Vincent Mannaert is officially looking for a new national coach for the Red Devils since the dismissal of Domenico Tedesco, which became official on Friday. Here are the six favorites to follow him.
The news is now official, Domenico Tedesco is no longer the national coach of the Red Devils. It was to be expected, after the first evaluation of Vincent Mannaert in his new role at the KBVB. The former strongman of Club Brugge has already launched a number of initiatives in recent weeks.
One of those paths led to Sergio Conceiçao, who eventually took over the management of AC Milan. There were also talks with Michel Preud’homme and Xavi, but both men reportedly refused. So, a Belgian coach or a foreign coach, young or experienced? Who would be Tedesco’s ideal successor at the helm of the Red Devils?
Rudi Garcia, not exactly inspiring
It’s not the most glamorous name on the list. But Rudi Garcia’s name is definitely on Vincent Mannaert’s radar. The French coach has been available since leaving Napoli in November last year.
Since beginning his professional coaching career in 2001 (making him the most experienced coach on the list), the 60-year-old has had many highs and lows. But his list of honors stops at his historic double with Lille in the 2010-2011 season, with Eden Hazard as conductor, of course.
Rudi Garcia is a coach with whom the best players have had a lot of freedom, such as during his time at Marseille. He can also provide a solid tactical approach to counter the top clubs, as he did with Lyon against Juventus and Manchester City in the Champions League. A coach who also clearly knows how to maintain order.
Rudi Garcia has a lot to offer, but does not seem to differ significantly from the other candidates. His teams have often shown disappointing, defensive and unattractive play. His highlights were fantastic, but rare. It is not certain whether this is what the Red Devils need.
From the start, Mark Van Bommel has been an option in the back of Vincent Mannaert’s mind. Since leaving Antwerp on June 30 last year, the Dutch legend has been interested in the position. A coach who managed to win the triple with Great Old in the Jupiler Pro League, the cup and the super cup. But is that really the best solution?
We know the game of Mark Van Bommel. Physical, athletic, with fighting ability, he could be a fit for the Devils who need a big boost after the time under Tedesco. He already knows some of the new generation, such as Arthur Vermeeren, Mandela Keita and others (Zeno van den Bosch in the future?), and could build on these foundations.
But let’s not forget that his time at PSV and especially at Wolfsburg were failures. An interesting option for Vincent Mannaert and the KBVB, but perhaps tactically a bit more limited than some other candidates.
Erik ten Hag back with the Red Devils?
Another option on Vincent Mannaert’s list is Erik ten Hag. The former Manchester United coach is trying to recover from his dismissal at Old Trafford and is also said to be on the KBVB’s list. Although his period has been heavily criticised, Ten Hag has won an FA Cup and an EFL Cup with probably the worst team in Manchester United’s history. Recently, no one has performed better than him.
Erik ten Hag is mainly the coach who stood out during Ajax Amsterdam’s incredible journey to the semi-finals of the Champions League. By beating Real Madrid, the Ajax players reached the last second of the return against Tottenham, with Lucas Moura scoring a triple, after an epic match. A coach with real tactical insight, who since his time at United knows when to act strongly at the right time. Could he do that with Courtois, Lukaku and the team? That’s another story.
Thierry Henry, is that really a good idea?
This would be the preferred option of the player group. Former assistant coach under Roberto Martinez, Thierry Henry, is also said to be in the association’s sights, although the former France striker denied having had any recent contact with the association. We strongly doubt that.
Thierry Henry is certainly an option for the Red Devils, but although his playing career has inspired young and old, his coaching career is not yet going as hoped. With failures at Monaco and Montreal, Henry is not yet part of the promising new generation of coaches, willy-nilly.
Finalist at the Olympic Games with France (which can be considered a small disappointment), Thierry Henry probably does not seem to be the candidate with the most developed tactical sense (from a collective point of view). His ego and comments in interviews are also not easy for a player to manage. On the other hand, his ego would allow him to take on some leaders who show him the utmost respect and who, as mentioned above, need a boost. His communication has also often been criticized and after the time under Tedesco no one needs that.
This is reportedly a name that comes up very often on social media. Perhaps the name that appears most often. The fans of the Red Devils would like to see Hein Vanhaezebrouck as head coach of the team.
A coach with highly developed tactical knowledge, who has proven that he can win with Ghent and who has already led important European matches. The former coach of the Buffaloes, but also of Kortrijk, Genk and Anderlecht, is also a Belgian coach, which many would like to see after the eras of Martinez and Tedesco.
Today, the 60-year-old analyst feels comfortable in his new role. But could he resist the country’s call?
The current Rangers coach is on thin ice. He gains some credit with each victory, but loses more than he gains with each defeat. And this season there have been too many defeats for the second power in Scotland, which is increasingly considering firing the Belgian coach.
The fact that Philippe Clement is Belgian is a common point he shares with Hein Vanhaezebrouck, but it is also an advantage to take charge of the Red Devils. It is perhaps the only advantage over the other candidates. With Club Brugge, the best selection in the country, Clement has won everything in Belgium, including four national titles. Things were more difficult outside the country’s borders.
At Monaco, Philippe Clement failed to compete with Paris Saint-Germain. A very difficult task entrusted to him at the beginning of his term of office. Unsettling or beating PSG was the priority. This did not work, as Clement and Monaco did not win anything. Despite the very good progress with Rangers in the league last season, his Scottish Cup win last season will not change the situation.
Six men for one position, or a surprise?
On a tactical, charismatic, track record and personality level, it seems highly unlikely that the situation with Philippe Clement will be much different from that with Domenico Tedesco. The Red Devils need a leader who can convince and engage the core, while maintaining discipline and continuing to integrate with new talents. There probably seems to be better choices on the market.
So many options, although we have not discussed the important financial aspect, are open to Vincent Mannaert and the KBVB. Will one of these coaches become the new national coach of the Red Devils, or should we prepare for a surprise? The answer will follow in the coming weeks.
