Who will be the next permanent Man United manager? Five potential candidates analysed

This Monday, the news was announced that Manchester United had sacked manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman had spent two and a half years in charge of the club, and won the EFL Cup and the FA Cup during his tenure. However, ultimately the Red Devils' league form had been poor for way too long. Last year saw the club slump to their worst ever Premier League finish of eighth place, and things have failed to improve this term, with Man United currently 14th in the table. It seems the club's 2-1 defeat by West Ham at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon was the last straw, with ten Hag informed of his dismissal less than 24 hours later. Former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who joined the club as Ten Hag's assistant last summer, has been named as interim manager.

In a club statement, Manchester United said, "Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager. Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future. Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited." It was a surprise to many that ten Hag stayed on after last season, with the FA Cup final victory against rivals Manchester City appearing to save his job. Now the arduous search for his successor will begin, and here at Transfermarkt, we have picked out five potential candidates who could get the job, and examined what each could bring to Old Trafford.

Five potential managers who could get the Manchester United job

Ruud Van Nistelrooy (48) - Man United (as interim manager)

Van Nistelrooy was a fan favourite during his time as a player at Old Trafford, scoring 150 goals in 219 games and winning the Premier League and the FA Cup with Man United. The former striker returned to the club to become an assistant to Ten Hag as part of a coaching reshuffle in the summer. He had been out of work since quitting as PSV manager just before the end of the 2022/23 season after he had won the Dutch Cup in his first season, with Van Nistelrooy claiming he wasn't getting enough support amid a reported player revolt about his coaching methods.

The 48-year-old has also had two spells as assistant manager with the Netherlands, but his relative managerial inexperience, combined with his involvement in the current regime's disastrous performances could work against him. Van Nistelrooy will however have on opportunity to stamp his mark on this Man United team during his interim spell, and will no doubt increase his chances if results and performances improve.

Xavi (44) - No club

One LaLiga title in two and a half years proved not to be enough for Barcelona to offer club legend Xavi more time in the dugout, and he appeared to fall out with a lot of people at the club during his tenure. However, Xavi did take over at a tough time for the club, and did keep the Catalan giants dining at football's top tables during a lengthy period of financial uncertainty and upheaval. He is also known for producing an attractive style of football, straight out of the Pep Guardiola hand-book. 

The prospect of him following one-time mentor Guardiola to the Premier League is a exciting one for football purists. Whether he would take the job, and whether Man united would offer it to him, remains to be seen, but he will certainly have a point to prove following his departure from his boyhood club last summer. 

Ruben Amorim (39) - Sporting

Sporting boss Rúben Amorim was heavily linked with Liverpool last year, and has already begun being touted as a potential Guardiola successor at Man City, should the Spaniard leave at the of the season. Before his arrival, Sporting hadn't won a title in 19 years. Since then they have won two, and Amorim is still yet to hit 40 years of age. A former Benfica and Portugal midfielder, Amorim retired as a player in 2018 and first made his mark as a coach the following season, when an impressive short stint in charge of Braga's reserve team saw him promoted to first-team manager.

Ten wins in 13 games soon caught the eye of bigger clubs and Sporting were so keen to secure his services that they paid €10 million to make him their manager in March 2020. Amorim's current contract with Sporting runs until June, 2026, and he is one of the most sought-after bosses in world football. He could also perhaps get the best out of his compatriot Bruno Fernandes whose performances have dwindled for United for a while now. United are in need of a re-build, and Amorim's young age could be seen as a real positive in that respect. 

Gareth Southgate (54) - No club

A left-field choice could potentially be former England manager Gareth Southgate. There has been little hiding that members of the new Man United hierarchy are fans of Southgate. However, the 54 year old did recently vow to take a year out of management so could take some serious convincing if United were to choose him as ten Hag's successor. His inexperience at club level would no doubt be a huge cause for concern, given he has only ever taken charge of Middlesbrough, where he was far from successful, registering just 1.21 points per game.

Nevertheless, you could argue that the two jobs in world football where you face the most scrutiny are England and Man United, and his experience dealing with the media and the pressure that came with the England job, could stand him in good stead to survive the overwhelming demand that comes with being in the dugout at Old Trafford. 

Thomas Frank (51) - Brentford

Only Manchester City's serial winner Guardiola can lay claim to being a longer serving manager in the Premier League right now than Brentford's Thomas Frank. The Dane has earned the reputation of being one of the most respected managers in the division after taking the Bees up in 2021, and keeping them safely in the division ever since. Last December, Frank was asked if he had rejected job offers and replied, "Yeah, I have, but I doubt I’ll find a club that does everything better than Brentford."

Recruitment has been one of the real strongpoints at Brentford in recent years, and Frank has demonstrated his ability to work with those upstairs cohesively and effectively. It's an area that certainly has let Man United down over the last decade. He knows the league well, and appears to be able to get the best out of players, but his lack of experience at a top club, that comes with huge pressure, could go against him.