Who should Manchester United appoint as permanent manager?

[Firebat]

With United currently sat 7th in the league and knocked out of all competitions, it seems a negative atmosphere surrounds the club, manager, players and fanbase, as a 5th consecutive trophy-less season draws to a close for arguably the biggest football club on the planet.

Ralf Rangnick, a man with a high coaching pedigree but taking on his first job at a super-club like MUFC, has come in following the sacking of Ole, but has not managed to improve the fortunes of the side to any great effect. He is slated only to be an interim manager until the end of the season, at which point it seems he will enter into a "consultancy" role for the club based on his observations.

So, the question remains: who is the right man to to take over the club permanently from next season? Who can bring it back to competing in the upper-echelons of European football?

- Should Rangnick, who many coaches have credited as writing the blueprint on modern German coaching, be afforded the time and budget to revamp the squad into a Klopp or Tuchel-style team?

- Should Mauricio Pochettino be given a go? After all, he is the man who punched so far above his weight at Spurs with an extremely limited transfer and wage budget, improbably taking a team built on intensity and youth to constant UCL football and a European final. However, since his move to PSG, he has found struggles during his first year at a super-club, losing the league to Lille by 1 point in his first season (though on track to win it comfortably this time), as well as suffering UCL disappointment, including a ridiculous collapse in Madrid this year.

- Should the job be given to Erik ten Hag, the other hyped name building a big reputation as one of the best up-and-coming tacticians in football? He is an extremely high-regarded name who has revitalised Ajax, on the European stage especially, masterminding their legendary underdog run in the 18/19 season to the semi-finals overcoming Real Madrid and Juventus en route.

Those are the main 3 names in contention, but would you prefer someone else that you think is more equipped to bring success back to Old Trafford?

Vote and discuss.

 

[Firebat]

Manchester United: Former striker Wayne Rooney says club 'can't afford to fail again' in manager search

Manchester United "can't afford to fail again" when it comes to appointing their next permanent manager, says the club's former striker Wayne Rooney.

The 36-year-old believes Paris St-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino would prove a better fit than Ajax's Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

He also suggested Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo should leave the club at the end of the season.

"Pochettino has done it in the Premier League," said Derby County boss Rooney.

"He knows the league. If I'm choosing between those two, I'd go for Pochettino," he added, speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.

"He would need time and given time he would do well."

Ex-Tottenham manager Pochettino and Ten Hag, who led Dutch champions Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, are among the favourites to take over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick at the 20-time English champions.

"There hasn't been a settled manager there since Alex Ferguson. The new manager needs time," Rooney said.

"It didn't work with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it hasn't worked with the new manager who has come in.

"Pochettino is a top manager and he knows how to work with top-class players and young players. They need to get that blend right because they can't afford to fail again."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60989324

 

[silentkiller187]

Manchester United are set to finalise the appointment of Erik ten Hag as the club's next manager, sources have told ESPN.

Ten Hag, 52, who was interviewed by United last month, had been on a four-man shortlist alongside Paris Saint-Germain's Mauricio Pochettino, Spain coach Luis Enrique and Sevilla's Julen Lopetegui. Chelsea's Thomas Tuchel and Bayern Munich's Julian Nagelsmann were ruled out as being unattainable due to their commitment to their present employers.

Sources in England and the Netherlands have told ESPN that United have settled on Ten Hag as their new manager and that the Ajax manager is ready to leave the Dutch champions to take charge at Old Trafford at the end of the season.

United's pursuit of a new manager has been led by football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher, who have reported to chief executive Richard Arnold, with joint-chairman Joel Glazer having the final decision on the appointment.

While some at United considered PSG boss Pochettino, sources have told ESPN, Arnold and Glazer are in agreement that Ten Hag is the best candidate to replace interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who has been in charge since December.

The choice for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's successor ultimately came down to a straight battle between Ten Hag and Pochettino, but the difficulties experienced by Pochettino at PSG this season, combined with the potential cost of releasing him from the remaining 12 months of his contract at Parc des Princes, left the former Tottenham manager behind Ten Hag for both football and financial reasons.

Pochettino, 50, had initially been United's favoured candidate to replace Solskjaer, who was fired by United a month short of his third anniversary as manager last November. The club were aware that Pochettino would be open to a move to Old Trafford after struggling to impose himself on the job at PSG since taking charge midway through last season.

