Erik ten Hag was interviewed for the Manchester United job on Monday and is on a shortlist with a number of candidates, including Mauricio Pochettino, Julen Lopetegui and Luis Enrique.
The Ajax head coach was a frontrunner for the job, and now it seems that he is the favourite to become Manchester United’s new head coach for the next season. After this season, Ralf Rangnick, who is currently in charge of Manchester United, would step into a consultancy role at the club.
The 52-year-old spoke to United on Monday, and the Dutchman is now considered to be the overriding favourite to take charge in the summer. Ten Hag has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time and was even turned down by Tottenham last summer.
The Dutchman was interviewed to be Jose Mourinho‘s replacement at Spurs, but in a brutal assessment, they said he lacked charisma, although things haven’t worked out too badly for them with Antonio Conte now in charge. But Tottenham’s loss could be United’s gain, and since his summer snub, Ten Hag has been taking advanced English lessons.
Following his Tottenham rejection, Ten Hag seemed to make a U-turn on his future as he signed a new deal at Ajax, but 12 months later, it seems he wants out, and United may have identified him as their man. The Dutchman is currently leading Ajax to another league title, but they too were knocked out of the Champions League at the same stage as United.
According to reports, PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino and Sevilla head coach Julen Lopetegui are also being considered for the job. Following a torrid run of results, United parted ways with club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as head coach and handed over reigns of the club to Ralf Rangnick. United did show signs of improvement under the German but have lost all opportunities of winning a trophy this season.
Their latest result was a loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on March 16 at Old Trafford, which saw them being knocked out of the competition. However, Manchester United have an opportunity of getting something out of what has been a difficult season by finishing within the top four in the Premier League. But that would take some doing as they have to fend off some serious competition from the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, at Ajax, the expectancy is that their coach will leave at the end of this campaign.
United will also have to speak to his formidable agent Kees Vos, who negotiated Robin van Persie’s move to Old Trafford from Arsenal a decade ago and only recently added Guardiola’s brother Pere to his Sports Entertainment Group.
