Manchester United state plan for interim boss until end of the season

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Manchester United will seek to appoint an interim boss between now and the end of the season.

The club confirmed the plan in a statement on the club’s official website.

This is separate to Michael Carrick taking charge in a caretaker capacity.

The interim boss will arrive on a fixed term contract, with United simultaneously looking to hire a permanent manager from next summer.

This time United must stick with the plan

This replicates the plan which saw Solskjaer appointed in December 2018.

Expect back then, Solskjaer won nine of his first 10 games and then won a Champions League tie against PSG, and United abandoned their plan and hired him full time, two months before the season ended.

United have hopefully learned the lesson to stick with the plan and not be swayed by emotion, if the interim boss has strong results.

Who could come in?

What this decision means is that a permanent move for Zinedine Zidane is very unlikely.

Nor will Brendan Rodgers be leaving Leicester mid-season to take over at United.

Possible options as interim boss include Laurent Blanc or Ralf Rangnick.

By the summer it is very possible Erik Ten Hag will be ready to leave Ajax, or Mauricio Pochettino could become available.

The pool of potential permanent candidates is slim right now, and United stand a better chance of getting it right next summer.

What this shows is that United had no succession plan for Solskjaer in place.

Hiring an interim could backfire as United are essentially writing off this season, when there is much to play for.

The team have a crucial Champions League fixture in midweek against Villarreal, and will still be looking to qualify for the competition next season by finishing in the top four in the Premier League.

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