Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'draws up 10-man shortlist of Erik ten Hag replacements'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 24 April 2024

Ratcliffe 'draws up 10-man shortlist of Ten Hag replacements'

Manchester United's new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe allegedly draws up a 10-man shortlist of potential replacements for Erik ten Hag.

Manchester United's new minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly drawn up a 10-man shortlist of potential replacements for Erik ten Hag at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Ten Hag managed to guide his side to another FA Cup final on Sunday, with the Red Devils beating Championship outfit Coventry City on penalties in the semi-finals of the competition.

However, the manner of the win has led to further criticism of the Dutchman, as Man United were 3-0 ahead against the second-tier outfit before being forced to play extra time, and Coventry then saw a last-gasp goal ruled out for offside, which would have sent the 20-time English champions out of the competition.

Man United's league performance this season has also been disappointing, with the team sitting down in seventh spot in the table ahead of successive home matches with the bottom two Sheffield United and Burnley.

Ten Hag's side are 16 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit with two games in hand, and are now incredibly unlikely to play Champions League football next term.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag looks dejected after Chelsea are awarded a penalty on April 4, 2024 © Reuters

Erik ten Hag is facing the sack at Man United

According to The Mirror, Ratcliffe has put together a 10-man shortlist of potential replacements for Ten Hag, who is now expected to lose his job this summer.

The report claims that England head coach Gareth Southgate is the favourite, while ex-Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter is also admired by Ratcliffe and his INEOS team.

Thomas Tuchel is set to become available this summer, with the German leaving Bayern Munich, and it is understood that he is also being considered as Ten Hag's replacement.

Zinedine Zidane, who has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, is also allegedly in the frame alongside Brentford head coach Thomas Frank.

Another former Real Madrid manager in the shape of Julen Lopetegui, who left Wolverhampton Wanderers at the start of this season, is also being linked with the position.

England manager Gareth Southgate before the match on November 17, 2023 © Reuters

Gareth Southgate viewed as the favourite for Man United job

Brighton & Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi is allegedly on the list alongside Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim, while Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is also admired.

Ange Postecoglou's work at Tottenham Hotspur during the 2023-24 campaign has also reportedly put him in the frame for the position at Old Trafford this summer, but the current England manager is seen as the favourite.

Southgate will lead England into this summer's European Championship, but there is uncertainty surrounding his long-term future with the Three Lions, as his contract is due to expire at the end of December.

The 53-year-old's only experience as a club manager came at Middlesbrough between 2006 and 2009, winning 45, drawing 43 and losing 63 of his 151 matches in charge.

Southgate became England Under-21s head coach in August 2013 and then made the step to the senior side in September 2016, and he has now taken charge of 93 matches for the Three Lions.