But PSG's Champions League exit at the round-of-16 stage against Real Madrid, having led 2-0 in the tie, did not help his cause with the United job due to the club's determination to avoid hiring a manager deemed to have failed in a recent role.

PSG's readiness to hold out for a £15 million compensation package was another issue for United, who are able to appoint Ten Hag if they pay a £1.7m compensation figure to Ajax.

Sources added that Rene Meulensteen, first-team coach under Sir Alex Ferguson from 2007 to 2013, is one candidate being considered as Ten Hag's assistant. The recruitment department at the club have also been told to finalise shortlists on players in each position and present them to the new manager, though he will also be allowed to present his own targets.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/man...-to-finalise-erik-ten-hag-appointment-sources

 

[Firebat]

Ten Hag seems to be the choice according to some reports. Is it the right one?

He certainly will need to be afforded time, money and patience to implement a club-wide change you'd think.

 

[Firebat]

RB Leipzig are attempting to hijack Manchester United's bid to appoint Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as their new manager. (Telegraph)

 

[Firebat]

Manchester United have reached a "verbal agreement in principle" with Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to become their next manager. The Dutchman, 52, is expected to join on a four-year deal, but an announcement will not be made before Ajax face PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Cup final on Sunday. (Athletic)

 

[James]

Should be Pochettino imo, but looks like that race has already been run.

 

[Manunited18]

Should be Pochettino imo, but looks like that race has already been run.

Glad it's not poch, a proven failure. Ten hag looks set for the role but I'm still not convinced with the overall picture, we are rotten to the core as a club, it's going to Take alot more than just the manager to sort out the issue.

 

[Kianig89]

Carlo Ancelotti should have been the no.1 priority but they've gambled on 10 Hag

 

[James]

Glad it's not poch, a proven failure. Ten hag looks set for the role but I'm still not convinced with the overall picture, we are rotten to the core as a club, it's going to Take alot more than just the manager to sort out the issue.

There seem to be a lot of primadonnas in the current United squad (even by professional footballer standards) which has bred a truly dismal culture wherein the team does not play together.

A huge clearout of personnel is what’s required.

Shame about Fergie’s age and health because he would be able to sort all of this out within a few months.

 

[James]

<b>Cristiano Ronaldo impact on potential Man Utd manager signing forces board into drastic change of plan</b>

The impact of Cristiano Ronaldo on Manchester United’s pursuit of Antonio Conte has reportedly forced the club’s board into a drastic change of plan when it comes to Erik ten Hag.

Conte was linked with the United role when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came under pressure earlier this season. However, the Red Devils hesitated when it came to sacking Solskjaer and Conte went on to join Tottenham.

Manchester United brought Ralf Rangnick to Old Trafford as the Norwegian’s replacement. He is only interim manager though and will begin a consultancy role at the end of the season.

ten Hag looks set to become the club’s next permanent boss. United are apparently ready to release him from his Ajax contract by paying £1.7million.

Manchester Evening News provide an update on United’s manager hunt and how it has been affected by Ronaldo.

They claim he ‘vetoed’ the pursuit of Conte due to having reservations about his suitability.

Some senior officials in Manchester also had concerns about the Italian’s transfer demands.

They are among several reasons why the former Chelsea boss didn’t end up at the Theatre of Dreams.

Instead, he could guide Spurs to Champions League qualification ready for next season – ahead of United.

Due to Ronaldo’s stance on the potential arrival of Conte, the board changed their plan when it came to ten Hag.

Rather than consult senior players over the Dutchman, they went with their gut and began discussions with him.

They are clearly trying to show strong leadership by choosing their favourite Rangnick replacement without any regard for the dressing room.

However, it could end up backfiring. The players have had no chance to choose the manager who may be best suited to their attributes.

And recent reports suggest Ronaldo could end up leaving United if ten Hag joins this summer. The 52-year-old has a particular style of play and Ronaldo may not fit into it.

Whatever happens, 2022-23 will be an intriguing campaign for the English giants. They will have to go through a major transition before being able to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/foo...sedgntp&cvid=1e6fba6e248842489ab5027380edf0e3

 

[silentkiller187]

Think Ten Hag was a the sensible choice out of the 2, Poch has prem experiance but has struggled to get the best out of Mbappe , Neymar, Messi etc, would struggle with the prima donnas at Utd

 

[Manunited18]

There seem to be a lot of primadonnas in the current United squad (even by professional footballer standards) which has bred a truly dismal culture wherein the team does not play together.

