A SHOCK name has reportedly been added to Manchester United’s managerial shortlist amid pressure mounting on Erik ten Hag.
The current Old Trafford chief is clinging on to his job after a difficult start to the season.
The Red Devils have racked up three defeats this term already, including two 3-0 at home to Liverpool and Tottenham.
And they went into the October international break without a win in their last five matches in all competitions.
That has led to rising speculation that the United hierarchy are preparing to make a change in the dugout if the slump continues.
Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel were both high on the list of possible new managers.
But they are both now unavailable – Southgate ruled himself out and Tuchel took the England job.
Now Turkish outlet Ajansspor claim a surprise candidate would be in the running to replace Ten Hag if he is relieved of his duties.
They state Vincenzo Montella is in the frame thanks to the job he has done with Turkey.
The former 20-cap Italian striker, 50, has been in charge of the Turkish national team since 2023 and guided them to the quarter-finals of this summer’s Euro 2024.
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It is thought his 53 per cent win rate with Turkey has caught the attention of the United board.
Montella’s impressive CV also includes stints in charge of Adana Demirspor, Fiorentina, Sevilla and AC Milan.
He also led Roma’s Under-15s following his 2009 retirement before stepping up as interim head coach, replacing Claudio Ranieri.
Montella spent the majority of his playing career in Italy, concluding with ten years at Roma which also included a short loan spell in the Premier League with Fulham in 2007, where he scored six goals in 15 games.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be under further pressure to act should United not get back to winning ways against Brentford tomorrow.
However, before the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa before the international break, Ratcliffe was quizzed on Ten Hag’s future but bizarrely claimed he does not call the shots at Old Trafford.
He said: “I don’t want to answer that question…
“I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.
“But that team that’s running Manchester United has only been together since June or July.
“They weren’t there in January, February, March or April – [CEO] Omar [Berrada], [sporting director] Dan Ashworth – they only arrived in July.
“They’ve only been there…you can count it in weeks almost – they’ve not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.”
The United hierarchy held showdown talks in London last week but have stuck with Ten Hag for now.
While Southgate and Tuchel are out of the running, data analysts believe Ruben Amorin would be the best fit – followed by Zinedine Zidane and Simone Inzaghi.
Kieran McKenna and current No2 Ruud van Nistelrooy were both deemed to be better options than Ten Hag – but they warned Graham Potter, Michael Carrick, Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Frank would struggle.
Ten Hag, though, reckons talk of his imminent sacking is “fairytales”.
Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten Hag
ERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.
Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.
Gareth Southgate
Enjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.
Kieran McKenna
Talks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.
Roberto De Zerbi
Allegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.
Thomas Frank
Brentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.
Marco Silva
Fulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.
Mauricio Pochettino
Fell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Thomas Tuchel
Made a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.
Ruben Amorim
Sporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.
Roberto Martinez
Portugal manager was considered in the early stages.
The Dutchman said: “The only noise is only coming from the media. Bringing up stories, creating stories, making fairytales. We are all on one page this club.
“I said that before the break, and several journalists they didn’t believe me, I see the reports but internal in the club it’s quiet.”
But he added: “Of course, we are unhappy in the position where we are and we have to turn the corner with a strategy to turn this corner but ultimately we are quiet, we are composed, we stay where we are, we stick to the plan and we are convinced we will make it a success.
“Also we have to climb a mountain, that’s top football and sometimes you have to face challenges, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down I am sure we will make it a success like we did the last two seasons.
“We are in a direction, underneath I see good patterns, good steps that confirm we are in a direction but the ranking is not lying, it is not good enough.”
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