Next Man Utd manager: Five favourites to replace Erik ten Hag including Gareth Southgate and Old Trafford legend
JUST nine games since being handed an improved contract, Erik ten Hag is back under immense pressure.
The boss was on the brink of the sack for much of last season after the club crashed out the Champions League in the group stages and finished in their lowest ever Premier League position of eighth.
But the Dutchman saved his job by winning the FA Cup and was then given the vote of confidence by Sir Jim Ratcllife despite initial talks with other managers.
Yet Man Utd’s disastrous start to the season has led to calls for Ten Hag to be axed.
A woeful display in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham means he reportedly has clashes with Porto and Aston Villa to save his job.
Should the Red Devils lose both, the club could then be on the lookout for their sixth permanent boss since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.
SunSport take a look at the bookies’ five favourites to replace Ten Hag.
Gareth Southgate
Southgate has been heavily linked with the United job in the past and is currently unemployed after resigning as England boss after Euro 2024 heartbreak.
United sporting director Dan Ashworth used to work at the FA and was given the job of creating an “England DNA” across the senior and youth sides in 2012.
A year later, he was part of the group that appointed Southgate as Under-21s boss and then gave him a promotion to Three Lions gaffer in 2016.
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Southgate has experience of working with United stars like Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford.
And he would make the Red Devils far more defensively solid, with them currently way too easy to carve open.
Odds: 5/2
Ruud van Nistelrooy
The former Man Utd striker was appointed Ten Hag’s assistant in the summer but has so far seemingly been unable to install his ideas on the squad.
Van Nistelrooy is an experienced coach, having worked with the Dutch national team and PSV youth sides.
He managed the PSV senior side during the 2022/23 season and led them to domestic cup glory and a second place finish.
However, he surprisingly quit the club over a lack of support.
Van Nistelrooy could have a chance to stake his claim as United boss should he land the role on an interim basis if Ten Hag is axed.
Odds: 2/1
Thomas Tuchel
Tuchel is a world-class manager and boasts an impressive CV.
He has Premier League experience with Chelsea, winning the Champions League with them in 2021, and he has won the title at PSG and Bayern Munich.
Tuchel landed his last two jobs mid-season and quickly established a tactical identity before leading them to a trophy later that season.
Man Utd had face-to-face talks with the German over the summer and he appeared to be their number one target.
But Tuchel turned down the job as he wanted time away from management.
With him now feeling refreshed, Ratcliffe could try to pick up talks from where they left of.
Odds: 6/1
Graham Potter
Potter has been out of work since his sacking by Chelsea in April 2023 and he has declined offers to return to the dugout.
He has been biding his time, with some believing he is holding out for the Man Utd or England job.
Potter struggled to cope with Chelsea’s bloated squad and was sacked after just seven months in charge.
But it was his stunning work at Brighton that got him recognition, developing the sort of clear style of play that Ten Hag has been unable to implement in his three years at Old Trafford.
Potter built Brighton’s identity with chief Ashworth and the pair could be keen on reuniting.
Asked about a return to football on Sky Sports on Monday, he revealed: “I have had lots of conversations with lots of people and I think out of respect to those people it’s best those are kept private.”
Odds: 14/1
Kieran McKenna
Just seven years ago, McKenna was guiding United’s Under-18s to Premier League glory and here he is linked with the first-team job.
After his success with the kids, he was promoted to senior coach and the Northern Irishman formed part of the setup under Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
He left when Ten Hag came in and in the mean time has transformed Ipswich, taking them from League One to the Premier League with a bold attacking style of play.
His rise up the coaching ranks has been phenomenal and a return to Old Trafford could complete his remarkable journey.
McKenna signed a four-year deal at Ipswich in the summer and he would not be blamed for wanting to stay loyal and focus on keeping the Tractor Boys in the Prem.
Odds: 14/1