De Zerbi tipped to succeed Ten Hag as Man Utd manager

Carlo Garganese

• 14 Jan 2024 12:15 CST
• 3 min read

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has been tipped by Dwight Yorke to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United coach.

Ten Hag’s future as Man Utd coach is very much in doubt after the worst first half to a United season in over 30 years.

The arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has assumed control of transfers after buying a minority share in the club, has added to doubts about Ten Hag’s job security.

And former Man Utd striker Yorke, who was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s treble-winning team from 1999, believes that De Zerbi or former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane should succeed Ten Hag.

What did Dwight Yorke say?

I think Roberto De Zerbi may have a chance, but that remains to be seen. He's one name to consider, but everybody else has had their chance. I don't see anybody outside of Zidane and De Zerbi,” Yorke told Footy Accumulators.

“There aren't too many other options out there - a lot of them have already had their chance. People are saying Graham Potter should take over, but he's already had a chance at an elite club.

“Managers from smaller clubs should always grab the opportunity to take over a huge club at United. Elite clubs have bigger revenues, players, and expectations, and managers should jump at the chance. People say the pressure is huge, but that's just part of the expectation. Everything is better at a big club!

“Those arriving from smaller clubs should aim to go forward instead of backward. Graham Potter had the chance at Chelsea, and I don't think he'd suddenly succeed at Man United. He was a failure at Chelsea and he didn't capitalise.”

De Zerbi took Brighton into Europe for the first time in their history last season and is again overachieving this term.

Zidane is currently out of work after leaving Madrid in 2021.