine for Shakhtar Donetsk, but left after just one season due to the Russian Invasion. Prior to his stint in Donetsk, De Zerbi managed in his home country Italy, with Palermo, Benevento and Sassuolo.
The man who de Zerbi replaced at Brighton and fourth favourite is Graham Potter. The Englishman last took charge of Chelsea in April 2023, where he lasted just seven months following his switch from Brighton to London.
Prior to joining Chelsea, Potter was one of the most highly regarded managers in the Premier League and many believed it was only a matter of time before he was poached by a bigger club. He won 42 games at Brighton and guided them to a ninth-place finish. His longest managerial stint was with Swedish club Ostersund, who he managed between 2011 and 2018. He then returned to the UK with Swansea before being appointed by Brighton.
Potter’s time in charge of Chelsea was a disaster, as he won just seven Premier League games and left the Blues in 11th, 14 points off the top four. He is reportedly waiting for the right job, having been linked to a number of clubs since his departure.
Ex-United midfielder Michael Carrick is also a candidate. The former England international is currently in charge of Championship side Middlesbrough, who sit in 17th place with three wins from their opening ten games.
Carrick’s first job in management was with Man United, taking caretaker charge following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021. He led the team in three games, winning twice, away at Villareal and a 3-2 victory against Arsenal. After this game, he stepped down and left the club with immediate effect, with Ralf Rangnick taking over.
In October 2022, Carrick joined Middlesbrough, who were 21st when he was appointed, one point above the relegation zone. He eventually guided them to a fourth-placed finish and a chance for promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs. However, they lost to Coventry in the semi-final.
Overall, Carrick has an impressive win percentage of 52.1% in 46 games during his time with Middlesbrough.
Julen Lopetegui was most recently in charge of Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving in August due to the club’s financial situation just days before the start of the new season.
Lopetegui began his managerial career in 2003 with Rayo Vallecano, before stints with Real Madrid B and the Spanish youth teams. He returned to top-flight football as manager of Porto, prior to becoming Spain's national team head coach. However, after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, he was announced as the new Real Madrid manager, leading to the Spanish FA announcing his dismissal. At Madrid, he lasted just three months after a poor string of results. The following summer he moved to Sevilla, where he won his first club trophy as a coach, winning the Europa League in 2020.
Gareth Southgate is a surprise name to be linked with the Manchester United job. The current England manager is entering the final stages of his contract, with it set to expire following the conclusion of Euro 2024.
The 53-year-old has been in charge of England since 2016 after he was promoted to the senior team following his tenure with the U21 side. He guided them to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, before heartbreakingly losing the final of Euro 2020 to Italy on penalties at Wembley. The 2022 World Cup added to the disappointment as France beat them 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
Southgate’s only club managerial experience came between 2006 and 2009, as he managed Middlesbrough in the Premier League. He led them to two mid-table finishes before they were relegated in 2009. He lost his job early into the next season.
Bar Zidane, Antonio Conte is the most accomplished manager on this list, having won the Premier League and FA Cup during his time at Chelsea.
Beginning his coaching career at Arezzo in Serie B, Conte worked his way up, stopping at clubs such as Bari and Atalanta, eventually landing with Italian giants Juventus, the club he had spent 13 seasons with as a player. He guided Juventus to three Serie A titles, before joining the Italian national team.
United have been linked with the Italian in the past, with a strong interest being reported following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021. However, he ended up joining Tottenham and United opted to go for interim head coach Ralf Rangnick.
Conte has been out of a job since he left Tottenham by mutual consent in March 2023.
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