Erik ten Hag’s time in charge at Old Trafford finally ended on Monday after another disappointing defeat as West Ham beat his Manchester United 2-1 on Sunday lunchtime.
Former striker and assistant Ruud Van Nistelrooy is in temporary charge as the authorities seek a more permanent successor for the Dutchman.
The odds have been steaming ahead as the early favourites emerge, so let’s look at some of the likely next Man United manager contenders, according to Paddy’s trusty traders.
Ruben Amorim
The current Sporting CP manager has gone full steam ahead as the favourite to be the next man to guide the new-look Manchester United towards stability.
Ruben Amorim has won two league titles in Portugal, including the 2023/24 trophy, and has been sought after by some of Europe’s biggest clubs for some time.
A potentially risky move would see the return of a 3-4-3 style to the Premier League and give the Red Devils a complete makeover.
Thomas Frank
Brentford’s Danish boss is another contender to move to Manchester to sort out the mess. Having overseen the Bees’ steady rise since 2018, Thomas Frank could be considered a secure choice to take United forward.
The 51-year-old secured Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and has kept them there for three seasons, with a 9th-place finish in 2022/23 being their best result.
It would surprise some if he moved north midseason, but not beyond the realms of possibility.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
As part of a show of faith in Ten Hag ahead of the 2024/25 season, the club backed his move to make club legend Van Nistelrooy his new No. 2.
The former striker will now take a break from scoring goals in training to take interim charge, and we all know what that meant at United in the past (ahem, Solskjaer).
Xavi
The former Barcelona boss has been mentioned among the candidates for his third job in management since retiring from playing in 2019.
Xavi‘s time in charge of the club where he made his name on the pitch was mixed, winning La Liga in 2022/23 but collapsing in Europe, and a poor 2023/24 season saw him depart.
An Instagram story showing his son wearing a Manchester United shirt fuelled speculation of a potential move for the Spaniard. But nothing more has suggested any further movement.
Gareth Southgate
Ex-England manager Gareth Southgate is looking for his next challenge after stepping down from the job after the Three Lions’ defeat in the Euro 2024 final. He has friends in high places at Old Trafford and is friendly with Dave Brailsford.
The former defender could be looking at a Premier League job despite being linked to a UEFA role, and the United hot seat could be tempting.
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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