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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly set to be sacked as Manchester United manager. A humiliating 4-1 loss to Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday should be the final nail in his coffin. It's a partnership that had worked for the majority of its length, but it's one that has to give way now to a brighter future.
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Manchester United have limited options to replace Solskjaer with
Given the fact that we're halfway through the 2021-22 season, it's going to be difficult for Manchester United to find a permanent manager. Antonio Conte was available three weeks ago but he has now been appointed as the manager of Tottenham Hotspur.
Managers don't much like taking over in the middle of a season because they tend to get judged over habits and mistakes they didn't bring about. Also, at an individual level, it feels like starting a race late.
But the Red Devils are considering quite a few names at the moment. Without further ado, let's take a look at the five favourites to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Manchester United manager.
#5 Roberto Martinez
Roberto Martinez has done a good job with the Belgian national side. However, he has failed to win a single major international tournament with Belgium's golden generation and the jury is still out on whether he is an exceptional coach.
He has done some good things in his domestic career. Martinez did a great job transforming Swansea City into promotion contenders from a place of obscurity. His famous FA Cup triumph with Wigan is also a notable achievement although they did get relegated from the Premier League that season.
Due to the fact that the 2022 FIFA World Cup is right around the corner, it seems unlikely that Martinez might come over to Manchester United and try to steady the ship.
#4 Luis Enrique
Like Roberto Martinez, Luis Enrique would prefer to stay on with the Spanish national side until the 2022 FIFA World Cup is over. But Enrique ought to be smacking his lips at the prospect of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world. It's not the kind of offer that comes around on a regular basis.
The former Barcelona manager's sides play attractive football which will be welcomed by the Old Trafford faithful. Messi has said that Enrique is the second best coach he has played under. He led Barcelona to a continental treble win in 2014-15.
Enrique is undoubtedly an elite coach and he fits the profile of the candidate that Manchester United are looking for as well. But the main problem here will be that he might not be willing to leave his job.
#3 Erik Ten Hag
It is being widely reported that either Michael Carrick or Darren Fletcher might take over as the interim coach of Manchester United. If that's the case, United might try to stick it out this season with one of their former players before finding a permanent solution in the summer.
If that's the route they're going to take, they'll do well to sign Erik Ten Hag. The Dutchman is an incredible coach who almost managed to take a young Ajax side to the Champions League final in the 2018-19 season. His side plays attractive, attacking football.
Ten Hag will also bring out the best in players like Donny van de Beek as they have worked together at Ajax. The 51-year-old also has a reputation for improving players and Manchester United have a deep squad with plenty of talented youngsters as well.
However, Ten Hag is extremely unlikely to leave Ajax in the middle of the season. In three and a half years as the manager of the Dutch outfit, Ten Hag has won two league titles and two KNVB Cups.
#2 Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers has shown that he knows how to win silverware. He won the FA Cup with Leicester City last season and has done a commendable job with the Foxes. Rodgers has taken them back to Europe as well, albeit through the Europa League and not the UEFA Champions League.
Rodgers is reportedly a name that excites several members of the Manchester United board. He is a former Liverpool manager and no one who has coached the Merseysiders has been given the job yet.
Rodgers has had impressive stints at all the clubs he has managed and his sides play good attacking football as well. But fans are a little wary of Rodgers' ceiling. He is another candidate who is unlikely to leave his club in the middle of the season.
Leicester City will not want to let their manager go at this point. They'd want Manchester United to buy him out. So it'll be an extremely expensive process for Manchester United.
#1 Zinedine Zidane
Perhaps the most high-profile manager who is out of a gig right now, Zinedine Zidane could do a good job at Manchester United. He has prior experience when it comes to managing big stars and playing attacking football. Zizou has also won trophies at a prolific rate.
He won three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid. The Frenchman has also won two La Liga titles with Los Blancos. Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane are also familiar faces for Zidane and that could tempt him to take the job.
The most important factor here is that Zidane is not managing any teams right now. He can join right away. Players will also cherish playing under one of the greatest of all time.
