Manchester United are on the hunt for a first new manager in the Ineos era after the sacking of Erik ten Hag on Monday.
Erik ten Hag has been fighting a losing battle for months now and Manchester United have now decided to pull the trigger.
United considered sacking Ten Hag even after winning the FA Cup last year but decided to keep the Dutchman in charge.
That left Ten Hag on the brink from the very start of the season and Ineos have now axed the former Ajax boss.
Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham United came under controversial circumstances but this is about the wider picture.
United are sitting 14th in the Premier League table and remain winless in three Europa League games; that just isn’t good enough and United have decided to move on without Ten Hag.
- READ MORE: Manchester United sack Erik ten Hag as first-team manager as club release official statement
Rio Ferdinand on Xavi Hernandez to Manchester United
The conversation immediately turns to who United will target next.
One interesting name emerged just last week as reports suggested that United have contacted Xavi Hernandez.
It was suggested that United spoke to Xavi through intermediaries on multiple occasions with the United job in mind.
Xavi has been out of work since leaving Barcelona at the end of last season and his availability may well appeal to Ineos.
Rio Ferdinand has now spoken on Rio Ferdinand Presents and put forward a case for Xavi to be the new United boss.
Ferdinand feels that Xavi can bring an attractive style of play to Old Trafford, just as he did when in charge of Barcelona.
The former United defender added that Xavi has displayed the willingness to bring in young players – such as Lamine Yamal – and believes that mantra lines up with United’s ‘DNA’.
“It’s difficult but Xavi, if we could get someone like him, playing football the way Barcelona did with that aggressive football… he won the league when he was at Barca, introducing young players into the team, he brought Lamine Yamal in – that’s what Manchester United’s DNA is about as well,” he added.
- READ MORE: Bruno Fernandes breaks silence first as Erik ten Hag is sacked as Manchester United manager
Xavi record in management
Xavi was one of the finest midfielders in the world during his playing days and United fans will have had nightmares about his Champions League final display against Sir Alex Ferguson’s United.
The Spaniard turned to management in 2019, taking over as boss of Qatari side Al Sadd, where he ended his playing career.
Xavi took charge of 102 games as Al Sadd boss, winning 67 and losing just 18.
Xavi won a league title and a handful of cup competitions in Qatar and left for Barcelona in 2021 whilst boasting a win rate of nearly 66%.
Barcelona brought Xavi back to Catalunya in November 2021 and he brought the La Liga title back to the Camp Nou in 2023.
Xavi was charged with the task of rebuilding a broken and overspending Barcelona side – something which may make him suitable for the United job.
Barcelona are flying right now and Xavi certainly helped lay the foundations for that before being replaced by Hansi Flick over the summer.
Still only 44, Xavi certainly won’t want to manage another Spanish club given his ties to Barcelona and a move to the Premier League may well appeal.
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