Reports indicate that Manchester United have compiled a list of nine potential candidates for the managerial role as they deliberate over the future of current manager Erik ten Hag beyond this season.
Despite Ten Hag having another season left on his three-year contract, signed in 2022 upon his arrival from Ajax, mixed results and the possibility of a fresh start following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s co-ownership and a new sporting direction have cast doubt on the Dutchman’s position.
Manchester United have faced challenges in maintaining momentum since Ten Hag’s promising debut season in charge. They have suffered 11 defeats in their 28 Premier League fixtures during the 2023/24 campaign and find themselves nine points adrift of the top four, although they do have a game in hand on fourth-placed Aston Villa. Additionally, they are expected to reach the FA Cup final for the second consecutive year after being drawn against second-tier Coventry City in the semi-finals.
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Despite recent setbacks, Ten Hag remains hopeful of making a sufficient impression on Ratcliffe and the new hierarchy, which includes INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford and soon-to-be-appointed chief executive Omar Berrada.
However, amid an ongoing audit of Manchester United’s football operations, there are “no formal guarantees” regarding Ten Hag’s tenure beyond this season as Ratcliffe and his associates evaluate all available options. While Ten Hag has reportedly been involved in summer transfer window planning, Brailsford has been monitoring alternative candidates in case of a managerial change next season.
Recent reports from ESPN suggest links with Gareth Southgate, along with Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Frank, Thomas Tuchel, Julen Lopetegui, Zinedine Zidane, Ruben Amorim, and Julian Nagelsmann, have all been “internally discussed” alongside the England boss. Notably, Potter, Tuchel, Lopetegui, and Zidane are either currently or soon to be available.
While Ten Hag’s immediate future seems secure under the new regime, Manchester United’s women’s team also faces uncertainty in the managerial department, with current boss Marc Skinner’s contract set to expire in three months’ time, amid a season where they have fallen short of last year’s achievements in the WSL title race and the hunt for Champions League places.