Manchester United Football Club could be on the hunt for a new manager soon, but who is actually available?
The Ole Gunnar Solskjaer experiment could soon be over. The overriding impression is that the Baby Faced Assassin has reached his limit. There’s no shame in admitting that.
Our squad is in a healthy place. Now is the time to bring an elite level coach with experience aplenty. That’s what this United side needs to reach that next level.
Obviously, that begs the question, who can come in and do the job? Well, we believe there are five frontrunners, starting from most likely to least likely.
Antonio Conte – Unemployed
The most common name linked with the job. Last at Inter Milan, Conte would definitely bring something different to the table.
While it’s true he plays a defensive brand of football, that’s not to say his teams don’t score goals in the right moments. He’s also a league winner in two different countries. That in itself commands respect.
Zinedine Zidane – Unemployed
I would say Zidane is the unknown quantity as his only managerial experience came with a Real Madrid side that was ready-made to win in the here and now.
The Frenchman is actually tactically astute. He will change it up from game-to-game, using different personnel. The big question is, how would he fare in the Premier League? Would he even want the job?
Erik ten Hag – Ajax
The glamour hire. Ten Hag’s style is as flashy and outgoing as his dress sense and aura. The current Ajax coach loves to play an attacking style of football, while he’s helped line the trophy cabinet with the Eredivisie outfit.
He has no experience outside of his homeland. Is that a problem? Possibly. This does strike me as a hire with the long-term in mind, though. Ten Hag would be given time and backing from the board. The fact that he plays an attacking brand definitely buys him some extra time.
Brendan Rodgers – Leicester City
The perfect match? Quite possibly. Rodgers’ experience in the Premier League genuinely competes with the best manager’s on English shores. He’ll also be looking to put his poor spell at Liverpool behind him, proving he can actually do it at a top club.
Rodgers uses youth. He makes astute signings. He plays a forward-thinking, hardworking brand. Delivering trophies with Leicester City is another massive tick. For me, this feels like the ideal situation – assuming you can lure the Northern Irishman to Old Trafford.
Graham Potter – Brighton & Hove Albion
The wildcard. Potter has done a decent job at shaping Brighton’s future into a more expansive one. Gone are the days of the Seagulls sitting back. They now try to take the game to their opponents and that’s because of their English manager.
This one would be the biggest gamble. Potter is an unknown quantity and he may well sink rather than swim. I think Potter would jump at the chance if offered, though it feels like a bit of a sideways step…
Who would you choose to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below.
Be the first to comment