Next Man United manager: Five potential replacements for the under-pressure Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag's future as Manchester United remains unclear following an executive meeting in London on Tuesday.

Co-chairmen Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer, football board member Sir Dave Brailsford and sporting director Dan Ashworth were in attendance in Knightsbridge for the meeting, in addition to INEOS sport chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc.

Ten Hag's future is said to have been discussed, with the Dutchman's position in severe doubt due to Man United making their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, picking up only eight points from their first seven games to sit in 14th position in the table.

The Red Devils will return to action against Brentford at Old Trafford on October 19, and it remains to be seen whether Ten Hag is in charge for the clash after the international break.

Here, Sports Mole discusses five potential replacements for the 54-year-old.

Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man United assistant manager)

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Van Nistelrooy became Man United's assistant head coach over the summer, with the 48-year-old returning to the club that he represented as a player between 2001 and 2006.

The Dutchman only has limited managerial experience, having been in charge of PSV Eindhoven between May 2022 and May 2023, but he is highly-rated as a coach and would certainly command the respect of the players.

Van Nistelrooy is the obvious choice to replace Ten Hag on an interim basis, and he could then be considered for the permanent role depending on how he performs in the main position.

The ex-striker would of course be open to taking the role, but he would allegedly not be entirely comfortable due to the fact that he does not want to be seen as someone who 'betrayed' the manager.

Thomas Tuchel (unemployed)

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Despite the recent speculation, it is understood that Man United have not approached Tuchel, but the German is certainly under consideration for the job at Old Trafford moving forward.

The German, who left Bayern Munich in May, was in talks with Man United over the summer, but negotiations are believed to have broken down over his role at the club and the financial package.

Tuchel managed Chelsea between January 2021 and September 2022, famously winning the Champions League during his time at the helm, while he has also been in charge of Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.

The 51-year-old's experience of managing top-class clubs makes him an attractive appointment for Man United, but it remains to be seen whether the issues that were present in the summer negotiations can be overcome.

Gareth Southgate (unemployed)

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Southgate was also linked with the role over the summer, but an appointment at that stage was always going to be incredibly difficult due to his involvement with England at Euro 2024.

The 54-year-old departed the Three Lions after the European Championship, meaning that he is now available, and Man United chief Brailsford allegedly views Southgate as the main contender for the job.

Ratcliffe is also an admirer of Southgate's work, but his limited experience of club management will likely work against him.

Southgate was in charge of England between 2016 and 2024, and his only experience of club management came between 2006 and 2009 at Middlesbrough, boasting a record of 45 wins, 43 draws and 63 defeats from 151 games at the Riverside Stadium.

Graham Potter (unemployed)

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Potter has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023, and there is no getting away from the fact that he found it difficult at Stamford Bridge, only winning 12 of his 31 games in charge.

The 49-year-old performed brilliantly at Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, though, and it will surely not be too long before he is back in a high-profile position considering his coaching abilities.

Potter recently addressed the rumours linking him with a move to Old Trafford, telling Sky Sports News: "A lot of what I've read in the media is untrue and false. I take what the media say with a pinch of salt. I've had lots of conversations with lots of people. For the respect of everybody, it's best I keep it private.

"I don't think anything is impossible but jobs are difficult. That's the reality of life in the Premier League. If you're a big club like Manchester United and you're not in the top six, then there's always going to be scrutiny."

Potter has huge admirers in the boardroom at Man United, but he is an outsider for the job at this stage of proceedings.

Michael Carrick (Middlesbrough manager)

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A return to Old Trafford for Carrick is not out of the question considering his work at Middlesbrough, with the 43-year-old viewed as one of the brightest young coaches in English football.

Carrick was famously in charge of Man United on a caretaker basis between November 21, 2021 and December 2, 2021, winning two and drawing one of his three games at the helm.

The ex-Red Devils midfielder has been Middlesbrough boss since October 2022, boasting a record of 49 wins, 16 draws and 33 defeats from 98 games, and his work at the Riverside Stadium has not gone unnoticed.

Carrick won five Premier League titles and the Champions League during his playing career at Old Trafford, and it is not impossible to imagine him returning to Old Trafford to take the managerial role, but it would be a risk considering his limited experience at the highest level.

Written by
Matt Law