Louis van Gaal was appointed as Manchester United manager at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, after David Moyes put up miserable show in the one season he was at charge. The Dutchman took his time to set up the team, but because of his success and ability to deliver on the biggest stages, he was given the time. As of now, his job is safe, United are playing decently, and will hope to pose a plausible challenge to the title race. However, the former Netherlands coach has a contract till 2017 with the club, and he has shown no interest to extend it beyond that. So, in this article, we take a look at 3 managers who could be the next Manchester United manager :

1. Ryan Giggs

The club’s most decorated player and currently, van Gaal’s assistant, Ryan Giggs tops the list as the most probable successor to the throne. Although he did manage Manchester United for 4 games as a player-manager at the end of the Moyes season, yet he did not take up the job permanently, probably because he realized that it takes time, skill and patience to manage a club as big as United. Giggs is currently learning the tricks of the trade from one of the best modern day managers, and it will be a fantastic moment for all Red Devils to see him in the hot seat after Gaal. In fact, several hints have already been made in this regard, with van Gaal himself mentioning that he had bought the talented French forward Anthony Martial this season just for his “successor ” Giggs.

2. Pep Guardiola

In the unlikely case that Giggs doesn’t take over as Manchester United manager in 2017, the current Bayern Munich coach is the 2nd favorite. He has the credentials, has the experience and preaches a possession based style of play that is pretty hard to compete against. Sir Alex Ferguson recently revealed that Guardiola, was in fact, his first choice as a Manchester United manager, however, the Spaniard had given his word to the Bavarian giants already, and hence couldn’t come to Old Trafford.

3. Jose Mourinho

As far fetched as it may sound now, Mourinho could also be a frontrunner for the United job. The Portuguese is currently managing a Chelsea side languishing in the bottom half of the table, but his track record and ability to win trophies is a huge plus. However, his sides rarely play an attractive brand of football, and his inability to win titles and build teams continuously year after year at a particular club are downsides to his otherwise impeccable CV.