With pressure mounting on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, fans are wondering if the Dutchman will become the first big managerial casualty in the Premier League following the Red Devils making their worst start to a season in Premier League history.
Indeed, United are languishing in lower-mid table ahead of their trip to West Ham United – the Irons have just one win at the London Stadium so far this season. While this could be a chance for Ten Hag to recharge some momentum in his side, he will also know there will be immense pressure to deliver.
While Ten Hag has won silverware in both of his seasons at United so far, the results in the league simply haven’t been good enough. With Julen Lopetegui in search of his just his second win on home soil, the West Ham v Man U odds give the Irons a fighting chance in what could be the United boss’s curtain call should things go wrong in East London.
United’s new owners, Ineos, could pull the trigger on his time at the dugout, having spoken to several candidates at the end of last season before the FA Cup victory ultimately saved Ten Hag’s job.
In this article, we look at three potential replacements that could try and turn United’s season around as the new manager.
Gareth Southgate
Former England manager Gareth Southgate has been linked with the United job for almost a year, but the move could finally come to fruition after the 54-year-old left the Three Lions over the summer.
Southgate is one of the best England managers in history, having navigated his country to successive European Championship finals and the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup, but ultimately fell short of bringing football back to its spiritual home.
It would be interesting to see how Southgate would adapt in transitioning from international management to the busy schedule of club level, but having worked with several of United’s English contingent before and with familiarity of the league, he could be a good fit for his man-management.
Thomas Tuchel
One of the managers approached by the United hierarchy over the summer was Thomas Tuchel. The German won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 before moving to Bayern Munich, where he was replaced by Vincent Kompany after failing to retain the Bundesliga title.
Tuchel is an astute tactician who knows the Premier League, as well as the pressure that comes with managing a side that are regular favourites with those making a football bet. However, the fact he was reluctant to take the job in the summer suggests he could be holding out for a different role.
That said, a few months have passed since his departure from Bavaria, and a manager as hungry for success as Tuchel will be keen to get back into work, with turning United round a real challenge.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
United could look directly in-house for their next manager – Ten Hag’s assistant, Ruud Van Nistelrooy. A legendary striker during his playing career at Old Trafford, he would already be a fan favourite, and similarly to Ole Gunnar Solskjær he could help repair the relationship between the supporters and the players after years of mistrust.
Van Nistelrooy certainly has the credentials, having helped Arne Slot win the league with Feyenoord before his move to England. He was also PSV Eindhoven coach for the 2022/23 season, developing players like Cody Gakpo.
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