ANGRY Manchester United legends could scare away potential successors to Erik ten Hag, reports say.
Pressure is mounting on Ten Hag and he has come under heavy scrutiny from former United players.
Michael Owen called on Ten Hag to be sacked with Paul Scholes agreeing that assistant coach Steve McClaren should replace the Dutchman.
Ex-United captain Rio Ferdinand was also critical of his former club after the 4-0 hammering at Crystal Palace.
SunSport revealed that the Old Trafford hierarchy do not plan on axing Ten Hag before the end of the season.
It means he would be in charge for the FA Cup final against rival City on May 25 at Wembley.
But replacements are believed to be drawn up behind the scenes, with the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Zinedine Zidane and Gareth Southgate linked.
Although the The Telegraph say at least two potential candidates for the United job have concerns over the constant criticism from ex-players.
But ultimately, it would not prevent them from taking over at Old Trafford.
Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ferdinand, Scholes and Owen - who all have TV punditry gigs - are among the most strongly-opinionated retired players.
And Owen called for Ten Hag's sacking on Premier League Productions: “I’ve said it for a long time that Ten Hag is not the right man for this job, I’ve been saying it for ages and ages.
“He cannot, simply cannot, manage the team next season.
“I almost wonder now, they’ve got a cup final and they’ve got a few important games that could mean European football next year or not.
“At some point you’ve got to make a decision, they’re going to get absolutely hammered by Manchester City, they’re going to get annihilated, in fact, Arsenal will smash them to bits at Old Trafford.
"Newcastle will probably beat them and I wouldn’t even fancy them going to Brighton either.
"They might not get anything out of the rest of the season, playing like that.
“I just wonder there’s just so much at stake, even if it’s only for four games, I wonder whether the board might just have to try to do something here and now and be quite radical about it.
“He cannot, simply cannot, manage this team next season. He’s not good enough.
"I’ve thought it for ages, and he’s just not good enough to manage Manchester United.”
MAN UTD'S NEXT MANAGERIAL CANDIDATES
Thomas Tuchel
The German won the Bundesliga in his first season with Bayern Munich but his fortunes soon turned.
Bayern relinquished the title to Xabi Alonso's brilliant Bayer Leverkusen after Tuchel in February announced he would leave the club.
Tuchel - who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 - is believed to favour a return to England.
Gareth Southgate
The England boss' deal is up in December and he has refused to entertain an extension ahead of this summer's Euros.
It has led to speculation that Southgate could be preparing to move on from his Three Lions role.
And as revealed by SunSport, he is admired by the United board.
Zinedine Zidane
The French legend has been out of a job since leaving Real Madrid for the second time in 2021.
He has been linked with the United job before but in 2022 revealed his lack of English speaking prevented him from the move.
Zidane is believed to want to manage France one day but he remains linked with the United job.
Graham Potter
Potter made his name at Brighton and replaced Tuchel at Chelsea in 2022 but he was sacked after less than seven months in charge.
New United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a big admirer of Potter, who has also been linked with the England job, with talks taking place between the two.
Potter is yet to return to management and has turned down approaches to leave the door open for United.
Motabmst
1
Owen I love this even since Erik Ten Hag took over,if Manchester United want to improve they should call Michael Carrick back because Carrick grew in Old Trafford and took time within Ferguson's squads so he knows all corners
jekbdkprst
0
you writing nosens who brought some of the isn't he ten hag he don't know how to handle transfers
tecikmnsz
0
IF THE MAN U LEGENDS WHO ARE CALLING FOR ETH SACK KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT FOOTBALL WHY ARE THEY NOT COACHING CLUBS THOSE WHO GOT LUCKY TO COACH A CLUB THIS NOT EVEN LAST FOR 10 GAMES.
I do asked my mates everyday with this same question, If this so called Legends of Man utd do really Love their team and know much about football why they come in and rescue the team of going down, rather than sit in the studio and just criticize coaches.
Bokabcktuz
0
T T should be the successor
Duaaikmsty
2
ten hang is not the problem give him time to build a team of his own. me I brame players their ego is in high level. ericksen, casemiro,verane,amrabart, rashford,saw,wabisaka Antony are player need to be wiped away with.
