Manchester United chief John Murtough gives update on next manager as they explore several options
Speaking at a fans’ forum, Manchester United chief John Murtough said that the club was exploring all options as they launched a thorough recruitment process to identify a new permanent manager ahead of the new season (h/t Express).
United sacked club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager late last year after a run of disappointing results, and Ralf Rangnick was brought in from Lokomotiv Moscow until the end of the season in an interim head coach role.
Murtough said that the summer would usher in a new era for the Red Devils, as the club hierarchy believe that they have the right structures in place to support and achieve long-term success. Fans can look expectantly towards the end of the season based on these promises made by the club chief.
“While there is potential for further improvement and progress, we do feel that we now have the right structures in place across our teams to support long-term success and we will continue working relentlessly and investing to achieve that.”
Last year saw a host of changes made at the club behind the scenes, as Murtough was handed the new role of football director while former midfielder Darren Fletcher was promoted to technical director. The club executive may have been hinting at more such structures in place at Old Trafford when he addressed the fans.
“Conducting a thorough process”
Rangnick is expected to leave his role in the manager’s seat at the Theatre of Dreams in the summer when his tenure as interim boss expires, leaving the permanent manager role open for potential candidates. All eyes will be on the club in the summer to see who they appoint for this massive responsibility.
Murtough did not expressly give any names when addressing the fans about news of the next manager, but said that the side were conducting a thorough process to ensure that the right man is picked for the job in order to get United back to competing for titles.
“We are now conducting a thorough process for appointment of a new permanent manager who will take charge this summer, with the objective to get us back to challenging for those domestic and European titles.”
Murtough’s words sound like a positive intent from the club to make sure the Old Trafford side take the right step forward in appointing a new manager ahead of the new season. Their previous hires have not been very successful, so the pressure is on them to get the next hire absolutely right.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, United have seen David Moyes, Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Michael Carrick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Ralf Rangnick take their place in the manager’s seat in the dugout. However, the last trophy the club won was in 2017. This underlines just how important the next manager’s appointment needs to be.
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Rangnick has done a fine job at the club since taking over late last year, with the club only having lost once in the league. The German may just stand an outside chance of getting the job in the summer, but it could be unlikely given that he is slated for a consultancy role at the end of his current term as interim boss.
For now, though, the former RB Leipzig manager is expected to help United finish the season strongly and ensure a top-four spot is claimed by the end of the campaign. The possibility of playing Champions League football next season is sure to attract any potential hires for the permanent manager job.
