Timing is absolutely everything when it comes to replacing managers.
Even with time to plan, United managed to botch the search for Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor.
Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were among two managers approached by Sir Alex himself, before they told him they had agreed jobs elsewhere, The Mail reported, prompting the Scot to turn to the less ambitious David Moyes.
Then in December 2018 when Jose Mourinho was fired, top target Mauricio Pochettino was unavailable. By a twist of fate he would be free just one year later, when United were committed to Solskjaer.
So with Solskjaer on the ropes right now and fighting for his job, United have a challenge to replace him made more difficult by who is, and is not, available.
Three top options missed
According to The Times, three managers admired by Manchester United’s hierarchy are unavailable after recently taking up jobs in the last year.
These are Thomas Tuchel, hired by Chelsea last December, Mauricio Pochettino, hired by PSG in January, and Julian Nagelsmann, hired by Bayern Munich.
All three were available in the last 12 months, while United carried on with the Solskjaer experiment.
Sacking Solskjaer was not on United’s radar last year, he got off free after a Champions League group stage exit.
Dortmund hired Marco Rose in the summer, who The Mail reported in 2018 had impressed United with his work at Borussia Moenchengladbach. Due to his new job, he won’t be available as an outsider this time either.
United’s smaller pool of potential bosses
There are two standout names who are available right now, Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane.
The lesson here is that if Manchester United hesitate, then they will both be snapped up by other clubs, or in Zidane’s case, perhaps succeed Didier Deschamps as France boss.
Erik Ten Haag is a popular name right now. He is unlikely to walk away from Ajax mid-season.
Both Zidane and Conte feel too good to turn down in terms of their previous success elsewhere. Neither are perfect fits, but who is?
The sun appears to be setting on Solskjaer’s spell as Manchester United boss, and then one way or another, the club have a decision to make.
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