Manchester United players have reportedly made their choice for a potential new head coach amid growing uncertainty surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future. Following a series of disappointing performances, including a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, there are increasing rumors that discontent is brewing within the United dressing room regarding the current manager’s leadership.
United’s season began positively with a win over Fulham, but they have since struggled, going three matches without a victory and dropping to 13th place in the Premier League standings. This downturn in form has only intensified the scrutiny surrounding Erik ten Hag’s position as head coach.
Despite the big summer signings like Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt, Manchester United hasn’t been able to translate that investment into positive results. The report about the board planning to reassess the situation during the upcoming autumn international break adds to the uncertainty surrounding Erik ten Hag’s position. Even though Ten Hag signed an extension until 2026, the ongoing challenges and speculation raise doubts about his future at the club. The FA Cup win over Manchester City in May might be a distant memory now with the current struggles.
If Ten Hag were to leave, it seems that the players are leaning towards an internal promotion, with assistant coach and former club star Ruud Van Nistelrooy being their top choice. Van Nistelrooy, a fan-favorite who netted 150 goals in 219 appearances for United under Sir Alex Ferguson, has transitioned into coaching since his playing days ended in 2012. He has had success with Jong PSV and managed PSV’s first team, winning the 2022/23 KNVB Cup and leading them to regular European competitions.Additionally, other names being linked to the role include Inter’s Simone Inzaghi, who is among the favorites, and former England boss Gareth Southgate, who is in the conversation after stepping down from his national team position following a narrow defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
