It was something which had been inevitable for quite some time now and David Moyes’ woeful stint as the head coach of the most successful club in England has come to an end. The former Everton man who was appointed as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson’s throne has guided the Red Devils to their worst campaign in the Premier League era.
In his only season as manager of Man United, the Scotsman broke a couple of records however all of them were for the wrong reasons. The most prominent ones are United finishing the current season with their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League era , Man United’s failure to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 1995 as well as the Red Devils’ failure to maintain their supremacy at home with United currently on their worst home league form in a decade.
Whereas no permanent replacement has been announced as yet, Man United have appointed Ryan Giggs as the head coach of the club on a temporary basis but will most definitely be looking for a more experienced long term replacement. Here are five candidates who could take over the post from next season:
Jurgen Klopp
The German is one of the most sought after managers in all of Europe and the Borussia Dortmund manager will definitely be on United’s radar. Klopp has impressed since taking charge of BVB in 2008, a time period when Die Borussen were in shambles. Only in his first season in charge the German tactician guided the club to a trophy after Dortmund defeated Bayern Munich in the DFB-Supercup final, from then onwards the only direction Dortmund have gone is forward.
Under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp Dortmund won two consecutive league titles and also made it to the final of the Champions League last season in which they lost to Bayern Munich. Klopp’s energy, his charisma, his passion and his insistence of playing attacking football will really benefit Man United in their quest to regain their lost identity. Apart from being an astute tactician Klopp is also known for making shrewd signings as well as nurturing young players which will also bode well for the Red Devils.
However Klopp has reiterated more than once his desire to remain with Dortmund despite of strong interests from the biggest clubs in Europe and the German’s loyalty will make it very difficult for the Glazers to lure him to Manchester.
Louis van Gaal
A more realistic target might be current Holland coach Louis van Gaal who is set to step down from his post by the end of the season. The former Bayern Munich manager has been linked heavily with a managerial post at Tottenham, but Man United can do enough to tempt him to the Theatre of Dreams.
Van Gaal carries with him an impressive CV which encompasses seven league titles in four different countries as well as European honors the most prominent of which is a Champions League trophy as manager of Ajax back in the 1994-95 season.
At 62 Van Gaal can hardly be recognized as a long term replacement but he can effectively restore order in the red side of Manchester by instilling a winning mentality which is exactly what the Red Devils need right now.
Carlos Queiroz
The Portuguese was Sir Alex Ferguson’s right hand man for a long time at Manchester United and during the period the club enjoyed a lot of success. Queiroz was regarded as an innovative coach and played an instrumental role in not just the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo but also the current Real Madrid superstar’s transformation into one of the best players in the world.
The 61 year old is aware of the philosophy of the club and can potentially drive them forward. However his only stint as manager of a club ended largely unsuccessful when Queiroz was fired 10 months into his job as the manager of Real Madrid back in 2003-2004 after Madrid finished 5th in La Liga, this is something which will largely go against him.
Roberto Mártinez
Choosing a former Everton manager did not settle well for United last time out, but Mártinez is the kind of manager who can turn things around for them. Whereas his appointment might draw similarities with out-going David Moyes, the two are quite different.
The Spanish tactician was held in high regards wherever he went and completely transformed clubs. At Swansea he introduced a passing philosophy something the club is still benefiting from. At Wigan despite operating on a very low budget, Mártinez defied all odds by winning the FA Cup at the expense of Man City and thereby gauranteed the Latics a place in the Europa Cup.
Currently at Everton, the Spanish international has taken the club to new heights. The toffees have not just played eye pleasing football this season but are very strong contenders for a top four finish thanks to Roberto Mártinez. Whereas the former Swansea boss is hardly a big name he can have the same impact Brendan Rodgers has had at Liverpool and United can really benefit from Mártinez’s terrific understanding of the game.
Ryan Giggs
A surprise favorite to replace David Moyes at the helm is 40 year old Ryan Giggs. The Welshman has been a magnificent servant to the club having enjoyed 24 years at the Old Trafford during which he has won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions League titles. His antics have made him the most decorated player in the history of English football.
The Welshman will take charge of his first match as manager of the club against Norwich on the 26th of April, after being handed the responsibility on a temporary basis. Despite being a novice as far as being a manager is concerned, Giggs will be a top choice among fans and should he bring out the best from his players in the limited opportunity he has, he might be considered for a permanent role.
