Manchester United are actively seeking alternatives for their managerial position after being rejected by Gareth Southgate. Here are some of the potentials planned out by INEOS
The manager shortlist from INEOS is a path to kickstart the revamping required for the British giants. Reports suggest that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a recent addition to the ownership group of Manchester United, has reportedly prioritized the recruitment of Gareth Southgate as the club’s next manager over Erik ten Hag, the current manager.
Despite Gareth Southgate publicly distancing himself from the job, Sir Jim Ratcliffe hasn’t solely relied on him as the prime candidate for the Old Trafford managerial role next season. According to ESPN, the new leadership at Manchester United has identified nine additional names on their list of potential managers.
Manchester United potential manager shortlist
1. Graham Potter
One of these contenders is former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter, who SunSport exclusively revealed is being considered as a successor to Erik ten Hag.
Graham Potter who was dismissed from his post as a Chelsea manager in April 2023 with Bruno Saltor taking over as interim. Potter had the lowest points-per-game return of any Chelsea manager. He managed 31 games, losing 11, and left Chelsea in 11th place in the Premier League at the time of his dismissal.
Still highly rated by many despite his Chelsea stint, the new sporting helm at Manchester United has named as part of a nine man manager shortlist should Erik Ten Hag fail to keep his job ahead of next season.
2. Roberto De Zerbi
Roberto De Zerbi an Italian football manager known for his tactical versatility and commitment to attacking football. He began his coaching career in the lower divisions of Italian football before making a name for himself at Sassuolo in Serie A.
Under his guidance, Brighton and Hove Albion also became known for their attractive style of play and development of young talent. De Zerbi’s tactical acumen and ability to get the best out of his players have earned him praise within the footballing community. This candidate is sure someone incoming Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada would consider. to be his manager shortlist.
3. THOMAS FRANK
Thomas Frank has made a significant impact as the manager of Brentford FC. Under his leadership, Brentford has experienced notable success, including securing promotion to the English Premier League. Frank is admired for his tactical astuteness and his ability to foster a cohesive team dynamic. It might sound as a shock he is making a manager shortlist hunt for Manchester United.
Additionally, he has demonstrated a keen eye for talent recruitment, contributing to Brentford’s rise as a competitive force in English football. Frank’s impressive work at Brentford has garnered widespread recognition and has solidified his reputation as one of the promising managerial talents in the sport. Brentford are quite struggling in the league this season with 26points from 29games and are hoping they will avoid a relegation fight.
4. Thomas Tuchel
There are no questions about Thomas Tuchel being in the plans of Manchester United considering his chunk of experience from the German league, French league, Premier league and also the German league. The German international have struggled to find the standards for Bayern Munich this season.
This won’t hinder the INEOS team from keeping the Champions league winner on their manager search. Thomas Tuchel is set to depart Bayern Munich at the end of the season after struggling for form as they trail red hot Bayern Leverkusen in the Bundesliga as earlier reported by Sports Buddy.
5. ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Zinedine Zidane’s tenure as the manager of Real Madrid witnessed unprecedented success in the UEFA Champions League. Taking over in January 2016, Zidane led Real Madrid to an era of dominance in Europe’s premier club competition. Under his guidance, Real Madrid won the Champions League for three consecutive seasons from 2016 to 2018, becoming the first team to achieve such a feat in the modern era.
Zidane’s tactical prowess, man-management skills, and ability to inspire his players were crucial factors in Real Madrid’s triumphs. His success in the Champions League solidified his status as one of the most celebrated managers in the history of the competition. This is a name that would be on the lips of everyone and it is no shock he made into Sir Jim Ratcliffe list of manager shortlist.
6. JULIAN NAGELSMANN
The Germany national team football head coach is also not a surprise to be in the manager shortlist of a top club like Manchester United with his wealth of experience in the Bundesliga.
Nagelsmann gained attention for his work at Hoffenheim, where he transformed the club into a competitive force in the Bundesliga despite their limited resources. His ability to develop young talents and implement modern tactical systems earned him widespread acclaim.
In 2019, Nagelsmann took charge of RB Leipzig and continued to showcase his managerial prowess. Under his guidance, Leipzig reached the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2019-2020 season, marking a historic achievement for the club.
Nagelsmann’s tactical flexibility, emphasis on high-pressing football, and knack for maximizing player potential have cemented his reputation as one of the brightest managerial talents in European football and it has brought him to the INEOS manager shortlist search. In April 2021, it was announced that Nagelsmann would take over as the head coach of Bayern Munich, further solidifying his status as one of the most promising and sought-after managers in the game.
7. RUBEN AMORIM
A promising manager who made Arsenal sweat in their Champions league round of 16 clash before being knocked out by Mikel Arteta’s men is one of the most sought after managers in Europe and is high on the manager shortlist of Manchester United.
8. ANGE POSTECOGLOU
9. JULEN LOPETEGUI
The current Wolverhampton wanderers manager is also on the 9-man manager shortlist of Manchester United. He has wealth of experiences in Europe and is currently leading Wolves to a very strong campaign as they sit 9th in the league.
Manchester United continues restructuring
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new part-owner of Manchester United, has wasted no time in making significant changes to the club’s leadership. He recently poached Omar Berrada from Manchester City, appointing him as the club’s new CEO and now has a manager shortlist for the club ahead of the summer. These moves highlights Ratcliffe’s ambition to reshape the club’s hierarchy and bring in fresh talent to drive Manchester United forward.
In addition to Berrada’s appointment, Ratcliffe has made a bold approach to Newcastle United regarding the potential availability of Dan Ashworth.
Ashworth is being eyed for the role of sporting director at Manchester United, indicating Ratcliffe’s intent to bolster the club’s management structure with experienced and capable individuals. These strategic moves underscore Ratcliffe’s determination to implement his vision for Manchester United and enhance its competitiveness in the footballing landscape.
