There are many candidates for the next managerial position at Manchester United, including Pochettino, Roger Schmidt, Didier Deschamps and Erik ten Hag. All of them have proven to be excellent with the club in the past, and I would not be surprised if any of them was chosen to take over from the outgoing Solskjaer. I’ll also outline the qualifications required of each.
Pochettino
The four candidates for the Manchester United job are all good, talented coaches who can adapt to the Premier League. Pochettino, meanwhile, has a proven track record of nurturing young players and a hard-core appreciation of egotistical dressing rooms. Pochettino would be the perfect candidate to help Manchester United take baby steps in their rebuilding process, as his tactics and philosophy are known to be based on self-sacrifice.
Pochettino is like Thomas Tuchel in his footballing philosophy. The team is compact and swarmy, with overlapping full-backs and transitions. Fred, a box-to-box midfielder, would be ideal for Pochettino. This approach is not suited to the Manchester United academy. He has also a track record of developing young players, and is not afraid to use it.
In terms of the PSG job, Pochettino is currently in his first full season. However, he has failed to settle and is under intense scrutiny from fans. After the Champions League defeat by Real Madrid, Pochettino is facing intense scrutiny. His position is shaky in Europe despite his success with Tottenham Hotspur. But PSG’s sporting director Leonardo has announced he will remain until the end of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur, who have publicly backed Pochettino, privately know about his interest in the Manchester United job. The Argentine’s interest in Old Trafford would jeopardize his relationship with Tottenham fans. But any approach to Pochettino would be diplomatic and sensitive. Ten Hag has also indicated he is ready for the next step. So, who would be Pochettino’s ideal candidate?
Roger Schmidt
After having a successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham, the Dutchman should replace José Mourinho as the next Manchester United manager. With Mauricio Pochetinno and Luis Enrique out of the picture, who should take the helm at Old Trafford? It’s difficult to know for sure, but both men have been linked with the job. And if they don’t make it, they will certainly be interested in the job at Manchester United.
Before assuming the managerial role at United, Schmidt played for third-tier side SC Verl. He made more than 200 appearances for the club, but never managed to break into the top flight. He spent most of his career in northern Germany, where he later managed a lower-league side. Before that, he had been coaching in the lower-leagues, first with Delbrucker SC, then at FC Hamburg. Although he was a non-leaguer during his playing days, his passion for the game has stayed with him.
While he is currently managing PSV Eindhoven, he is rumoured to be the next man to take charge at Old Trafford. Schmidt is in advanced talks with the Old Trafford hierarchy. If he is chosen, it is possible that he could become the next Manchester United manager. But if he ends up staying at PSV, he’ll join Benfica Lisbon.
Among the names that have emerged as candidates are Ruud van Nistelrooy, a former Dutch striker with 150 goals for the club. He’s currently the manager of Jong PSV, and previously coached their U19 side. Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to replace Schmidt. The Dutchman’s contract expires at the end of this season.
Didier Deschamps
The French national team manager did not seem like an obvious candidate for the job. However, after all, it is not a surprise that Didier Deschamps could be the perfect candidate for the role, and he would be the perfect maverick to bring fresh ideas to the Old Trafford dressing room. A manager who has already been in charge of the French national team for the past two years would be a great fit for the United job.
Didier Deschamps’ track record is impressive. While playing in Europe, he won three Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia with Juventus. He was named Ligue 1 Manager of the Year in 2004, and he played a season with Juventus after the Calciopoli Scandal. After that, he spent one season at Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup and reached two Champions League finals. Didier Deschamps also spent one season with Valencia, where he led the team to a UEFA Champions League final in 2001.
Luis Enrique is another name that has been linked to the role, and he is currently managing Spain at the World Cup. Antonio Conte is a more realistic option, as his background as a Tottenham manager means that he is familiar with the club’s over-the-hill squad. However, despite his extensive experience in the Premier League, he is also likely to be a free agent this summer, and could be an option for the United board.
Didier Deschamps’ comments about Paul Pogba have sparked fresh debate. Although the French midfielder is not happy at Manchester United, Deschamps is confident that the French player will find a new club. In the end, he did not score any goals for France, but he was the driving force behind their attacks. A new manager would be a better fit for Pogba than Jose Mourinho’s methods and philosophies.
Erik ten Hag
There are a number of reasons why Erik ten Hag should be the next manager at Manchester United. The Dutchman’s reputation as a strict policy follower means that he can bring a strong football philosophy to the club. This would suit Manchester United, who have struggled to recreate their Dutch glory in England. However, it would be difficult to convince the Dutchman to leave his club, especially given that it would require a large compensation fee from Ajax.
Manchester United need a confidence boost – a defeat in the UECL would be a humiliating result. But Ten Hag is the man for the job. He can unlock Wayne Rooney’s potential. Manchester United’s defensive problems have been alarming this season. The signing of Varane was meant to improve their outlook, but the Frenchman’s injuries have only compounded the situation. If he can improve the defensive side, Manchester United could be on the road to a successful season.
It is expected that the Dutchman will take over as manager of Manchester United at the end of the current season. Ten Hag has been at Ajax since 2017, and is currently the head coach of the Dutch club. The Dutchman’s contract expires in June 2025, but could be extended as long as work visa requirements permit. This would give United a stable and consistent manager in the coming years.
If the Dutchman is successful at Manchester United, he will have an excellent background in football. Ajax’s team is a well-organised club with a uniform philosophy. It has few layers of middle management. Ten Hag has no coaching experience abroad, but has worked with Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich II. This gives him an added psychological dimension to his coaching philosophy. Ajax’s fans will undoubtedly benefit from Ten Hag’s football philosophy, which is one of the main reasons why they have been so successful.
Solskjaer
With all the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United, it is clear why he should be the next manager. After all, he oversaw the relegation-hit squad and revived the likes of Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw. But there are still doubts about the Norwegian’s managerial style, with many criticising the way he has handled certain players. Donny van de Beek, for example, has played much less than the other players.
The Norwegian was a goal-scoring disciple of Sir Alex Ferguson. It was under SAF that Solskjaer honed his managerial style. He has blended vintage Manchester United play with the more modern man management style. In the process, he has brought out the best in players like Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial. Solskjaer is the next manager of Manchester United because of this approach to football.
After all, a permanent appointment of Solskjaer would bring stability to the club. A permanent appointment would allow the club to sign new contracts for its most prominent players, as well as start courting prospective targets. With such heightened stability, Solskjaer should be the next manager of Manchester United. But the timetable for his appointment should be accelerated. As long as Solskjaer is in place, the club can begin building for the 2019-20 season.
Mauricio Pochettino is also a candidate for the Manchester United job. The French manager has been in charge of the national team since 2012 and is considered the club’s top target. Solskjaer is on the same wavelength as Ferguson and Pochettino’s contract is due to expire in the summer. That would make the wait time for a permanent appointment longer.
