10 Managers Who Could Replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United [Ranked]

Erik ten Hag has been dismissed as Manchester United manager, bringing an end to his tenure in charge of the Red Devils. After initially getting off to a strong start at Old Trafford, it’s been a tumultous reign, with some highs but many lows. He lifted the League Cup and FA Cup with United, but also led the club to their worst ever season in the Premier League.

After a disastrous start to the 2024/25 campaign finds the Red Devils sitting in 14th, the club have made the decision to sack Ten Hag and the quest to find his replacement will begin almost immediately. Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge temporarily, but who will the club turn to on a permanent basis? Well, below are the 10 most likely options.

Ranking factors

While assessing this shortlist of 10 managers, several factors came into play when ranking them as potential successors to Ten Hag. Among the metrics were:

• Likelihood – The managers have to be attainable for the club, or have previous links to the United job. This is the key factor, otherwise we might as well have thrown in Pep Guardiola.
• Recent form – How well managers have performed in their current positions.
• Success – How many trophies have the managers won, and could they replicate that success at Old Trafford?
• Long-term option – Could the manager build a project at United and return them to the Premier League summit?
• Style of play – Do the managers in question play an exciting brand of football?

Managers who could replace Ten Hag at Man Utd in pictures

1 Ruud van Nistelrooy

Manchester United Assistant Manager

As part of Ten Hag signing a new deal shortly before the 2024/25 campaign, some significant changes were made to his backroom staff, which saw cult hero Ruud van Nistelrooy return to the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ as the club’s new assistant manager alongside Rene Hake. Years after banging in the goals for the Red Devils, his appointment raised some eyebrows, given that he had last been seen as manager of PSV.

With Ten Hag’s dismissal, Van Nistelrooy has been instilled as interim head coach at United and considering his credentials, there’s a good chance he gets the job on a permanent basis should things go well.

2 Gareth Southgate

Unattatched

Former England manager Gareth Southgate appears to be one of the front-runners to occupy the Old Trafford dugout with Ten Hag leaving. The ex-Three Lions’ boss stepped back from his duties with the national team after eight years, following yet another European Championship heartbreak.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed no contact took place between the manager and the club before Ten Hag’s contract renewal, but Ratcliffe is thought to be an admirer of Southgate’s work. With the hurdle of the national team job no longer standing in the way, the Englishman may go from international royalty to the monarch of Manchester.

3 Xavi

Unattatched

Xavi is reportedly on a shortlist of managers mooted for Old Trafford’s revolving doors, following claims that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS-led Man United leadership have already reached out to the Barcelona legend. The Spaniard, who had a decorated playing career, recently departed his boyhood club after guiding them to a La Liga title.

His tactical approach, combined with his availability, makes him a particularly appealing candidate for the role, with a four-man entourage reportedly having flown out to Barcelona last Thursday to hold face-to-face meetings with the 44-year-old.

4 Ruben Amorim

Sporting CP

Touted by many as the next Jose Mourinho, Ruben Amorim is finding suitors across the world, with one of them potentially being the higher-ups at INEOS. Having spent much of his playing days at Benfica, he now finds himself at the helm of one of their competitors, Sporting CP.

Since his arrival, the 39-year-old has restored some glory to the Lisbon outfit, playing an exciting brand of football and managing to secure two league titles, a Portuguese Super Cup and two Portuguese League Cups to go along with the one he secured during his time at Braga. A move to Old Trafford would undoubtedly be a step-up, but one he would be confident in making having been among the candidates for the Liverpool job when Jurgen Klopp departed.

5 Graham Potter

Unattatched

Graham Potter’s reputation may be slightly tarnished given his last stint at a ‘Big Six’ club, but the circumstances he was working in were not conducive to any success. Mauricio Pochettino’s struggles at Chelsea proved how difficult Potter had it. In an environment that appears to be more structured, he may fare a tad better.

The Englishman was fantastic at Brighton, but his reign at Stamford Bridge, coupled with Roberto De Zerbi’s run with the Seagulls, seems to have made people forget just how strong of a coach Potter can be. Another man INEOS seem to admire given his previous links to their French club, OGC Nice. This is a name to watch out for developments now that Ten Hag has been given the boot.

6 Thomas Frank

Brentford

Thomas Frank is one of those managers who will be in the running for many top vacancies in European football until he finally makes the jump from Brentford. It’s a miracle that the Bees have been able to keep hold of their Danish tactician for this long after he guided them to Premier League promotion for the first time.

Man United are often accused of being disorganised and lacking in structure on the pitch. Frank would almost immediately iron these issues out as his Brentford team are one of the best set-up sides in the division. If United don’t swoop for the 50-year-old, another top club will eventually. He was heavily linked with the United job over the summer before the club decided to stick with Ten Hag, so now the Dutchman has gone, he may be called upon.

7 Kieran McKenna

Ipswich Town

Kieran McKenna has history with the Red Devils after being part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching staff during his time in charge of the club. The young boss has gone on to achieve big things since exiting United as he gained back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town.

After taking the Tractor Boys back into the English top flight for the first time in over 20 years, there was speculation McKenna would be on the managerial shortlist of Chelsea after Pochettino’s departure, but that failed to materialise. He has since signed a new contract with Ipswich, but the lure of Man United could still be too strong.

8 Simone Inzaghi

Inter Milan

It would seem strange if Simone Inzaghi were to abandon his role at Inter Milan for a shot at English football by taking over the vacant position at Old Trafford. Since 2021, he has collected six trophies, and trading those comforts for what is arguably the most high-pressure job in world football would be akin to inviting disaster.

However, if there’s one thing that sets Italian managers apart, it’s their fearless appetite for risk. According to some reports, the ‘genius’ 48-year-old has already agreed to a contract in anticipation of the 2025/26 season, and to tie down such a reputable manager for the position would be a major coup for Ratcliffe and Co.

9 Massimiliano Allegri

Unattached

It was only a few weeks ago that club icon Sir Alex Ferguson recommended the Red Devils to replace Ten Hag with Massimiliano Allegri. Sure, a lot has happened since then, with United’s most successful manager of all time recently having had his ambassadorial contract ripped up, but perhaps there’s nobody who knows the club better than the Scot.

If INEOS grants Ferguson’s final wish, they would be appointing a manager with six Serie A titles and two Champions League runner-up finishes. However, given that it was the 82-year-old who pushed for the ill-fated appointment of David Moyes after his retirement in 2013, the club may hesitate before following his advice again—despite the numerous Premier League titles he secured during his legendary tenure.

10 Michael Carrick

Middlesbrough

He might not be the most glamorous option on the list, but Michael Carrick has already shown how capable he is as a football manager and with his status as a cult hero at Old Trafford, it wouldn’t be too surprising if the club turned to him in their hour of need. The Englishman has done a solid job with Middlesbrough since taking charge in 2022. He’s coached the side for 100 matches, winning exactly half of them.

He’s yet to truly prove himself at an elite level of football management, but he did have a short stint as caretaker boss of the team in 2021. During that three-game spell, he beat Villarreal and Arsenal, while drawing with Chelsea. Not too shabby.