According to Sky Sports, Manchester United have spoken to Ajax chief Erik ten Hag about becoming their permanent head coach at the end of the season. It now seems unlikely that current interim boss Ralf Rangnick will become permanent head coach, although he the German could remain at the club as a consultant.
A man with a plan
Erik ten Hag has established himself as one of the best head coaches in the European game with Ajax. His planning and strategy have turned the Dutch giants into one of the most exciting teams in Europe to watch.
Ajax are currently on course for their third straight Eredivisie title, having also made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League back in 2019. Ten Hag’s style of play with the Dutch champions was always going to attract the vultures from elite clubs in other leagues and seemingly those vultures are circling and will pounce this summer.
United is not the only interested party
Reports from the Netherlands suggest that Erik ten Hag is interesting at least two other major European clubs. Those clubs have so far remained unnamed. The same reports claim that the Dutch head coach is not that convinced by a move to Manchester.
The job has become something of a poisoned chalice since the 2013 exit of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. The job and expectations in Manchester were even too much for the likes of coaching royalty Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, as well as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
With his stock so high, maybe Ten Hag doesn’t need such a big challenge with a team that clearly needs major surgery and a change of mindset. A move to United this summer may not be good for his career or his sanity. It would certainly be a big decision if the Dutchman chose to join the Red Devils.
Ten Hag is not the only likely candidate for the United job
While Ten Hag may have his doubts about the Manchester United job, the Dutchman is not the only head coach that the Red Devils will talk to this summer.
The name of PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino is seemingly constantly linked with the United job. Ironically, the Argentinian head coach was in charge of Tottenham when they knocked Ten Hag’s Ajax out of the Champions League in 2019.
PSG have once again failed to win the Champions League after suffering elimination at the hands of Real Madrid in the last-16. The Parisians are runaway league leaders in Ligue One, but just winning the domestic title has not been enough for some PSG head coaches to keep their jobs in the past.
Another head coach linked with the vacant position is Spain head coach Luis Enrique, who was of course successful at Barcelona in the club game. His compatriot Sevilla’s Julen Lopetegui is also another boss in the frame for the next man to be in the Old Trafford hot seat.
This summer could be a pivotal one for Manchester United and how they move forward in the future. However, it seems that if the Red Devils can persuade Erik ten Hag to take the role of head coach, then it could well prove to be a massive coup.
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Who do you think will be the next permanent Manchester United head coach?
