“I would give it to him” - Gabby Agbonlahor names manager who should replace Ten Hag at Manchester United
Player-turned-pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has named his pick for the next Manchester United manager if Erik ten Hag is sacked this season. The former England international believes that the Dutchman is on the verge of losing his job.
The pressure is heating up on manager Erik Ten Hag after an underwhelming start to the Premier League season. The club find themselves in 12th spot in the league after just two wins in six matches.
The manner of defeats to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford have particularly increased the pressure on the former Ajax manager. Both clubs, who are their top-four rivals, won 3-0 at the Theatre of Dreams, leading to widespread discontent among the United faithful.
A draw to Eredivisie side FC Twente in their Europa League clash at home didn't do Ten Hag any favours either. Pundits and fans alike have speculated if time is running out for the Dutchman at the 20-time English champions.
Gabby Agbonlahor has named former Man United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy as the ideal man to replace Ten Hag at the Old Trafford hotseat. Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Villa forward named Van Nistelrooy as the man to take Manchester United forward.
"I would give it to Ruud van Nistelrooy," Agbonlahor said.
The prolific Dutch striker is currently part of the Man Utd backroom staff but is hotly tipped to take over from the former Ajax manager.
"Manchester United players are feeding off Van Nistelrooy more than Ten Hag" - Agbonlahor
According to TBR Football, the Manchester United board is growing increasingly concerned with the results under Ten Hag. They have reportedly lined up three candidates already as potential replacements for the Dutch coach.
Agbonlahor believes the solution to the Red Devils' worries lies closer to home. His pick, Van Nistelrooy, returned as a first-team coach at the club where he made his name as a player.
He highlighted the Netherlands international's bond with the players and how he has had a bigger impact on them than their current manager.
"When you watch Manchester United and even after the games and during games, you just see Manchester United players feeding off Van Nistelrooy more than they are off Ten Hag," observed Agbonlahor.
Prior to rejoining his old club, the 48-year-old coach managed Jong PSV and PSV Eindhoven in the last three seasons. Agbonlahor feels that experience would help Van Nistelrooy if he were to take over from Ten Hag.
"I remember seeing a clip after the game and Ten Hag walks straight in and you got Van Nistelrooy high-fiving the players, hugging the players. I just think that he was a manager as well two years ago at PSV," he added.
Incidentally, the last former player to manage the Red Devils was Van Nistelrooy's teammate and fellow striker, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian took over from Jose Mourinho in December 2018 as a caretaker manager before being given the role full-time. After three years with the club, Solskjaer was sacked in November 2022.