Former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke has called for the club to replace Erik ten Hag with Zinedine Zidane.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester United have had a rocky start to the 2024-25 season, managing only a narrow 1-0 win at home against Fulham before suffering a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton in their latest Premier League match.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite strengthening their squad over the summer, following their worst-ever Premier League finish in 2023-24, United continue to struggle with consistency on the pitch. This has led Dwight Yorke to question Erik ten Hag’s ability to lead the team and advocate for the appointment of former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, whom Yorke describes as an “elite manager.”
WHAT DWIGHT YORKE SAID
In an interview with Lord Ping, Yorke stated, “Erik ten Hag is a good manager, but there’s a significant difference between being good and being elite. United need a manager with true pedigree. Until they get that level of leadership, they will continue to struggle. The perfect candidate is out there—Zinedine Zidane. Ten Hag doesn’t have the ability to attract the world’s biggest names. Zidane, on the other hand, is an elite manager who can draw in top talent and rejuvenate the club. If Zidane were at Manchester United, the world’s best players would line up to join. Right now, United lack the pull to bring in the kind of players that can both entertain and win major trophies.”
Yorke also suggested that the club’s new part-owners, INEOS, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, may not hesitate to dismiss Ten Hag if poor results persist, despite his recent contract renewal. He added, “Sir Jim Ratcliffe didn’t become one of the UK’s wealthiest men by being lenient. I think he will apply the same ruthlessness to Manchester United when it comes to management. His success is built on making tough decisions, and football is no different. Ten Hag won’t have a hiding place if the results don’t improve quickly. After the loss to Brighton and a shaky win over Fulham, I expect Ratcliffe won’t hesitate to make a change.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
Ten Hag and his squad will look to bounce back from their defeat to Brighton as they prepare for a crucial Premier League showdown against arch-rivals Liverpool on Sunday.
