Goodbye Erik ten Hag? Thomas Tuchel meets with Manchester United owner for manager job

Manchester United part-owner Jim Ratcliffe recently met with former Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel as the club seeks clarity on its managerial position. The future of current manager Erik ten Hag is uncertain despite his recent FA Cup victory with a significantly weakened squad.

Ratcliffe, who holds a 28% stake in Manchester United, reportedly held face-to-face talks with Tuchel in Monaco. This development follows Bayern Munich’s decision in February to part ways with Tuchel at the end of the season, even though his contract runs until 2025.

Tuchel led Bayern to a Bundesliga title last season but couldn’t replicate that success in the 2023-24 season, with Bayer Leverkusen clinching the championship for the first time. Bayern also reached the Champions League semifinals under his leadership but were defeated by Real Madrid, the eventual winners. Tuchel’s prior experience includes guiding Chelsea to Champions League triumph, giving him a solid background in both English and European football.

If Tuchel were to join Manchester United, it would be a tough break for Ten Hag, who managed to achieve significant success despite numerous injuries plaguing his squad throughout the season.

Ten Hag’s future has been in question since the FA Cup final, with the United board reportedly waiting for an end-of-season assessment before making a decision. Despite the uncertainty, Ten Hag remained upbeat after the FA Cup victory, asserting his readiness to find success elsewhere if dismissed.

“Two trophies in two years is not bad, three finals in two years is not bad,” Ten Hag said. “If they don’t want me, then I go somewhere else to win trophies because that is what I do.”

As of now, it appears Manchester United will wait until the pre-season begins to finalize who will lead the team into the 2024-25 season.