Manchester United compile a five-man shortlist for the role of interim manager
In order to save their season, Manchester United will appoint an interim manager as soon as possible from a five-man shortlist that includes Ralf Rangnick, Ernesto Valverde, Lucien Favre, Rudy Garcia, and one another.
The Old Trafford hierarchy is completely focused on bringing in a temporary manager until the end of the season, hoping that he will oversee the type of turnaround that Rafael Benitez and Guus Hiddink provided during their interim spells at Chelsea.
Despite Mauricio Pochettino’s interest in succeeding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as permanent manager, United have not approached Paris St-Germain to inquire about his availability, and the French club are adamant he will not be allowed to leave before the end of the season.
Insiders at Old Trafford never imagined that a club of PSG’s stature would be willing to part ways with their manager now. Pochettino is expected to be involved in discussions about a long-term replacement for Solskjaer, but it is too soon to say he is the front-runner.
Instead, United, who had Solskjaer posters removed from outside Old Trafford yesterday, are pressing ahead with the appointment of an interim manager after interviewing Rangnick, Valverde, Favre, and Garcia, as well as a fifth foreign candidate.
Officials will then devote all of their efforts to finding a permanent replacement for the Norwegian.
If an interim manager is not appointed before Sunday, Michael Carrick, the current caretaker, will take charge against Premier League leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. United are scheduled to play Arsenal at Old Trafford on Thursday, and there is a desire to make the match as soon as possible.
Carrick oversaw United’s 2-0 win over Villarreal in Spain on Tuesday, ensuring the club’s progression to the Champions League knockout stage as group winners and lifting the mood after a tumultuous week.
United’s football director, John Murtough, is leading the search for an interim manager and has been conducting interviews this week.
Rangnick, the 63-year-old former RB Leipzig and Schalke coach, is currently the head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow, but the other candidates are unemployed.
Valverde, 57, left the Nou Camp in January last year after leading Barcelona to back-to-back La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey. Garcia, 57, was in charge of Lyon when they knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League last year, but he left the French club at the end of last season after leading Lille to a league and cup double in 2010-11 and Marseille to the Europa League final in 2018.
Favre, 64, won two Swiss titles with FC Zurich and has previously managed Hertha Berlin, Nice, and Borussia Monchengladbach.
He was in charge of Borussia Dortmund for 18 months before leaving 11 months ago.
Although none of the candidates named have previous Premier League managerial experience, they are all experienced coaches, and United are hopeful that they will be able to reverse the team’s slide after seven defeats in Solskjaer’s final 13 games in charge.
Pochettino had left the door open to a move to Old Trafford, but senior sources at both United and PSG denied any interest in the 49-year-old, despite the fact that the French club is aware of his interest in succeeding Solskjaer.
PSG believes that losing a coach in the middle of a season would be detrimental to a club of their size and ambition – winning the Champions League this season is their goal –
However, it appears that they would be willing to enter into negotiations at the end of the season, despite the fact that Pochettino still has a year left on his contract.
Last summer, a contract extension until June 2024 was activated, with Tottenham Hotspur interested in re-signing Pochettino. He is said to have wanted to return to the Spurs.
PSG is aware that former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is interested in taking over when Pochettino steps down.
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Manchester United compile a five-man shortlist for the role of interim manager
