After Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate, Thiago Motta and more – by our count, there has been at least 15 managers linked with the Manchester United job in recent times – a new name appeared in the media following that calamitous FA Cup victory over Coventry City.
If Southgate, Tuchel and co feel like rather unimaginative options to step in should Erik ten Hag get the boot, some of the others mentioned are certainly a little more intriguing. A little more left-field, if you will.
According to The Telegraph, Manchester United feel that mainland Europe is home to a host of ‘very interested and talented young coaches’. See, for instance, the aforementioned Motta, who took a previously unfancied Bologna side one big step closer to Champions League qualification with a 3-1 win away to Roma on Monday.
And Ruben Amorim, who’s camp have held talks with Liverpool and West Ham, ended Sporting Lisbon’s two-decade long await for league glory in Portugal, and is currently cruising ten points clear of Benfica.
Manchester United weighing up Erik ten Hag future
The name ‘Miguel Angel Sanchez Munoz’ might not be quite so familiar, in comparison. But United’s apparent admiration for the man better known as ‘Michel’ suddenly makes sense when you consider the job he has done in La Liga, not to mention those City Football Group connections.
Ineos have already appointed former City chief Omar Berrada as Manchester United’s CEO, with Jason Wilcox also returning to the North West as technical director. Michel, meanwhile, is working as Man City’s Spanish sister-club Girona. He took charge of the Catalan outfit in 2021 after leading Rayo Vallecano and Huesca to the top flight as champions, and now has a team who started the campaign as likely relegtaion candidates closing in on a top four spot.
Girona, who have lost only once at home all season and secured famous victories over Atletico Madrid and neighbours Barcelona, looked like doing something of a Leicester City before Christmas. And while the wins have tailed off a little since then, it was still a massive achievement when Girona qualified for Europe for the first time in their history over the weekend, via a 4-1 hammering of Cadiz.
Michel’s work at the Estadi Montilivi will be very familiar to Berrada, in particular. In his role as the chief of football operations for the City Football Group, Berrada played a big role in Girona’s rise from the second tier to the brink of Champions League qualification.
Girona boss Michel a name to keep an eye on
With 67 goals, only champions-elect Real Madrid have scored more goals than Girona this season too. Their rampant, buccaneering style of football may be somewhat risk or reward. But at their best Monchi’s side – with their flying full-backs, skilful widemen and all-action midfielders – are a breathtaking sight to behold.
“Girona can fight for the title,” Barca boss Xavi said back in December after Michel’s side triumphed away to their more-vaunted, far-richer neighbours for the first time (The Athletic).
“They are La Liga candidates. This team has a lot of things in them and I can only praise the work Michel has done.”
Girona’s hopes of a stunning, Leicester-esque triumph may have gone up in smoke. But, after a season the fans could barely have imagined in their wildest dreams, Champions League qualification – and a place on Man United’s hotlist – is certainly justified.