Man Utd's five-man shortlist to replace Erik ten Hag after Thomas Tuchel takes England job

Manchester United will be forced to expand their search for a new manager if Sir Jim Ratcliffe opts to sack Erik ten Hag, with top target Thomas Tuchel agreeing to become England manager

With Thomas Tuchel now taking over the England job, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has lost one of his top candidates to potentially replace Erik ten Hag.

While he has survived the international break, Ten Hag remains on thin ice after an awful start to the new season. If Manchester United's poor form continues, Ratcliffe may be forced into making a change in the dugout.

Tuchel would have been a leading contender, but the German has agreed to become head coach of the England senior team instead. Despite Tuchel now no longer being available, there are still several options for the Red Devils.

Ratcliffe's shortlist will likely not be too long if he does decide to sack Ten Hag in the coming weeks. Here, Mirror Football looks at five potential candidates for the job.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Likely to be near the top of the list is Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman is currently working as one of Ten Hag's assistants, having been appointed to the backroom staff in the summer.

He spent five years with United as a player, scoring 150 goals to win the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. Van Nistelrooy also much-needed experience as a manager, leading PSV Eindhoven to the KNVB Cup in his sole season in charge.

Kieran McKenna

Image: PA) PA)

Well-known to United as a coach, Kieran McKenna spent time working under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford. McKenna left shortly after Solskjaer was sacked to take over Ipswich Town in December 2021.

The job he has done at Portman Road has been nothing short of remarkable, leading the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions from League One into the Premier League. United will have been watching his progress as a manager closesly.

Zinedine Zidane

Image: Loic Venance - Pool/Getty Images) Loic Venance - Pool/Getty Images)

Arguably one of the biggest names without a job is Zinedine Zidane. He led Real Madrid to two La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues as manager, though has been out of work since leaving the Bernabeu in 2021.

While United may be concerned that he has only worked for Madrid, the Frenchman's managerial talent is clear. While no other jobs seemingly available, United may be able to tempt Zidane back into the dugout.

Gareth Southgate

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

Former England boss Gareth Southgate has been a contender ever since Euro 2024. Ratcliffe is known to be a huge fan of Southgate's following his impressive job with the Three Lions, who he led to successive Euros finals.

It is unknown if Southgate is open to managing to a club, though he has ruled out a return to the international game. Southgate may seem an underwhelming appointment by fans, though his work in changing England's culture may be what United need.

Graham Potter

Though his time at Chelsea ended in his sacking, Graham Potter is still regarded as a top coach. Factors at Stamford Bridge worked against him, though he may be afforded more latitute by Ratcliffe.

Potter has developed a reputation for getting his teams to play an attractive style, which may draw United's attention given the seeming lack of any clear direction under Ten Hag. He has turned down every job offered since leaving Chelsea, though the chance to manage United may tempt him back into management.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Click here to read article