If Thomas Tuchel were to accept the role as England’s next manager after rumored discussions with the FA, it could prevent him from becoming a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United anytime soon.
However, reports suggest that INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have already identified another prominent candidate to succeed Ten Hag at Old Trafford. While Ten Hag managed to avoid being dismissed following a six-hour meeting in London with key decision-makers like Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer, and Sir Dave Brailsford, he remains under scrutiny. This is due to his underwhelming performance, with just seven wins from United’s last 30 Premier League and European matches.
In case United decides to make a managerial change soon, Tuchel had been considered a leading contender for the job. Following his departure from Bayern Munich in the summer, the German coach had talks with Ratcliffe in Monaco, but these discussions reportedly didn’t lead to an agreement. It’s believed that Ratcliffe, who invested £1.3 billion for a 28% stake in United earlier this year, did not see Tuchel as his first choice for the role.
Earlier in the year, reports from Foot Mercato revealed that Ratcliffe had ambitions of bringing Zinedine Zidane to Old Trafford as part of his vision to restore Manchester United’s former glory. According to sources, there were dreams within INEOS of Zidane replacing Ten Hag. The Express also reported that Jean-Claude Blanc, now on United’s board, had previously attempted to sign Zidane while working at Paris Saint-Germain.
Since Zidane left Real Madrid for the second time in 2021, the French coach has been waiting for the perfect opportunity to return to management. During his time at Madrid, Zidane led the team to two La Liga titles and a historic three consecutive Champions League victories from 2015 to 2018. Despite his success, Zidane has been patient, with rumors suggesting he’s holding out for the chance to manage the French national team.
RMC reports that Didier Deschamps, the current France manager, isn’t planning to step down anytime soon. He is focused on the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, where he hopes to lead France to further glory.
Deschamps, who guided France to the 2018 World Cup win, is reportedly hesitant to give up the job, partly out of concern that Zidane could overshadow his own legacy if he took over. Should Zidane become available, Ratcliffe might see an opportunity to bring him to Manchester United, especially if Tuchel is no longer an option.
For now, Manchester United’s priority is to support Ten Hag and hope for an improvement in the team’s performance after the October break. However, if results don’t improve quickly, Ten Hag’s time in charge may not extend beyond November’s international break.
Meanwhile, as Manchester United fans reflect on the club’s past success, there is a special memento available commemorating the 25th anniversary of the team’s historic treble win from 1999. This Manchester Evening News special edition looks back at the key players, unforgettable matches, and the comebacks that led to that incredible achievement.
