New Delhi: Manchester United have had a horrible start to the 2024/25 season and their manager paid the price ultimately. Dutchman Erik Ten Hag has been sacked as manager of England’s most successful club ever after leading them to their worst start of the season. The 54-year-old was in charge of the Red Devils for the past two years and led the club to two trophies during his tenure, becoming the first manager since Jose Mourinho to win a trophy with the club.
Ten Hag was appointed as Manchester United manager after an impressive tenure with former club Ajax, whom he guided to the UEFA Champions League semi-final in the 2018/19 season. However, despite winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in back-to-back seasons at the Old Trafford, the performances from his squad remained questionable with their lack of goalscoring prowess coming back to hurt them.
His dismissal led to assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy being named the interim manager but the board is looking for a permanent solution. Who could be the one to follow him in the Manchester United hot seat?
5) Ruud van Nistelrooy
🚨 Understand Ruud van Nistelrooy will be Man United interim manager, as exclusively revealed earlier today.
He’s the immediate replacement for Erik ten Hag, decision made internally. pic.twitter.com/3jPBpnlkJT
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2024
The Manchester United legend returned to the club in the summer in the capacity of an assistant manager to Ten Hag and has now been named as the interim boss. Nistelrooy was always a handy option to have at the club considering he already has experience of managing in the top-flight before. The Dutchman has already been a manager before when he managed former club PSV in the 2022/23 season.
Nistelrooy had great success with the club, leading them to the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield in his only season in charge as manager. He even maintained a win percentage of almost 65% with them and could prove to be a useful option for the Red Devils. Manchester United hierarchy has earlier made an interim manager to a permanent one when they gave the job to Nistelrooy’s former teammate, Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
4) Kieran McKenna
Manchester United still very much keeping a close eye on Kieran McKenna. They understand his new contract means he’s unlikely to leave mid-season, but the club feel he could be a very good option in the future if he keeps improving as he is pic.twitter.com/DWSMCvWkBy
— UtdSources_ (@UtdSources_) October 9, 2024
The current Ipswich Town manager was heavily linked with the Manchester United job in the summer before signing a new contract at Portman Road. His newly-signed long term deal with the club might pose an issue in Manchester United getting him on board but they could choose to go back to their former target. McKenna has a tough start to his first season as manager in the Premier League but he’s showcased his talents with the club.
McKenna has history with Manchester United as well and knows the club extremely well. The Irishman started his managerial journey with the Red Devils, starting out as the manager of the U18s before moving to become part of the coaching staff for Jose Mourinho, Ole, and Ralf Ragnick. McKenna has had a brilliant start to his managerial career with Ipswich Town, guiding them to back-to-back promotions and that has landed him on Manchester United’s radar
3) Edin Terzic
🚨 Edin Terzic is one of the candidates to succeed Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United.
(Source: @ChrisWheelerDM) pic.twitter.com/s9b6MGOVEm
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 28, 2024
Edin Terzic has quickly established himself as a rising star in management, having led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season before departing in June at his request. Terzic came to Dortmund in 2018 as an assistant to Lucien Favre. When Favre was dismissed in December 2020, Terzic was appointed interim manager and showcased his capabilities by guiding Dortmund to a German Cup victory against RB Leipzig. Following a successful interim stint, he took on the role of technical director before becoming the club’s manager in 2022.
His remarkable track record at Dortmund demonstrates his tactical acumen and leadership qualities, making him a compelling option for clubs seeking a manager who can blend experience with a deep understanding of the game. A return to management for Terzic could excite fans and herald a new chapter for any team lucky enough to secure his services. Given his success with Dortmund, he could be a decent fit at Manchester United.
2) Zinedine Zidane
“Maybe Zinedine Zidane is available?” 🤔
Louis Saha on who he could see as the next manager of Manchester United pic.twitter.com/oNyRvRXZcS
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 28, 2024
The legendary midfielder and former Real Madrid boss, has been out of management since leaving the Spanish giants in 2021. Widely regarded as one of the best coaches in football history, Zidane has led Madrid to an unprecedented three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles during his first spell, as well as securing La Liga in his second tenure. His success at Madrid was built on exceptional talent and resources, but the prospect of managing outside the Spanish capital remains untested for him.
Manchester United approached Zidane when Ole Gunnar Solskjær departed in 2021, but he ultimately did not take the reins. Some speculate that language barriers could hinder his potential move to the Premier League, as he does not speak English fluently. Nonetheless, a return to management for the 52-year-old would undoubtedly ignite excitement among the Old Trafford faithful. While it may seem a long shot, any club keen on securing his services would be adding a manager with a jaw-dropping record, one who could bring a new era of success to the Red Devils.
1) Xavi Hernandez
🚨 Omar Berrada is currently in talks with Xavi about the possibility of him becoming Manchester United coach in the coming weeks.
(Source: @sachatavolieri) pic.twitter.com/U4npvBjqos
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 28, 2024
Former Barcelona manager Xavi had a challenging tenure, securing just one La Liga title in two and a half years. Despite this, the 44-year-old kept the Catalan giants competing at the highest level during a tumultuous period marked by financial uncertainty and upheaval. Known for his attractive style of play, Xavi’s teams emphasized possession and creativity, earning him respect among football purists. The possibility of Xavi following in the footsteps of his former mentor, Pep Guardiola, to the Premier League is an exciting prospect.
His tactical acumen and commitment to an attacking philosophy could be a perfect fit for a club like Manchester United, where the expectations for attractive football are high. With his deep understanding of the game and experience at one of the world’s biggest clubs, a move to Old Trafford might be too tempting for Xavi to resist. His return to management could not only invigorate the Red Devils but also reignite the passion of fans eager for a new era of success. Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada is reportedly having conversations with the former player whom he knows very well given their time together with Manchester United.