A huge clearout of personnel is what’s required.

Shame about Fergie’s age and health because he would be able to sort all of this out within a few months.

Yes, it's a hugh challenge for anyone.

 

[James]

<b>Manchester United players 'unwilling to cooperate' with Erik ten Hag told to leave</b>

Manchester United players who are 'unwilling to cooperate' with Erik ten Hag have been told they should leave the club.

MEN Sport has revealed that Ajax are expecting Ten Hag to leave them for next season's campaign after the 52-year-old Dutchman was interviewed for the permanent position. Last month, the Manchester Evening News reported that the board saw Ten Hag as the preferred candidate for the role ahead of Mauricio Pochettino.

However, reports from inside the United dressing room revealed that the squad was split on the appointment of Ten Hag. Some were believed to be excited about working with the Dutchman, while others were believed to be underwhelmed.

According to Rafael van der Vaart, those players with concerns should walk away from United. Speaking to Ziggo Sport via Sport Witness, the former Tottenham, Ajax and Real Madrid man said: "It’s a great squad, but they just play very badly.

"It’s not always the coach’s fault. You can say: 'Ten Hag is not a big name in England', but maybe that’s an advantage.

"If you’re not going to cooperate with his plan, just leave." A number of first team players are expected to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season due to their contracts expiring, these include Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/foo...sedgntp&cvid=e86deb7c491f47c59d82ec9be23a8a14

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Feel quite sorry already for whoever the new manager is.

 

[James]

Ajax boss Erik ten Hag is on the brink of being confirmed as Manchester United's new manager.

United say no deal has been done but sources in the Netherlands suggest an agreement in principle is in place.

The Dutchman, 52, will replace Ralf Rangnick, who was appointed interim manager in November following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal.

Paris St-Germain's former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino had been the other leading candidate.

BBC

 

[KingKhanWC]

Erik ten Hag is not very experienced. Ajax is his only major club with little to no challenge in Holland.

He may do well but he is entering the most competitive, strong football league in the world.

City and LFC are league above others.

Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea are all becoming stronger.

Good luck to ten Hag, he will need every bit of it.

 

[Firebat]

Dutchman Ten Hag has made it clear to the Manchester United hierarchy that Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 37, will not suit his style of play. (Star)

Ten Hag is considering moving for Tottenham's Netherlands winger Steven Bergwijn, 24, when he takes over at United. (Mail)

 

[Firebat]

Erik ten Hag: Ajax did 'everything possible' to keep Manchester United managerial target

Ajax have done "everything possible" to keep Manchester United managerial target Erik ten Hag at the club, says technical manager Gerry Hamstra.

Man Utd are on the verge of confirming Ten Hag's appointment on an expected three-year deal.

Ajax lost the Dutch Cup final 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven on Sunday.

"We hope he stays. We have to stick with the facts, he has not left yet," Hamstra told ESPN before the defeat.

Ten Hag was not expected to be confirmed as United's new boss before Sunday's final.

His side lead the Eredivisie by four points from PSV as they aim to win their third Dutch league title under Ten Hag.

"There is interest for Erik ten Hag, that is normal. He has done fantastic," Hamstra said earlier on Sunday.

"We did everything possible [to keep him at Ajax]. We were very busy with that.

"He reacted that he is focusing on Ajax now. We are preparing for two scenarios: Ten Hag might stay or might leave."

Ajax took the lead after 23 minutes in the Dutch Cup final when Ryan Gravenberch scored from outside the box.

However, a goal from Noussair Mazraoui was overturned by VAR before Erick Gutierrez and Cody Gakpo struck for PSV inside the first three minutes of the second half.

Davy Klaassen seemed to have levelled the scores before it was ruled out through VAR once again.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61136303

 

[MenInG]

Ralf Rangnick has been confirmed as Austria's new manager on a two-year contract, with the Manchester United interim manager staying on at Old Trafford in a consultancy role.

In a press conference by the Austrian FA, Rangnick was appointed the new national team manager until 2024, with a clause inserted into the contract which states that the deal will be renewed for another two years if the country qualifies for Euro 2024.

SKY