Vehaekstuy
0
Zinedine Zidane will not come.... Tuchel is better than others remaining
duwabeknp
3
Manchester United is killed by the so-called legends, especially the legends-cum-pundits who behind cameras, fill players with pride, cook their disrespect towards coaches and bake go-slows. After the planned dismal display on the pitch, the useless legends, most of whom have terribly failed in their managerial attempts and others fearing to get to the dugout, trade tantrums against the coaches whom they had given the name "dog" with the aim of later killing them. We've seen this with all coaches who came after Sir A. Ferguson, and it will not stop with ETH unless the club leadership comes into its senses, fight against the pseudopods.
DavidFoley88
1
With Southgate the new no 1 for the job when ten hags gone where's all the ten hag outs now because Southgate can't win nothing with arguably the best team in the world on paper
Kisbklosuy
1
IF THE MAN U LEGENDS WHO ARE CALLING FOR ETH SACK KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT FOOTBALL WHY ARE THEY NOT COACHING CLUBS THOSE WHO GOT LUCKY TO COACH A CLUB THIS NOT EVEN LAST FOR 10 GAMES.
Funacdiln
3
Hardly will you see Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City legends destroy their clubs with malicious criticisms as Manchester United legends do. They have done it to virtually all mangers after Alex Ferguson. Very annoying.
SAMSUPER
2
Where is Conte , Born winner 🥇
EUFA
2
These are the people who are ruining the club. They criticize everything whilst contributing only hatred. They should come back to play. If they know how to coach why can't they do it themselves.
Buzeilntu
1
To replace Ten Haag, I can only take Zidane amongst all
He ain’t coming, he ain’t no fool! Man U should hire Gary Neville! 🤘🏼
hahdeknst
2
To replace Ten Haag, I can only take Zidane amongst all
Rickylubs
2
The so called Man united legends talk too much and they think they know it all...
FootballRealist
3
Because they all English and Owen is not a MU legend just to add that bit…all these ex players do is complain but none of them have actually achieved managing jobs let’s keep that in mind..
xion33
1
English pundits are so biased.
Very Very, where was all this hate for Poch and Howe when their teams were abysmal lol biased media
appiah92
2
Former ManU players are a menace to their club. Their constant and sustained malicious comments on both players and managers make the club unprogressive. The barrage of vicious verbal press attacks psychologically damage both managers and players making both weak in strategy and performance. Maybe it's high time these former players came back and resumed playing. Then the club would be great again. 😭😭😭😭
what annoys me is how they talk as if in their heyday there were played great football matches throughout the season and won the league titles unbeaten. they forgot they had a manager who was on the verge of a sack and somehow managed to escape and finally figured out how to win the league. they forgot how powerful sir alex was and could discard any player who was not in tune to his philosophy and was considered toxic in the dressing room. Every era comes to end and the so called man United golden era were made to look like headless chickens by that great Barcelona team. were they chastised as much back then as they do now with the slightest opportunity. these legends gave as good times accepted but they should cut us some slack because circumstances are different and man u is no more dominant as it was back then that is the reality now. Sir alex will struggle in this klopp and Guardiola era.
zoabkmnot
2
English pundits are so biased.
zoabkmnot
1
Former ManU players are a menace to their club. Their constant and sustained malicious comments on both players and managers make the club unprogressive. The barrage of vicious verbal press attacks psychologically damage both managers and players making both weak in strategy and performance. Maybe it's high time these former players came back and resumed playing. Then the club would be great again. 😭😭😭😭
Very well said
Caebklmyz
5
Former ManU players are a menace to their club. Their constant and sustained malicious comments on both players and managers make the club unprogressive. The barrage of vicious verbal press attacks psychologically damage both managers and players making both weak in strategy and performance. Maybe it's high time these former players came back and resumed playing. Then the club would be great again. 😭😭😭😭
Oblivion_
1
Never knew they need a successor for Utd.. They currently class ngl
KamyaTreasurek
3
That's one of the problems that is hindering man utd, rubbish mouthed legends
MonaldoJR
0
Zidane was scared thats why he didn’t take man u job