Erik ten Hag is gone, and Manchester United’s managerial search is on.
Ten Hag left United on Monday, with assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy taking over on a temporary basis. But the Dutchman is widely expected to relinquish the role to a permanent successor.
So who’s fit and ready to take the job? Several would-be candidates, including Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi and Marseille’s Roberto De Zerbi, are under contract for the foreseeable future. Former Barcelona boss Xavi is reportedly committed to a year-long sabbatical, ex-Chelsea coach Graham Potter doesn’t seem ready to handle another pressure-cooker situation, and Gareth Southgate has already ruled himself out of the running.
Below, we assess five candidates with the resumes to win over co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and his newly hired suite of executives, offering our probability of each manager being hired.
Ruben Amorim
Probability: 60%
Amorim has been linked with virtually every big Premier League job over the last year and is now in talks with United. Chelsea reportedly interviewed the Sporting CP boss before electing to hire Mauricio Pochettino in 2023, and he was apparently on Liverpool’s short list of candidates to replace Jurgen Klopp. West Ham also flew in Amorim for an interview – which the Portuguese coach later apologized for doing – earlier this year. Now may be his best chance to seal a move to England. He’s won two Portuguese titles with Sporting and claimed big Champions League results against Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur. His team is 9-0-0 in the Primeira Liga, with an impressive 30 goals scored and two against, and is currently unbeaten in the Champions League. His contract expires in 2026, but he reportedly has a €10-million release clause, which United seem all too happy to pay.
Thomas Frank
Probability: 20%
Frank is currently one of the longest-serving managers in all of England’s professional tiers and has never publicly courted interest from other teams. He reiterated hours after Monday’s news broke that he’s “very happy” at Brentford and did his best to skirt every follow-up question. But he deserves to move up a level after what he’s achieved at Brentford. He’s helped consolidate the club’s position in the Premier League after earning promotion in 2021 and adapted his tactics along the way, resisting the temptation to push the kind of high-risk football that has cost many other promoted teams their top-flight status. United already hold Frank in high esteem and reportedly considered him for the job before handing Ten Hag an extension in the summer.
Massimiliano Allegri
Probability: 10%
Allegri was fired by Juventus in May for an explosive outburst that marred the team’s big win in the Coppa Italia final. The cameras caught him roasting officials and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli in a fiery final act that had been bubbling underneath the surface for some time. While he won five Serie A titles over two stints at Juventus, Allegri’s overly cautious football seemed to keep the club from moving forward. That’s not to say he’s a bad choice for United. The Red Devils have conceded an alarming number of chances and late goals, rendering any improvements in attack useless. Allegri would certainly provide structure to a side lacking an identity. Even if his football isn’t the most pleasing, we at least know what to expect from him. The same couldn’t be said for Ten Hag and his United.
Sergio Conceicao
Probability: 5%
Conceicao is one of the most interesting candidates. After leaving Porto and reportedly holding talks with AC Milan and Marseille, the Portuguese is clearly waiting for the right opportunity. He can work right away and has a track record of managing established players and helping talented youngsters grow. Porto won the league three times under the 49-year-old’s watch and competed well in the Champions League. As a hard-nosed coach who demands a high work rate, Conceicao would increase accountability at United, where such an attribute has been lacking. Even if he can’t speak English well, United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, could help him give instructions. A number of players on the team – including Diogo Dalot and Casemiro – also speak Portuguese.
Zinedine Zidane
Probability: 5%
Zidane is a pipe dream. Any club would love to hire the Frenchman, not only for his charisma but also because of his winning record with Real Madrid, whom he led to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2016-18. But he’s been elusive since leaving Madrid for a second time in 2021. He also doesn’t speak English and doesn’t seem to be in any rush to learn it. The consensus is that he’ll eventually replace Didier Deschamps when he steps down as manager of the French national team. But it’s worth calling Zidane just to see if he has any interest at all. After persisting with a disciplinarian in Ten Hag, United would benefit from Zidane’s more calming presence.
