Five managers who can replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Man United

The Norwegian is under pressure to deliver this season with his job security on the line.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under constant scrutiny as the manager of Manchester United. The tactician has done an impressive job rebuilding the squad but the challenges today are bigger. The expectations are sky high this season, especially after the arrival of players like Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo. With the rebuild of the squad now looking like over, the Norwegian now must deliver a trophy.

The fans of the most decorated club in England are becoming desperate to see their team win a trophy. The last trophy the Red Devils won was the UEFA Europa League back in the 2016/17 season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has guided the club to several semi-finals and a final, but has not delivered a trophy. Many critics feel that while Ole has done a decent job, he is not the right man to take the club forward.

Manchester United have lost two of their last three Premier League games and are already out of the Carabao Cup. The pressure on the Norwegian is increasing everyday and he may lose his position if the results do not change in the immediate future. A section of the fans want a new manager at the helm, one who has experience and bring the best out of the incredible squad at the club.

In a scenario where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is sacked, here are the five managers who could replace him at Manchester United.

5. Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte is one of the most experienced managers available in the market. He refused a move to Tottenham Hotspur before parting ways with Inter Milan earlier this year. The Italian guided the Serie A giants to the Scudetto after nine years, thus ending Juventus's monopoly. 

Although Conte is perhaps a mismatch according to a section of the fans. It is mainly because of his pragmatic approach and the planning where he wants a very specific type of playing squad. That may not align with the club’s identity which is built on attacking football. Having said that, Conte remains a leading candidate to land the Manchester United job as he has won the Premier League title earlier with Chelsea. His arrival will increase the chance of a silverware as well.

4. Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe has been without a club since his separation with Bournemouth. The Englishman was the manager at the club for eight years and led them to Premier League promotion from the third tier of English football. Furthermore, he kept the Cherries in the first division for five years, over-achieving with minimal resources. 

Howe recently rejected a move to Celtic FC in Scotland but a big club move is definitely in the offing for him. Manchester United could be a great opportunity for Howe, who has a lot of promise in the managerial sphere. He works well with young players and the plethora of exceptional young English talent at United will develop even further. Howe also has ample knowledge of the Premier League, which gives him an edge over other candidates. 

3. Zinedine Zidane

The Frenchman is one of the candidates who could take up the position of manager at Manchester United. Zidane had won three consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies with Real Madrid in his first spell with the club. He is currently without a team after parting ways with the La Liga giants in June 2021 after a second spell with them. 

Zidane is on the radar of several top teams in Europe, including Newcastle United who have become the richest club in the world. Bringing Zidane to the club would be a smart move by Manchester United as he knows how to handle big name players. His past experience of working with the likes of Ronaldo and Varane would also come in handy.

2. Graham Potter

Graham Potter is a very promising manager, currently working with Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. He is linked with a move to a big club for a while now, after his impressive work with the Seagulls. The 46-year-old tactician has earned a lot of praise for the entertaining football Brighton play. 

Despite a lack of resources, Potter has been able to implement a system and get the best out of the players at the club. He is more than capable of implementing a similar style at a bigger club with better quality players. Manchester United are currently struggling to find balance and implement a style of gameplay, which is hurting them in terms of results. Potter could be the unlikely but perfect fit for the Red Devils. 

1. Erik Ten Hag

Erik Ten Hag is another candidate who has been linked with a managerial position at Manchester United among other clubs. The tactician has worked wonders at AFC Ajax and is in line for the next big step in his career. The 51-year-old has won two Eredivisie and Dutch Cup titles each in the last four years as manager.

He is most fondly remembered for guiding Ajax till the semifinal of the 2018/19 edition of the UEFA Champions League. The outfit defeated the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus before losing narrowly to Tottenham Hotspur. The Dutchman's philosophy of playing an attractive brand of attacking football fits perfectly with the ethos of Manchester United. He could be the perfect replacement to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

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