Ex-Bayern ace thinks Champions League winning manager would reject Man United now

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A former Bayern Munich ace feels Manchester United will struggle to attract ‘top-class’ managers these days with Zinedine Zidane unlikely to be intrigued by the prospect of taking over from Erik ten Hag.

With even some of the Dutchman’s biggest backers growing increasingly concerned by Manchester United’s never-ending malaise – boos ringing out following that insipid European exit on Tuesday night – the focus in some sections of the Manchester United support is rapidly turning to potential replacements.

And, amongst the Julen Lopeteguis, the Hansi Flicks and the Antonio Contes, one name simply leaps off the page.

But would Zinedine Zidane really bring an end to his self-imposed exile to drink from the poisoned chalice that looks set to claim Erik Ten Hag as it’s latest victim?

Erik ten Hag loses again at Manchester United

Dietmar Hamann, who started his career at Bayern Munich and won two Bundesliga titles in the 1990s, certainly cannot envisage the former Real Madrid boss inheriting Ten Hag’s seat in the Old Trafford dugout.

“It’s huge money (to miss out on) in the Champions League. Every round you go through now after Christmas is 10 or 15 million. This is money they haven’t got,” Hamann, who also spent a decade in England with Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City, tells RTE.

“The income will get less. They are still a very wealthy club but I think you’ve got to spend vast amounts of money to turn the team around.

“And the other thing is, if you look around at the top managers, at Zidane or whoever they may be thinking of, do they actually look at their team and say; ‘What am I going to do there? It’ll take me three years to maybe even get competitive’.

“Now, we all know you may not get three years at Old Trafford.”

Zinedine Zidane still available

Zidane guided Real Madrid to three successive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 before walking away from the Santiago Bernabeu for a second time two years ago. He has reportedly turned down a number of jobs since then, including at Paris Saint-Germain, with it clearly requiring something special to lure Zidane back into management.

“I think (Manchester United) are miles off,” Hamann adds. “And I think they could be struggling to attract a really top-class manager, which I would have never thought 10 years ago.”

United’s European exit marks the first time they have finished bottom of a Champions League group since 2006.