Five contenders to be Manchester United interim manager

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United’s search for a permanent manager is likely to drag on for months.

First the club need to appoint an interim manager to take charge between now and the end of the season.

The Telegraph report United only began this process on Sunday afternoon.

So, where will United turn to guide the club through for the next few months, while continuing to take a shot at this season’s Champions League?

Assuming Sir Alex Ferguson won’t come out of retirement, and United won’t blow everything up by putting Roy Keane in charge, here are five possible candidates for United to consider…

Laurent Blanc

Blanc has the United connections and the top level coaching experience the club may be looking for.

He won titles in France with PSG and has worked with Edinson Cavani previously.

Blanc is currently managing in Qatar with Al Rayyan, and would surely jump at the chance to rejuvenate his coaching career at Old Trafford.

Blanc’s PSG set up with a 4-3-3 similar to the system Solskjaer used, although he favours possession football.

Ralf Rangnick

Ralf Rangnick is one of football’s revolutionary figures, viewed as an inspiration for coaches like Jurgen Klopp.

During his time at RB Leipzig, Rangnick implemented a 4-2-2-2 system and also oversaw recruitment.

There is potential for United to turn an interim role for Rangnick into a larger position, by moving him upstairs into a director of football role above John Murtough, once the season is over.

Lucien Favre

Swiss manager Lucien Favre is currently out of work and available since leaving Borussia Dortmund in 2020.

He was the manager who gave Jadon Sancho his debut and could play a big role in getting the winger performing at a high level.

Favre may be ideal for an interim role as he has the experience of managing in the Champions League. He has also managed Nice, Borussia Moenchengladbach and Hertha Berlin.

Wayne Rooney

Could United go for a really bold choice and look to bring in Wayne Rooney to fire the team up?

Rooney has been cutting his managerial stripes at Derby County over the past year, and has been battling against the odds, unable to make signings, and now hit with a points deduction.

The lure of bringing Rooney in on an interim basis would be box office. And how about the prospect of him managing former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo?

Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is the current Manchester United caretaker manager, and at present it is only set to be for a couple of games.

But United have proven before that they don’t necessarily stick to their own plans.

A couple of strong results for Carrick, combined with a less than enthusiastic response from potential interim bosses, may see United just give the role to the Englishman to see out until May.

• The six worst Manchester United transfer windows ever, including one under Sir Alex Ferguson
• What Tynan Thompson’s Manchester United transfer means for academy wonderkid Noah Ajayi
• Alex Scott’s contract standoff should not prompt Man Utd mega-bid, Bryan Robson agrees
• Tynan Thompson is already being fast-tracked by Man Utd, Michael Carrick clearly rates him highly
• Marcus Rashford will have a new Man United role involving Tynan Thompson when he returns
• Michael Carrick can hand a legacy-defining debut after wonderkid sighting in latest Man Utd training
• Why Man Utd shouldn’t hesitate on Juventus’ Joshua Zirkzee interest
• Radek Vitek is about to test Ineos in a big way, they’ve cracked half of the challenge at Man Utd
• Alex Scott vs Manu Kone: Why 185-duel midfielder is the right choice to finish Man United rebuild