The best available football managers after Man Utd sack Erik ten Hag: Xavi, Zidane…

Massimiliano Allegri, Zinedine Zidane and Xavi

Massimiliano Allegri, Zinedine Zidane and Xavi are all out of work

Manchester United are looking for a replacement for Erik ten Hag and a number of high-profile football managers are currently out of work.

United would have to pay a compensation fee if they want to hire Thomas Frank from Brentford, Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP or Julian Nagelsmann from Germany.

But United and a number of other clubs can look to the free agent market when hiring a new manager as former league and Champions League winners are currently available.

We’ve taken a look at 10 of the best football managers who are currently out of work, including six managers who have been linked with United.

Xavi Hernandez

After hanging up his boots in 2019, Xavi started his managerial career at Al Sadd and led the Qatari club to seven trophies in two-and-a-half years.

He returned to Barcelona as head coach in November 2021 and won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in his first full season in charge.

Despite revoking his decision to step down at the end of the 2023/24 season, he was sacked by Barcelona after publicly speaking about the club’s financial struggles.

According to reports, Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada recently led a four-man United delegation in travelling out to Spain for discussions with the 44-year-old.

Massimiliano Allegri

Allegri boasts a trophy-winning pedigree, having won six Serie A titles, five Coppa Italias and three Italian Super Cups in his managerial career.

But he was sacked by Juventus following his aggressive behaviour in the 2023/24 Coppa Italia final and is now considering his options.

“Allegri is looking for an interesting project to coach with his characteristics, his beliefs that are clear to everyone,” his agent said. “I think he has shown something in these years, he loves his job and will wait for an important project.”

Sources have revealed to TEAMtalk that the 57-year-old is an option for Manchester United, and he believes can turn their form around without any major additions.

Graham Potter

After impressing at Ostersund, Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, Potter established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches.

His reputation took a hit during a difficult seven-month stay at Chelsea but he hasn’t been short of offers in the last 18 months, rejecting approaches from Leicester City, Lyon, Ajax and the Sweden national team.

“I spoke to a few clubs but it wasn’t the right thing,” he said. “It was important I was patient and waited for the right opportunity and took the time with the family to reflect and think about what I wanted to do.

“Now I’m in that good place where I’m happy to be ready and looking forward to the next challenge.”

TEAMtalk understands that the 49-year-old is very keen to speak to Manchester United and would be very open to the role.

Edin Terzic

Terzic worked alongside Slaven Bilic as an assistant coach at Besiktas and West Ham United before becoming a manager at Borussia Dortmund.

He won the DFB-Pokal in 2020/21 and led Dortmund to the Champions League final in 2023/24, but he stepped down after their 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid at Wembley.

According to reports in England, the 41-year-old is on Manchester United’s shortlist and he has a lot of admirers at Old Trafford.

READ MORE: Four free-agent Man Utd managerial targets analysed

Zinedine Zidane 

Zidane enjoyed two trophy-laden spells in charge of Real Madrid, winning three Champions Leagues, two La Liga titles, two UEFA Super Cups and two FIFA World Club Cups.

The former France international has been out of work since he left Madrid at the end of the 2020/21 season and has rejected approaches from Portugal, Brazil, Algeria and the USMNT.

He has often been linked with Manchester United, although the language barrier may prevent him from taking over at Old Trafford.

The 52-year-old said: “Would I want to go to Manchester [United]? I understand English, but I’m not completely fluent in it. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Solskjaer had some great moments in the Manchester United dugout and led the club to two top-three Premier League finishes.

Since being sacked in November 2021, he is yet to manage another side and is currently working as a technical director for UEFA.

But reports in Manchester claim that United have not ruled out a formal approach for the 51-year-old, who would be open to a return to Old Trafford.

“If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week,” Solskjaer said. “It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyes Man Utd return
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the bench at a Manchester United game

Sergio Conceicao

Conceicao had a successful seven-year stint at FC Porto, winning three league titles, four Portuguese Cups, one Portuguese League Cup and three Portuguese Super Cups.

He left the club by mutual consent at the end of the 2023/24 season and held talks with Marseille in the summer before they hired Roberto De Zerbi.

The 49-year-old has been linked with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and is also among the favourites to replace Wolves manager Gary O’Neil, who is under pressure after a difficult start to the 2024/25 season.

David Moyes

Moyes has managed over 1,100 games in a career that has seen him work at Preston, Everton, Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham.

He won the UEFA Europa Conference League with the Hammers in 2022/23 but left the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The 61-year-old is now a technical observer at UEFA but would reportedly be interested in a return to Everton, having spent 11 years with the Toffees between 2002 and 2013.

Gareth Southgate

Southgate had a memorable eight-year spell in charge of England and led the country to the finals of two major tournaments.

The 54-year-old decided to step down following the 2-1 defeat against Spain at Euro 2024 and has been linked with Manchester United and Everton, but he is now looking to take a break from coaching.

“I won’t coach in the next year, for sure,” he said. “I’m certain of that. I need to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time, you need to give your mind time.”

Jurgen Klopp

Klopp won a Premier League title, the Champions League, the FIFA World Club Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his eight-and-a-half-years at Liverpool.

The 57-year-old cited fatigue as a primary factor in his decision to leave Anfield at the end of the 2023/24 season, and he revealed his intentions to take a break from coaching.

But while Klopp, who rejected an offer to take over as USMNT head coach in the summer, won’t be seen on the touchline any time soon, he will have a new job from January, when he will take up a role as the global head of soccer for Red Bull, overseeing advice on playing philosophies and development across their network of clubs.

And the agreement is understood to include a clause that would allow him to take the Germany national team job if it becomes available, with Julian Nagelsmann currently under contract until the end of the 2026 World Cup.

Honourable mentions: Roberto Mancini, Joachim Low, Maurizio Sarri, Niko Kovac, Rudi Garcia, Lucien Favre, Rafa Benitez, Frank Lampard.

READ MORE: Dele Alli, Navas, Choupo-Moting and the best former Premier League players that are currently free agents

Xavi Massimiliano Allegri Zinedine Zidane

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