Manchester United ‘step up’ the search for their next manager with these four names in the running

Manchester United have stepped up their search for a new manager, according to reports on Monday, with just four names on their shortlist.

The Athletic claims Mauricio Pochettino, Erik ten Hag, Luis Enrique and Julen Lopetegui are the four managers under consideration at present and state the process will start to take shape in the coming weeks.

As per the report, United want a manager with ‘experience of working at major European teams’, something which all four candidates have.

Pochettino is currently Paris Saint-Germain manager, while the Argentine managed Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final during his five-year stint in North London.

Ten Hag is in charge at Ajax, while he also has experience in the Bayern Munich set-up. Under the 51-year’s leadership, Ajax have won two league titles, are currently top of the Dutch top flight, and in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Luis Enrique’s impressive coaching CV includes Roma, Barcelona and Spain. He’s currently in charge of the latter, and led them to a runners-up finish at the Nations League in November. At Barcelona, Enrique also won the treble during the 2014/15 campaign.

Finally, Julen Lopetegui, perhaps the name linked least with the job from the four reported candidates, is in charge at Sevilla. The Spanish side are locked in a title battle with Lopetegui’s former club Real Madrid at present, although his spell in the capital only lasted a few months. The 55-year-old has also managed Porto and Spain.

For now, interim manager Ralf Rangnick is in charge at Old Trafford, and he hasn’t ruled out retaining the position into next season. However, the German is currently set to step aside at the end of the season and take up a consultancy role with the club.

The German led United to a 1-0 victory over West Ham United at the weekend, which leaves the Red Devils in the Champions League places for the first time since October.