Steve Hitchen is in contention for a role at Manchester United, should Mauricio Pochettino become the coach next season.
According to a report from Football Insider, Manchester United are bracing themselves for a summer of change as they look for a new manager to replace Ralf Rangnick. The German tactician is in charge until the end of the season before he moves on to a consultancy role at the club.
Mauricio Pochettino is the undisputed favourite in the race to become the next Manchester United manager. In the event of the Argentine’s arrival at Old Trafford, United could potentially hire Steve Hitchen as well.
Formerly a scout at Liverpool, Hitchen was the technical director at Tottenham from 2019 before being relieved of his duties earlier this month. His position has been dissolved by the club, with Fabio Paratici assuming greater power. The Italian now shares a bulk of Tottenham’s recruitment and overall management responsibilities alongside Antonio Conte.
Hitchen’s departure has apparently put Pochettino on red alert, with the Paris Saint-Germain manager reportedly keen on joining forces with the Englishman once again. The two had worked together during their time at Spurs, although Hitchen was only a chief scout for a majority of Pochettino’s spell at the club.
Now, the two could potentially reunite at Manchester United next season, especially with the PSG board seemingly unhappy with the club’s performances under Pochettino. Although Les Parisiens have been performing admirably in Ligue 1, the team has struggled against bigger sides and was recently knocked out of the Coupe de France.
The upcoming Champions League Round of 16 clash against Real Madrid could go a long way in deciding the future of Pochettino. Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the situation, along with Hitchen himself, as he will presumably be keen on working alongside the Argentine again.
However, it is fair to point out that the potential appointment of Hitchen as the director might not sit well with Rangnick. The former RB Leipzig coach likes to assert dominance when it comes to recruitment decisions. The German has had scuffles with many managerial figures in the past – ones who stand in the way of his vision and management technique – so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for both him and Hitchen come August.
Meanwhile, Pochettino isn’t the only option for Manchester United, who are closely following the situation of Erik ten Hag. Many experts believe the Dutchman could leave Ajax in the summer, following the abrupt departure of sporting director Marc Overmars.
