Erik ten Hag (left), and Thomas Frank
Brentford manager Thomas Frank has joined the list of candidates Manchester United are considering for the job of replacing Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag was sacked by United on Monday after a run of four wins from 13 games in all competitions this season.
Frank was one of the names in the frame to replace Ten Hag in the summer before the club decided to keep faith with the Dutchman. ESPN reports that Frank is again high up on United’s list of targets, although he is under contract at Brentford until 2027 having joined in 201. Agreeing to a deal that would allow the 51-year-old to leave the club is considered a major stumbling block.
He has previously played down talk of leaving Gtech Community Stadium, but ESPN reports that United are set to enquire about his availability as they search for their next permanent manager. United declined to comment when approached by ESPN.
Asked about his future at a news conference on Monday, Frank said: “I’ve said many, many times I’m very happy here. What happens in the future, who knows? I’m very, very happy here.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been handed the job on a caretaker basis following Ten Hag’s dismissal and is set to be in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Other potential candidates for the permanent job include Gareth Southgate. Southgate has indicated he will not coach again until next summer after leaving his role with England following defeat in the Euro 2024 final.
However, he has a longstanding relationship with Ineos director of sport and United board member Sir Dave Brailsford and worked at the Football Association with sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Ashworth also worked with Graham Potter during their time together at Brighton. Potter has been out of work since his sacking by Chelsea in April 2023. According to ESPN reports, Potter would be of interest to Brentford if they lose Frank.
Sources on both sides have downplayed speculation that United are interested in former Barcelona manager Xavi.
Another potential candidate, Sporting Lisbon boss Rúben Amorim, dismissed links with the United job at a news conference on Monday.
“I was already expecting this question and obviously I’m not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I’ll always have to comment,” he said.
“I’m very proud to be Sporting coach, that’s all.”
Reports have it that the United squad did not train on Monday after being informed of Ten Hag’s departure. The players are set to train with Van Nistelrooy and assistant Rene Hake at Carrington on Tuesday before facing Leicester on Wednesday. United’s next Premier League game is against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Erik ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United manager following Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat against West Ham United, the club announced Monday. Ten Hag, who had his contract extended in the summer, had just four wins from 13 games to start the new season.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over on an interim basis and is expected to be in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Sources told ESPN that United bosses made the decision to sack Ten Hag after losing faith that the Dutchman would be able to turn things around after a poor start to the new campaign. After earning just 11 points from nine league games, there are already concerns that United are too far adrift to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Results and performances in the Premier League at the end of last season were also taken into account. United finished eighth in the table last season and are languishing in 14th after defeat at the London Stadium on Sunday.
Ten Hag was kept on in the summer after leading United to a surprise 2-1 win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The decision followed an extensive end-of-season review during which club bosses, including new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, held talks with a number of different candidates.
But despite conversations with potential replacements, Ratcliffe and his INEOS team decided to keep Ten Hag in his job and extend his contract until June 2026. Van Nistelrooy, who played for United between 2002 and 2006, arrived as part of a revamped backroom staff along with former Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake.
Hake is set to stay at Old Trafford to support Van Nistelrooy in his caretaker role. Van Nistelrooy has a year of managerial experience with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. He left his role in 2023 after leading PSV to success in the Dutch cup.
Sources told ESPN that United have already started to assess options for their next permanent manager. Thomas Tuchel was a leading candidate in the summer, but the former Bayern Munich boss has since agreed to tke over as England manager.
Ratcliffe, INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford and sporting director Dan Ashworth are all admirers of former England manager Gareth Southgate, although he has said he does not want to return to coaching until next summer.