Tuchel to England: The five managers who could still replace Ten Hag at Man Utd

Erik ten Hag is probably breathing a sigh of relief as Thomas Tuchel takes over the England men's national team job.

Thomas Tuchel had been one of the names linked with replacing Ten Hag at Man Utd, and unlike the Dutchman and, indeed, the other options to replace him, Tuchel is a world-class coach with an impeccable winning pedigree.

That made him dangerous.

Well now that danger has been removed, but there are still coaches around that could take Ten Hag's job should he fail to keep Man Utd on the right track.

Who are they?

READ MORE: Winners and losers of Thomas Tuchel taking England job

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed as assistant manager of Man Utd this summer. It was a move that delighted United fans, given Van Nistelrooy's legendary history at Old Trafford.

At the same time, it was confusing, because Van Nistelrooy's history was as a head coach. But that's where you have to tip your hat to INEOS, as they have clearly appointed the Dutchman with an eye to promoting him to manager in the event they had to fire Ten Hag mid-season. So as a result, Ruud is ready.

Gareth Southgate

As Thomas Tuchel walks into the England job, the man who walked out of it in the summer may be the man who ends up replacing Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

Gareth Southgate has long been a name admired by INEOS, and there were rumours they approached him to take over in the summer, but Southgate's desire to see out his contract with England would mean a delayed start to live at Old Trafford and that was something the Red Devils couldn't handle.

Well, that hurdle has been removed, so don't rule out Southgate arriving as a mid-season saviour at Old Trafford.

READ MORE: Man Utd to miss TEN players for Brentford

Kieran McKenna

The last time Manchester United felt truly fun and coherent was under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and the man who was allegedly the brains of that coaching staff was Kieran McKenna.

The young Englishman has since moved on to Ipswich Town, where he helped them to gain promotion playing a wonderfully slick brand of football. Now he's being linked with a return to his old club, which may be a premature step in his coaching journey, but it's never easy to turn down a big club, as the man below can attest.

Graham Potter

It feels like a lifetime ago when Graham Potter was the talk of the town as Brighton boss. Everyone was overflowing in their praise of the young Englishman.

Then he joined Chelsea.

Reputations can shatter very easily and no one has looked at Potter in the same way since he flamed out at Stamford Bridge. Yet and still people can't deny his quality, and so he continues to be linked with jobs like the Man Utd one.

Whether or not he has the quality to coach the club is another matter, but in his defence there's no way the club is as shockingly run as Chelsea.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

Thomas Frank

They missed out on a German Thomas, but could a Danish Thomas be the answer to Man Utd's problems? Thomas Frank has had a wonderful career as Brentford boss, solidifying the Bees as a solid mid-table Premier League side. That in itself is an impressive achievement and there is a persistent sensation that Frank could go higher.

Well, taking over a side as talented as Man Utd's would certainly provide him the platform to ascend the managerial power rankings. Frank has shown the tactical depth but also an understanding of a more pragmatic reality that could leave him well-placed to lift Man Utd back up to where they want to be.