Man United interim boss Ralf Rangnick might have led his team to a crucial last-gasp victory over West Ham on Saturday, a result which propelled them to fourth in the table, but the consensus is that the Red Devils will move on from the German tactician, as initially planned, in favor of a new manager.
In fact, according to the Athletic, the Premier League giants are set to step up their search for the true successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked at Old Trafford back in November. The process will begin in the coming weeks, with Rangnick set to take up a consultancy role once the current campaign wraps up.
It's no secret that Mauricio Pochettino is one of the favorites, with Argentine boss boasting several admirers in the Theatre of Dreams board. However, he is not the only man on the club's radar as three other candidates are also under consideration, and they are Erik ten Hag, Luis Enrique, and Julen Lopetegui.
All four of these men come with their own prestige, which is a key factor. The Athletic report that Man United are keen on a manager who has experience working at major European jobs, unlike Solskjaer who arrived from Norwegian outfit Molde.
Pochettino is the head coach at PSG, one of the biggest clubs in the continent. Ten Hag has won several titles since taking over Ajax while leading them to two remarkable UEFA Champions League campaigns, including the current one. Enrique is in charge of the Spanish national team, one of the best sides in international football, and was the man behind Barcelona's second treble. Lopetegui also enjoyed a lovely stint with La Furia Roja and has managed the likes of Porto, Real Madrid, and Sevilla (his current club).
All four of the aforementioned managers are currently employed, meaning it will take a bit of convincing in order to lure them to Old Trafford. Securing UEFA Champions League football for next season would be a huge attractor, but in the case of Luis Enrique, it will be interesting to see if those links go any further than mere consideration given that we are only 10 months away from the 2022 World Cup, which Spain have already qualified for.
Only Pochettino boasts Premier League experience, having enjoyed amazing stints at Southampton and later Tottenham. As a result, the Argentine is the favorite in the eyes of many. However, Ten Hag is an immensely popular figure among the fan base and will likely have his fair share of supporters among the Man United higher-ups.
