(Football news) Manchester United finally parted ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a day after his team suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Watford at Vicarage Road. The reaction from fans was a mixed one, there were more than a few who were upset at how quickly things have deteriorated under the Norwegian this season while there was a sense of relief and optimism about what’s to come from other fans. 

Most importantly, the big question of who will succeed Solskjaer as permanent manager of Manchester United still remains as Michael Carrick is currently taking the job of caretaker manager until an interim manager is appointed till the end of the season. Many fans will hope that the board does not take the sentimental route again and employ the ‘best in class’ for the job, a crucial factor if the club still has any ambition of matching up with the likes of City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Here are five possible candidates for the permanent manager role at Manchester United.

1) Mauricio Pochettino

Amongst all the names in the list, Mauricio Pochettino is the most likely candidate for the job. The current PSG boss recently signed a one-year contract in the summer, taking the deal to 2023 but the former Southampton and Tottenham boss is reportedly unhappy with the ‘culture’ he finds himself in at Paris Saint-Germain and is said to be interested in becoming the manager at Manchester United. He currently lives in a hotel in Paris and his family still live in England, a crucial factor which might motivate Pochettino to return to the Premier League.

He is also said to be the club’s first choice as the Old Trafford hierarchy have been long-standing admirers of his high energy football and his proven track record of improving young players. The Argentine has missed out on the Man United job twice already, once when the club decided to hire Jose Mourinho in 2016 and the second time when he was expected to take over from Solskjaer after his interim role at the club but the Norwegian was given a permanent contract after a string of positive results.

2) Erik Ten Hag

Ten Hag is undoubtedly the most exciting manager on the list, the current Ajax boss has already won two titles with the club and his contract is set to expire in 18 months. What’s most impressive is that Ten Hag led Ajax to the Champions League semi-final in 2019 but failed to progress after an unexpected comeback by Tottenham. His side are currently on top of their Champions League group, ahead of the likes of Borussia Dortmund.

Considering the problems in the current Manchester United squad, Ten Hag might just be exactly what they need as the Dutch football manager has a reputation for being very meticulous in his preparations ahead of matches and has the ability to get the best out of his squad. Ten Hag’s philosophy of attacking football using wingers is the traditional ‘Manchester United way’ and it will show some serious ambition from the board if they manage to sign the 51 year old from Ajax.

3) Brendan Rogers

Despite Brendan Rogers having already reiterated his commitment towards Leicester City, he is also one of the potential candidates the Manchester United hierarchy will look into for a permanent managerial role. The 48 year old is known for setting up his teams to play exciting attacking football with great energy and the Northern Irish football manager might excel at a bigger club where the expectations are higher. However, his history with Liverpool might be a major factor in why other candidates might get a preference as the fierce rivalry between the two clubs might make accepting Rogers at the helm of Manchester United a bitter pill to swallow for many fans.

4) Zinedine Zidane

Few managers have enjoyed as much success as Zinedine Zidane, both as a player and a manager. The 49 year old Frenchman has been taking a break from football since leaving Real Madrid earlier this year and will be looking to take up a high profile job soon. Zidane has already managed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane at Real Madrid, winning three consecutive Champions League titles with the pair but reports linking him to Manchester United are not positive as he seems more keen to take on the France national team job.

Unlike the other managers mentioned in the list, Zidane is not known for his tactical prowess or a particular ideology. However, his teams have always been well organized and his ability to manage big names combined with flexibility to change his approach during the games is what makes him one of the biggest names in football management. 

5) Graham Potter

While not as big a name as the other four mentioned in the list, Graham Potter has been praised by none other than Pep Guardiola as the “best English coach”. The 46 year old is the youngest manager of the list and has delivered great success at Swedish club Ostersunds before moving onto Swansea and then Brighton. His teams tend to play with an emphasis on retaining ball possession but his lack of trophies in football management at the top level combined by his relative inexperience makes him a bit of an underdog to take over the managerial role at Manchester United.

Also read: Exploring the underlying reasons behind Manchester United’s woes and Solskjaer’s sacking