Sport
Who should be the next Manchester United manager?
Manchester United’s home defeat to Liverpool was so catastrophic that the discourse around Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future as manager immediately accelerated to a discussion over who could replace him. Indeed, with the Norwegian’s time at Old Trafford now all but over it’s time for the club’s decision makers to devise a succession plan for the next Manchester United manager.
This time last year, when serious doubts over Solskjaer’s suitability for the United job arose, Mauricio Pochettino was put forward as the standout candidate to take over. Now, though, the Argentine is in a job at Paris Saint-Germain. There is no obvious replacement waiting in the wings. Some creative thinking might be required.
For many, Antonio Conte would be the ideal man to come in after Solskjaer. The Italian is a serial winner and has proven himself in the Premier League. What’s more, reports suggest Conte would be open to the idea of taking over at Manchester United such is the strength of the squad at the club right now.
And yet there’s also a lot to suggest Conte would be a bad fit as the next Manchester United manager. If Solskjaer’s tenure saw a return to ‘The United Way’ of fast and furious attacking football, the appointment of the former Chelsea and Inter boss would see a more conservative style of play imposed at the club.
There are also concerns over the way Conte builds winning teams, favouring experience over youth, something that doesn’t exactly align with Manchester United’s values. Plus, Conte has left behind a mess at his last two clubs. In many ways, he is modern day Jose Mourinho – is that really what Manchester United want in their next manager?
Zinedine Zidane has also been mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Solskjaer. The former Real Madrid manager is currently out of work after leaving his position at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this year and much like Conte is renowned as a proven winner at the elite level of the sport.
However, Zidane is widely seen in the same way as Solskjaer. His aura was his greatest quality as Real Madrid boss with questions frequently asked of his ability as a tactician. Manchester United, it appears, need someone to give them defensive structure and organisation. Zidane might well be another Solskjaer, just without the smile.
Stylistically, Erik Ten Hag looks to be the best fit as the next Manchester United manager. The Ajax coach favours an approach that sees his team control matches through their use of the ball while still retaining the ability to get in behind opponents. Ten Hag also knows how to co-ordinate a press and has harnessed a number of young players during his time in charge at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Ajax have also won three from three in the Champions League this season, dismantling Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in their last fixture, and sit four points clear at the top of the Eredivisie after just 10 games. However, Ten Hag rejected the chance to join Bayern Munich mid-season in 2019 and might not want to leave Ajax at this moment when they appear to be on the verge of something special.
Brendan Rodgers is another reportedly on Manchester United’s shortlist, but how would the former Liverpool manager’s appointment at Old Trafford be received by the club’s fanbase? Luis Enrique’s name has also cropped up in discussion. The former Barcelona boss ticks a lot of boxes, but might not leave his current job as Spain national team manager before the 2022 World Cup.
For so long, Pochettino loomed over Solskjaer as the man who would seemingly replace him at one point or another. Now, Manchester United must consider how to react when the way forward isn’t so clear. Pochettino is unavailable but Solskjaer’s position is untenable and the next Manchester United manager simply must be the correct choice. A change must be made and perfect mustn’t be the enemy of good.
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