Manchester United are now down to a single candidate in their search for a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag. Despite his precarious position at Old Trafford, Ten Hag remains the current manager as scrutiny over his performance continues, especially after the club’s worst ever Premier League season, despite winning the FA Cup.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been conducting a post-season review regarding Ten Hag’s future. In the meantime, they have considered several potential replacements but have ultimately ruled them out. Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel met with Ratcliffe in Monaco but decided against taking the Old Trafford job. Mauricio Pochettino, who recently left Chelsea, is also unlikely to be appointed. Additionally, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, initially identified as a candidate, opted to sign a new contract at Portman Road.
This series of developments has left Manchester United with just one viable option: Brentford manager Thomas Frank. Frank has been on the club’s radar since pressure began to mount on Ten Hag. Over the past few years, Frank has made a significant impact at Brentford but has yet to secure a move to a larger club. In February, Frank hinted at his ambitions and openness to new opportunities, stating, “There’s a lot of rumours out there. I think we all have kind of an ego and the ego likes that little bit of sugar but at the end of the day I’m at Brentford. I’m very happy here. Do I have ambitions? Yes. Am I going to stay at Brentford forever? Maybe but probably not. So who knows what’s going to happen in the future. What I know is that I’m here at Brentford and I’m very happy with it.”
Frank, who has been Brentford’s manager since October 2018, still has three years left on his contract. In contrast, Ten Hag has only a year remaining on his contract with Manchester United.
Former Manchester United star Gordon Strachan has urged the club to resolve the managerial uncertainty swiftly. Speaking to Prime Casino, Strachan said, “To get to this stage where the season finished a couple of weeks ago, I think that’s enough time to decide whether you want Ten Hag to continue in the job next season. The silence is deafening. Everyone will know that he doesn’t have the full backing of the club and that undermines you as a manager. I’m surprised that the club have let this drag on. I think that says everything about where Man United are at the moment, that they are incapable of making this decision. They can’t make this decision after two weeks.”
As the situation develops, Manchester United fans and stakeholders await a decisive move from the club regarding their managerial future.
