Manchester United are in desperate need of a specialist capable of fixing their broken football system and completely reloading the club’s culture. They need their own Mikel Arteta — a confident individual with a clear plan and the support of the hierarchy.
Here are some of the leading candidates for the role.
Mikel Arteta
Bringing in the Spaniard from Arsenal seems unlikely given that the Gunners are currently Premier League champions. However, when it comes to reloading a club's culture and raising standards, there is no better architect around. Arteta transformed a mid-table side into champions, guiding Arsenal from a dire 10th place when he was appointed. If he were to achieve a similar turnaround at Manchester United, he would certainly be knighted.
Unai Emery
The issue for Manchester United isn’t that they’ve never had their Emery, but rather that every manager since Sir Alex Ferguson has tried and failed to be that figure. A unifying force has yet to be found to break the endless cycle of mediocrity. Emery’s legacy in the Premier League has been forged at Villa Park, having taken Aston Villa from 17th place and turning them into a Champions League team. The situation at Old Trafford may be desperate enough for the hierarchy to trust someone with a holistic approach to the club.
Diego Simeone
This explosive and fiery manager could dismantle a club down to its foundation, yet possesses the patience and wisdom to nurture it back to health. Atletico Madrid were in deep crisis when Simeone was appointed in late 2011. They were languishing in 10th place, had gone over a decade without winning La Liga, and had cycled through 16 managers. His style emphasises that the team is greater than any individual, a sentiment that echoes the current situation at Manchester United, where Simeone could impose necessary changes at the highest levels.
Jurgen Klopp
This option seems off the table. The German has sworn never to manage another club in England besides Liverpool. However, he is one of the few who could genuinely resurrect United. When Ed Woodward miscalculated by trying to brand the club as an adult Disneyland back in 2014, Klopp bided his time before arriving in the Premier League, with Liverpool being a far more natural fit for him. Nonetheless, he serves as modern evidence that the right appointment can spark a rebirth.
Gareth Southgate
INEOS must urgently discard this idea. Southgate has effectively signalled his departure from club management, and his only experience at that level ended with his sacking in the Championship nearly two decades ago. However, bosses continue to consider him. It’s not hard to understand why; Southgate revolutionised a broken football institution in the England national team. He took on a leadership role when others deemed it too risky and painstakingly rebuilt the culture, brick by brick.
