Manchester United have sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from his managerial position. The Red Devils are now looking for a replacement, but who could that be?
Zinedine Zidane is one of the main candidates to take the helm at the Theatre of Dreams.
However, the Daily Mirror claims that the Frenchman would be “reluctant” to take the job mid-season. Therefore, United could potentially look to employ a caretaker manager. Who are the possible candidates for this role?
Read: What is Zinedine Zidane’s record in the Champions League?
Laurent Blanc
As per the Daily Express, Laurent Blanc is on the shortlist to take over temporarily at his former club. Blanc, who currently manages Qatari side Al-Rayyan Sports Club, made 48 appearances for United between 2001 and 2003.
His potential position at Old Trafford would be reminiscent of Solskjaer’s. However, if he was just to be brought in for a short period, this could positively impact the team.
The Norwegian bagged five consecutive wins when he began his tenure with his former side, and the boost in morale of a new face at the club could help Blanc produce the same results.
Julen Lopetegui
According to The Athletic, former Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui is also in the mix when it comes to potential Solskjaer successors.
The Sevilla boss notoriously lasted just three months at Real Madrid, but he has restored his honour at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. The 55-year-old has won the Europa League and secured back-to-back fourth-place finishes in La Liga during his time at the club.
His achievements generated interest from Tottenham Hotspur, but the former goalkeeper turned down their ‘dizzying‘ proposal. However, Julen Lopetegui may change his stance on coming to the Premier League if United make the right offer.
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick, who worked under Solskjaer as a coach at The Theatre of Dreams, has taken over ahead of a crucial match. He will be the man making the decisions during United’s pivotal Champions League encounter with Villarreal on Tuesday. However, it is doubtful that the board will offer the job to Carrick permanently.
Solskjaer may have struggled towards the end of his tenure at Old Trafford, but he will hope that fans will remember the good times. He started extremely well and made United fans believe again.
The Salford-based club now need to find a suitable replacement who can give fans the same emotion, but on a more consistent basis. With Zidane potentially lined up for the summer and several potential options for an interim role, United could find success again in the not too distant future.
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