An unspectacular draw with Chelsea yesterday evening may have muted his critics for now, but the jury’s still out on Louis van Gaal’s future as Manchester United boss.
Indeed, it was an improved performance and a decent point against reigning Premier League champions who set up to defend and snatch a goal on the counter, but United are still winless in eight and now five points away from a Champions League spot.
If the Dutchman can’t pick up a win within his next few games – particularly against relegation-threatened Swansea City and third-tier FA Cup opponents Sheffield United – he seems almost certain to be handed his marching orders at Old Trafford.
So perhaps the bigger question at this moment in time is who could potentially replace the struggling 64-year-old as United manager? With that in mind, here are Football Fancast’s FIVE favourite suggestions.
Which of these would you like to see take over from LVG? Let us know by commenting below!
DIEGO SIMEONE
Since taking the Vincente Calderon helm in January 2011, Diego Simeone has reinstated Atletico Madrid as one of the biggest clubs in European football.
Despite being forced to sell his key players practically every season, ranging from David De Gea in 2011 to Diego Costa in 2014, the former Argentina international has lead the Mattress Makers to a Europa League title, a Copa del Rey and the first non-El-Clasico La Liga title for over a decade.
He’s done it all through a distinctly industrious, organised and defensive style of football, oriented around a strong team ethic and his cult of personality style of leadership.
But whether those methods would prove equally successful at Manchester United remains to be seen. Simeone controls virtually every aspect of Atletico but he won’t enjoy such luxury at Old Trafford. Likewise, his preferred style of play is unpleasing on the eye to say the least.
ALAN PARDEW
Sir Alex Ferguson professed Alan Pardew’s unappreciated greatness back in September and we’re all starting to see the light.
The 54-year-old has transformed a Crystal Palace side that looked decent under Tony Pulis and doomed under Neil Warnock into genuine top six contenders, in the process using his connections to pull off one of the transfer coups of the summer in £10million man Yohan Cabaye.
He boasts an impressive win rate of 53% with the South London club and their flying winger philosophy certainly isn’t a million miles away from the Fergie football the Old Trafford faithful continue to crave.
There are two predominant concerns, however; firstly, Pardew’s lack of experience at top level clubs and secondly his lust for all three points. During his 43 games in charge of Palace, they’ve drawn just five – but jobs like the Man United gig require a level of pragmatism at times.
PEP GUARDIOLA
He’s otherwise engaged until the summer but Pep Guardiola is certainly a man worth waiting for.
The Spaniard’s tiki-taka and high-pressing philosophy inspired Barcelona to two Champions League titles in the space of three years and helped create their legacy as arguably the greatest club side of all time.
The 44-year-old has attempted to repeat the feat at Bayern Munich but found limited success thus far, claiming consecutive Bundesliga titles but enduring elimination from the Champions League’s semi-finals for two years in a row.
Nonetheless, Guardiola is still viewed as the best in the business by many and having already announced his intentions to step down as Allianz Arena boss at the end of the season, there will be a bitter scramble for his services in the summer.
That being said, if United fans found van Gaal’s possession-based philosophy hard to watch, they won’t enjoy particularly easier viewing with Guardiola in charge.
JOSE MOURINHO
He’s the name on everybody’s lips for obvious reasons.
Despite his second Chelsea spell ending in complete disaster earlier this month, Jose Mourinho remains one of the greatest and most successful managers of football’s modern era – boasting league titles in Portugal, Italy, Spain and England alongside two Champions League honours.
Furthermore, the Portuguese is well established in the Premier League, with three titles, three Capital One Cups and one FA Cup to his name, and seems most at home in the ever-dramatic, controversial and unpredictable world of the English top flight.
Mourinho’s track record suggests he will win a title within his first few seasons and probably a few auxiliary trophies along the way. The financial cost of doing so, however, and what happens afterwards remain the predominant concerns.
The Special One has never lasted more than three years at a single club and as his Chelsea exit proved, when things go wrong under Mourinho they can go very, very wrong.
RYAN GIGGS
He’s been waiting in the wings since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and will likely feel compelled to make his name somewhere else if not given the chance to succeed Louis van Gaal.
Indeed, United have made no secret of their plan to fast-track Ryan Giggs to one of the biggest management jobs in world football, appointing him as a coach under David Moyes, assistant manager under LVG and even interim gaffer for a short period in between.
The Welshman knows the club, the Premier League and the kind of football fans want to see like the back of his hand. Furthermore, he seems naturally suited to the management game, as an incredibly intelligent footballer who is always personable in the public eye but possesses a gritty ruthless streak.
Of course, a lack of experience is what holds Giggs back when compared to the other names on this list. But if LVG is relieved of his duties over the next few weeks, United have a sturdy enough platform to give the former winger a trial run until the end of the season.