Image via Complex Original
With news breaking today that legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be stepping down from his post at Manchester United at the conclusion of this season, speculation has already begun to rage about who will replace him. The candidates range from the realistic and soundly reasoned (David Moyes and Jose Mourinho) to the completely absurd (anyone ready for more Sven-Goran Eriksson?), and there will be no shortage of additional candidates’ names to surface in the coming hours and days.
The manager’s chair at Manchester United is one of the most sought-after jobs in the sporting world, and it’s likely coaches will emerge from all corners of the earth to put their names in. Here are 10 Potential Replacements for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
*Odds courtesy of SkyBet.com
Mike Phelan
Current Job: Assistant Manager, Manchester United
Odds*: 50:1.
Phelan is perhaps the best sleeper pick because he has been a de facto manager at United for years already, running much of the day-to-day operation and doing much of the in-game coaching (Fergie has rarely ventured to the touchline in recent years). He is intimately familiar with every facet of the club, bringing an unmatched level of continuity and likely keeping on most or all of the existing staff, most importantly technical mastermind René Meulensteen. He knows England, complete with the media pressure and exposure that comes with the territory. He lacks experience, though, which will likely damage his otherwise outstanding candidacy.
Laurent Blanc
Current Job: Manager, France
Odds*: 40:1
The hottest manager in the world right now may be Blanc, who has had great success early on in his managerial career. After a successful stint at Bordeaux, he's now working on a total overhaul of the French national program. While the jury is still out, he seems to have Le Bleu on the right path. His experience as a player in Europe would certainly help him as well, but his limited experience as a manager would be enough to give United pause in making a move to hire him. He also may not be ready to leave France yet, as his rebuilding project is not yet complete.
Manuel Pellegrini
Current Job: Manager, Malaga
Odds*: 40:1
Pellegrini is not exactly young (59), but he's not so old that he isn't a viable candidate. He has a ton of experience across South America and Europe, having managed a staggering 13 teams since landing his first job in 1988. He has done excellent work at his current club (Malaga), getting them into Champions League qualifiers for the first time in the club's history. He is considered by experts to be an innovative tactician (he devised the popular 4-2-2-2 formation employed by many today), but this style of play doesn't totally jibe with United's personnel. His lack of experience in England will likely also hurt his candidacy, although he could be a strong fallback plan if the top candidates don't pan out.
Carlos Queiroz
Current Job: Manager, Iran
Odds*: 50:1
Queiroz has fantastic experience, having managed the Portugal national team as well as Real Madrid. He also served as an assistant under Fergie, so his knowledge of United's inner workings is likely comprehensive as well. He has managed on the European level as well, and his connections in Portugal could provide a pipeline of young talent that would keep United on top of the tables for many years. The drawback, though, is that Queiroz has also never been a total success at his managerial stops. His teams have won, sure, but his teams at major clubs have never won more than 55 percent of their games. This tepid level of success is likely not enough to inspire the United brass to make such a bold hire.
Mark Hughes
Current Job: Former Manager, Queens Park Rangers
Odds*: 66:1
Hughes is a club legend, scoring numerous important goals and endearing himself to United fans forever. He also has had an extensive managerial career, making stops with the Wales national team, Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham and most recently QPR. The problem is that he hasn't been particularly successful with any of these clubs; he has yet to win a trophy, and his clubs are all notorious underachievers. After he was dismissed from QPR following their disappointing campaign last season, Hughes has spent 2013 out of work. It seems unlikely that he'd be the choice here then, since "unemployed" is not really a good look.
Ole Gunnar Solksjær
Current Job: Manager, Molde
Odds*: 25:1
A huge fan favorite, appointing Solksjaer manager would go over very well from a PR standpoint. He also has accumulated some coaching credentials since his retirement in 2007, earning his badges while working under Sir Alex and United and managing the reserve team. He's had tremendous success managing the Norwegian side Molde, with whom he has won the Norwegian Premier League title two years running. However, Norway is a little different than England and the rest of Europe, and this will likely keep the United legend out of the manager's chair. He simply doesn't have the experience yet to be considered a front-runner; had Ferguson waited another five years to retire, it might be a different story.
Ryan Giggs
Current Job: Midfielder, Manchester United
Odds*: 33:1
While it may seem far-fetched that a current player could slide right into the manager's seat, such a move is not without recent historical precedent. Pep Guardiola coached Barcelona's B-side immediately after his retirement, and was managing the first team within a year. He obviously did quite fine for himself. With Giggs, United would have the kind of continuity that allows clubs to avoid the dreaded "rebuilding" that can often take years. The drawbacks, obviously, are that Giggs has been too busy playing to be a manager, and United is hardly the place for him to be learning on the job. While he'll likely have an excellent coaching career (if he so chooses), it seems very unlikely he'll be starting it with United.
Jurgen Klopp
Current Job: Manager, Borussia Dortmund
Odds*: 20:1
Klopp is another excellent young candidate who has shown that his skills as a tactician are beyond reproach, so purely based on that he'd be a good fit at United. He has built an incredible young Dortmund squad into a powerhouse, with an attacking style well-suited to the system United currently plays, and he'd likely be able to bring some of that talent (like Robert Lewandowski or İlkay Gündoğan) over with him. His relative lack of management experience could be seen as an issue, as is the fact that he is not a native English speaker. That combination could spell doom for what would otherwise be a very strong candidacy.
Jose Mourinho
Current Job: Manager, Real Madrid
Odds*: 5:1
Mourinho's incredible success at the club and international levels make his résumé pop, and his youth is certainly something United will look for in a new leader. Mourinho himself has gone on record with his admiration of the club and specifically of Ferguson, so the mutual interest is likely there. His ego, however, could be a huge problem. No man is bigger than the club itself, which is something that runs counter to how Mourinho has carried himself in his previous stops. His history at Chelsea may be of concern as well, given the clubs' rivalry and Mourinho's continued links there. He also remains under contract at Real Madrid, but if the Glazers want to make headlines with a big name (as they have been wont to do) Mourinho could be the choice.
David Moyes
Current Job: Manager, Everton
Odds*: 1:5
Moyes is the runaway favorite for numerous reasons. He has youth on his side (he's just 50), he's from the same part of Scotland as Fergie and he has an excellent track record at Everton. His grit and determination as a manager are also right in line with the man who would be his predecessor, as is his patience with younger players. He also has a contract that's expiring at the end of the season, and Moyes has thus far refused any overtures for an extension. While he's never won a trophy, lacks experience playing against European competition and never managed a mega-club like Manchester United, it would be a shock if he didn't get the nod.
