Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has tipped compatriot Erik ten Hag to take over the managerial position at Old Trafford.
Jaap Stam, who won the treble with Manchester United, wants current Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to be appointed as the next Manchester United manager. The club are currently being managed by Ralf Rangnick, who was appointed on an interim basis following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November last year.
With the season inching towards its end, Manchester United have fast-tracked their search for a permanent manager. Ten Hag and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino have emerged as the two favourites. And Stam wants his former club to put the Dutchman at the helm of affairs. The 49-year-old also urged the Ajax manager to take a step up in his career with Manchester United.
“Ten Hag is doing very well at Ajax; he makes the team a difficult opponent for everyone in Europe and Holland. He is very good at showing the players what to do and also at improving individual players,” the former Manchester United defender said.
“At Ajax, he obviously has the finances to grow the team with young players. For him, Man United would be another thing compared to what he is experiencing in Holland. He has to take this step forward in his career,” Stam told Sky Italia (h/t Tribal Football).
Mauricio Pochettino's PSG: Out
Erik ten Hag's Ajax: OutNot a good week for manager's linked with Manchester United in the Champions League ? pic.twitter.com/XzSHHeF36K
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Manchester United have had one of their worst seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. They have an outside chance of making it to the Premier League top four but have been knocked out of every cup competition. Their most recent setback came in the Champions League as they bowed out from the Round of 16, going down 2-1 to Atletico Madrid on aggregate.
Ten Hag, too, exited the competition with Ajax in the Round of 16. The Dutch giants went down 2-1 to Benfica on aggregate as Manchester United were knocked out in the other kick-off of Tuesday, March 15.
The Red Devils would want to zero in on a permanent solution to their managerial problem to give the incoming tactician enough time to leave his imprint on the side ahead of the new season, while also playing a role in their summer transfer window activity. It remains to be seen if they heed Stam’s advice and go after ten Hag or look at a different candidate to replace Rangnick.
