Man Utd have already found Ten Hag successor as John Murtough is told to appoint five-time league champion next
Manchester United have been urged to appoint a serial winner as their next manager once Erik ten Hag leaves Old Trafford, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer surprisingly giving his take on the situation.
Man Utd captured Ten Hag from Ajax last summer, as the Dutchman penned a three-year contract with the club. He was tasked with getting the best out of a squad which was low on confidence following the poor interim spell of Ralf Rangnick.
But Ten Hag knew he had to make some serious changes in order to get Man Utd back competing with the very best.
As such, he refused to play club legend Cristiano Ronaldo as much as the striker wanted. And Ronaldo ended up leaving in November as the two parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
Ten Hag has managed to bring in some big-name players such as Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Antony. They have helped the Red Devils win the League Cup, reach the FA Cup final and put themselves in the Premier League’s top four.
The next stage of the manager’s revolution in Manchester will take place this summer. His priority is to land a world-class striker, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane the main target.
Ten Hag is also eager to bolster his midfield options with a major new signing in the position, and a former target of Solskjaer’s has just rocketed to the top of Man Utd’s wish list.
Coincidentally, Solskjaer has given his opinion on who will end up replacing Ten Hag in the future.
Man Utd told to consider former player as next boss
During an interview with The Athletic, Solskjaer has backed Michael Carrick – who has done a brilliant job at Middlesbrough this term – to become manager.
First of all, Solskjaer explained how Carrick did not initially want to become caretaker boss once the Norwegian was axed in November 2021.
“I love him as a person, but while he never said anything to me about it, the day I got booted, I went to see him and said: ‘I’m gone, they want you to take over,’ ” Solskjaer revealed.
“I told him that I wanted him to do it. After ten days, Michael came to me and said: ‘I don’t want to do this.’ ”
Carrick did end up taking over and was in charge of Man Utd for three games, the last of which was a 3-2 win over Arsenal. He left Man Utd to pursue his ambition of becoming a permanent manager elsewhere, while he also still had some loyalties to Solskjaer.
The former midfielder, who won five Prem titles with Man Utd as a player, has now been backed to return to the club once Ten Hag departs. It seems Solskjaer has effectively done the job of John Murtough – Man Utd’s director of football – for him.
“I am 100 per cent sure that Michael will be the manager of Manchester United if he wants to be,” Solskjaer added.
“If I was a player I’d want him as a manager because he wouldn’t be unreasonable. He knows what he wants.
“He demands respect and hard work, but he gives it back as well.”
Carrick could come up against Man Utd in the league next season. Boro finished fourth in the Championship to book their place in the play-offs. They will face Coventry in the semi-finals, with the first leg due to take place on Sunday at 12:00.
Should Boro gain promotion via the play-offs, then Man Utd fans will be intrigued to see how Carrick’s side do against them in the top flight next term. If Boro pull off a shock and cause Man Utd serious problems, then this will be another step forward on Carrick’s journey to potentially taking charge of the club he once shone for.
Meanwhile, Man Utd have been given 10 solid reasons why they should win the race for an insanely talented Prem attacker.
