Thomas Tuchel favourite for Man United job as INEOS make key decision | OneFootball

An explosive new report reveals that Thomas Tuchel has “overtaken” two of the leading candidates to become Manchester United’s next head coach, as Fabrizio Romano confirms the “key factor” driving INEOS’s search.

Premier League Proven

The Red Devils have trialled a host of different managerial profiles since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, with the only consistent factor being how badly each of them has failed.

The most recent appointments, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, fell into the category of ‘hipster’ appointments: managers from smaller European clubs, armed with distinct footballing philosophies and promises of attractive, attacking football, ready to drag United into the modern game — in theory.

However, theory rarely translates to practice in top-level sport, particularly in an environment as chaotic as Old Trafford has been during the post-Ferguson malaise.

Between them, the dour Dutchman and the prickly Portuguese, they produced the club’s worst campaigns in the Premier League era, with the pair combining for a scarcely believable 15th-placed finish last season.

Both coaches appeared startled by the intensity and, in particular, the physicality of English football. Amorim adapted to this more quickly than Ten Hag, but the dogmatic application of his 3-4-2-1 system made him even more inflexible than his predecessor.

It’s little wonder, therefore, that previous experience in England is an attribute INEOS are prioritising in their hunt for Amorim’s successor, as Romano explains.

“The decision is going to be on several factors. They want to play beautiful football. That’s obviously a crucial part of the story,” the Italian transfer guru states.

“But remember this point, Premier League experience. Man Utd also want a manager who can have some kind of Premier League experience in order to make an instant impact… [it] is going to be one of the key factors.”

Top of the List

There are few jobs in world football with the same level of pressure and scrutiny as the hotseat at Old Trafford, but being the England manager is certainly up there.

Tuchel is set to lead the Three Lions at the World Cup this summer, with his side one of the pre-tournament favourites after a stellar qualification campaign.

England finished with a 100% qualifying record, winning all eight matches, scoring 22 goals and conceding none. They have not lost a competitive match in 14 months. It’s as impressive a manner to qualify for a tournament as it’s possible to achieve — and a reflection of the coach at the helm.

England's World Cup Qualifying Record

United were interested in hiring Tuchel in the wake of the 2023/24 season when, despite an FA Cup win, Ten Hag came perilously close to being replaced. The German was interviewed by INEOS that summer, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe understood to be extremely impressed in their meeting.

He rebuffed the club’s advances, however, and Ten Hag ultimately remained in place, only to be sacked five months later and replaced by Amorim, with Tuchel having become England boss at that stage.

But INEOS are ready to correct this mistake, two years on, with talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook revealing he is at the “top” of their list of candidates, as relayed by TEAMtalk.

“The name I keep hearing come the summer is Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, very much at the top of Manchester United’s list. Now, he turned down the opportunity before becoming England manager, but I don’t think that means necessarily that he wouldn’t entertain the idea.”

The report states that Crystal Palace chief Oliver Glasner and Marseille manager Robert de Zerbi, previously of Brighton & Hove Albion, are also in the mix, but that Tuchel has now “overtaken” them in the running.

The 52-year-old coach has experience managing major clubs across Europe, having previously coached Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich before taking the England role. These experiences are also believed to factor into United’s thinking, particularly in comparison to candidates like Glasner and De Zerbi.

Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher has been handed the reins of the senior side on a temporary basis while United source a permanent caretaker until the end of the season, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick the two frontrunners. But it will be Fletcher who leads the team out at Old Trafford for the FA Cup third round clash with Brighton on Sunday afternoon.

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