With the news that Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United after their horrible start to the season and the disgraceful performance against Liverpool, where they lost 3-1, plenty of rumours have been going on about who should take United forward.
Manchester United issued a statement that they will be letting Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna take charge of training for the next few days, but they will announce a caretaker manager that will stay till the end of the season, as they look to find a manager that will lead them on for the future after this season. The club has also stated that the caretaker manager will be an external individual, and hence ruling out Carrick and McKenna.
As a result, I have compiled a list of my top three picks for the caretaker manager role that will hopefully get Manchester United back on track for the rest of the season.
3. Zinedine Zidane
Whilst many are tipping the extremely successful Frenchman to be the long-term option, seeing as he is currently unemployed and would be a cheaper option compared to other employed managers, I prefer him being a caretaker manager first rather than being handed a long-term contract.
First of all, Zidane has no experience in the Premier League, and for all we know, he could flop massively with the state of the United team that there currently is. If he was to be employed on a short-term contract till the end of the season, the club would evaluate his performance in a season that in terms of league position, is already lost, without hampering another season.
Secondly, Zidane had a magnificent squad at Real Madrid, with United's squad being nowhere near the level that his previous team was. Lastly, he has no relations to Manchester United, hence the long-awaited United spirit that the fans are dying for, might not actually be present. It would be much more logical to get a caretaker manager that knows the club and its principles, in order to get the fans and the players back on the club's side after a few rugged seasons.
2. Laurent Blanc
The former Manchester United, Montpellier and Inter player has plenty of experience in the managerial hot seat, after spells with Bordeaux, Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team.
With Blanc being a former United player (even though for only two seasons), he has an idea of what the club is really all about, with him being a player during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign.
Apart from this, Blanc is a huge admirer of Paul Pogba, who is arguably Manchester United's focal point as an outfield player. He would get Pogba back on good terms with the club, and would also hopefully get the best out of the French superstar.
However, the French manager has not been employed ever since he was sacked by PSG in 2016, and it still remains a question whether his tactics will fit the Premier League or not.
1. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
With the club announcing that they will be looking for a caretaker manager that is external to the club, Solskjaer immediately came to mind due to his managerial experience and his ongoing love for the club.
The Norwegian had a marvellous career with Manchester United, spending 11 years as a player at the club, winning six Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and the famous UEFA Champions League triumph of 1999, which he got the deciding goal in. After his playing career, he took charge of the reserves at the club, leading them on to several honours and developing some top talents in the youth academy.
Whilst his overall managerial career has been up and down, with him having success at Molde FK in Norway, winning the Tippeligaen twice and the Norwegian Football Cup once, he had a spell to forget in the Premier League as he took charge of Cardiff City in 2014, and after they were relegated and endured a torrid run of form in the Championship, he returned back to Molde FK.
Yes he might have not had the success that he wished for in the Premier League, but Solskjaer is an extremely lovable character and he would fit in perfectly for the caretaker role at the club. He would gain the trust of the fans and would motivate the players, especially with his vast experience at the club as a winner.
If he was to be chosen as the caretaker manager, Solskjaer would surely have faith in the youth of the club, especially having been the reserves' manager for some time. Players like Martial, Rashford, Lingard and Pogba would flourish, with his attacking mentality that was developed whilst he was a player under Sir Alex Ferguson would motivate and encourage the fans back on the club's side.
Whoever United pick as their caretaker manager for the rest of the season, has to be able to get the team's priorities straight, by developing youth, playing attacking football, and most of all, winning matches.
