Ten Hag, Pochettino or Enrique? Rankings the contenders to be Man Utd’s next manager
Stefan Bienkowski
- 24 Jan 2022 10:20 GMT
- 4 min read
Ralf Rangnick seems to have steadied the ship at Manchester United, but the club have wasted no time in making their plans for the next manager to replace him at Old Trafford.
According to the Athletic, the Premier League giants have put together a four-man shortlist as they begin work on which manager will succeed Rangnick at the end of the season.
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The German coach has made a number of hints about staying on as the full-time manager at Man Utd, but it seems certain that the club will look elsewhere for a long-term plan going forward.
So which manager is likely to take on one of English football’s most daunting jobs in the summer?
1. Mauricio Pochettino
Among the potential successors to Rangnick, the one name that clearly stands out among all others is none other than Mauricio Pochettino.
Not only is the Argentine manager a well-known quantity in English football, following his impressive stint at Tottenham Hotspur, but he’s also been on Man Utd’s radar for what seems like the best part of a decade.
Furthermore, with every passing week it seems more and more evident that Pochettino’s time at Paris Saint-Germain will be drawing to a close at the end of the season. Which would allow the Old Trafford side to swoop in and sign him.
2. Erik ten Hag
There’s little doubt that Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is one of Europe’s most exciting, young coaches and as such he has been heavily linked with a move to Man Utd for some time.
Although Ten Hag has so far rebuffed any hints of him leaving the Dutch club, the prospect of working under Rangnick in a newly-structured Man Utd system does apparently make the move to Old Trafford far more appealing.
However, like all things, Man Utd may face stiff opposition to land Ten Hag’s signature and there’s no guarantee that he’ll fancy a move to the club over another side with more direct prospects of silverware and success.
3. Luis Enrique
Another name that has been linked with the Old Trafford managerial post by the Athletic is none other than Luis Enrique.
However, while Enrique still has a good standing among European football’s biggest clubs, that’s largely down to the impressive job he’s done with the Spain national team. Which is a job he’d likely be reluctant to give up on anytime soon.
Enrique would be an intriguing option for Man Utd, but whether the Old Trafford side could tempt him away from Spain right now remains highly unlikely.
4. Julen Lopetegui
Another Spainiard that has been heavily linked with a move to Man Utd is Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui.
The 55-year-old tactician has done a remarkable job turning the Spanish club into a force to be reckoned with in La Liga, with Sevilla currently sitting second in the Spanish top flight and just four points off Real Madrid.
However, Lopetegui would undoubtedly be something of a left-field choice by Man Utd considering his Iberian-specific managerial career to date and with little experience in England. He’s surely not the front runner at this stage of the season.
