Erik ten Hag was a fantastic Manchester United manager – but all good things must come to an end. Despite having a good reputation around the club and garnering the respect of (almost) all of the players, he has parted ways with the Red Devils after ending mid-table this season. Manchester United is not a club that should end below fifth place (at the lowest), and this season they were lucky to make the top ten.
The board knows that United needed a change if they were to do better than their abysmal 2023-2024 Premier League season. One of the easiest ways to make a statement, bring change, and encourage players to do better next year is to hire new management.
ten Hag Replacements for the 2024-2025 Season
There are a few big-name players who are the most likely replacements for Erik ten Hag leading into the 2024-2025 Premier League season. Who will it be?
Thomas Tuchel
Everyone has heard of Thomas Tuchel. Not only is he the ex-Chelsea manager who was sacked, potentially unfairly after only a few bad results, but he is also the current Bayern Munich manager who led the team to yet not-another-trophy with Harry Kane at the helm. Will the curse ever end?
Thomas Tuchel has just left Bayern Munich after mutually agreeing to part ways with the club after a lackluster season. Tuchel apparently couldn’t connect with the majority of the players since they did not enjoy his style of play. Can he make his coaching tactics and style of play decisions fit the new United squad?
Kieran McKenna
Kieran McKenna is a lesser-known name on the list, but arguably the most likely to take over for ten Hag in the EPL. McKenna is familiar with English football and the culture, having led Ipswich Town back to the Premier League after earning promotions two years in a row from League One to the Championship to the EPL. That is almost unheard of for a lower-level team with very minimal funding to be able to do so.
Plus, he has worked directly under some of the best managers in the world, including Jose Mourinho and Solskjaer when he was the main gaffer at Manchester United. If McKenna already has an ‘in’ when it comes to the club and members, he could be the number-one choice for next year.
Also Read: Jude Bellingham Surprisingly Wins 2023-24 La Liga Player Of The Season
Mauricio Pochettino
The final candidate that is most likely to be in the top three when it comes to ten Hag’s replacement is Pochettino. Although Pochettino was directly ten Hag’s rival this year at Chelsea, he knows English football, did okay being at the helm of the Blues, and understands what he is up against with the other PL teams.
Even though Pochettino had a rough middle of the season, when it looked like Chelsea wouldn’t even finish inside the top half of the table, he was able to turn it around. That type of dedication and motivation is exactly what United is looking for in a manager as a ten Hag replacement. Chelsea are now in Europa League thanks to Pochettino’s unwavering resilience, which is what the board will want to see in the new gaffer following ten Hag.
So, who will be the new ten Hag replacement for the 2024-2025 season?
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
