Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a part-owner of Manchester United, is encountering challenges in persuading Zinedine Zidane to replace Erik ten Hag as the club’s manager. Ratcliffe reportedly views Zidane as the ideal candidate to lead the team, especially given Ten Hag’s current difficulties.
The Daily Mirror indicates that Ratcliffe hopes to attract Zidane to Manchester United, believing the French icon is well-suited to revive the club’s fortunes. Zidane, who has been out of management since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, has always had aspirations to manage the French national team. However, with Didier Deschamps still in charge, Zidane’s preferred role remains unattainable.
Ratcliffe has made efforts to entice Zidane to Manchester United, but the former Real Madrid, Juventus, and France star remains hesitant. Zidane has previously voiced concerns about managing in England, particularly due to language barriers. In an interview with L’Equipe, he noted, “Would I want to go to Manchester United? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it. I know some coaches go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work differently. Many factors come into play to win; it’s about the global context. I know what I need to win.”
Erik ten Hag is currently facing intense scrutiny after a poor start to the Premier League season. United has earned just three points from their first three games and recently endured a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool. This poor performance has heightened speculation that Ten Hag might soon be dismissed, with British bookmakers making him a strong candidate for the next Premier League manager to be sacked.
Following the heavy loss to Liverpool, Ten Hag’s likelihood of being fired increased, making him the top contender among Premier League managers for dismissal. Despite expectations that Ten Hag would be let go after a disappointing 2023-24 season—during which Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League and exited the Champions League group stage—he was surprisingly retained by the club.
Manchester United had conducted an internal review of Ten Hag’s position and explored potential replacements but ultimately chose to keep him. While this decision has temporarily spared Ten Hag, many experts and bookmakers believe his future is precarious.
Several prominent managers are being considered as potential replacements, including former England manager Gareth Southgate and ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. However, despite Ratcliffe’s attempts, Zidane seems unlikely to join Manchester United, highlighting the difficulty the club faces in finding a suitable successor for Ten Hag.
