Ruud van Nistelrooy was given a firefighter role amid the sacking of his compatriot Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, but it’s highly unexpected to see Van Nistelrooy in this role on longer basis.Therefore, rumours of Ten Hag’s permanent successor have already started. A few names are already at the top of the list, and various pundits and reporters are already discussing the possibility of their arrival at Old Trafford.Sacked. Finally!One of those guys is definitely 50-year-old Brentford coach Thomas Frank, who was this close to directly sending ETH straight back home to the Netherlands recently. His Bees were running riots at Old Trafford, but the second-half comeback saw Ten Hag surviving what could have been his very last game in the United dugout. Unfortunately for him, even with that victory over Frank’s Brentford, he didn’t last for long…A cat has nine lives. ETH at least a dozenOn the other hand, the Danish coach is very respected for his recent work, and has been mentioned whenever a top EPL job becomes available, like now with Manchester United. Still, it’s difficult to believe that he’ll leave the Bees in the middle of the season to pursue the tumultuous United adventure.Graham Potter is also a contender for the vacant position. The former Brighton and Chelsea boss has been unemployed for almost 18 months, which seems quite shocking, given his previous work.Speaking on Sky Sports last week about those United connections, Potter said: “I am the only coach in world football to be linked with Stoke City and Napoli in the same week.”A lot of what I’ve read in the media is untrue and false. I take what the media say with a pinch of salt. I’ve had lots of conversations with lots of people.”April Fool’s Day is over, and so is Graham Potter in ChelseaDespite being a foreigner who has never experienced the joy and challenges and working with an EPL side, former Barca boss Xavi Hernandez stands out as one of the potential candidates. He won one La Liga title in two-and-a-half with his boyhood club, and has established himself as a masterchef of an attractive style of football. He’s jobless and why not – he could take Pep Guardiola’s road, only trying to set up another dinasty on the other side of the street.Xavi’s farewell message and a tip to Flick: You will suffer, this is a complicated placeLast but not least, there have been rumours about Julian Nagelsmann, who is currently in charge of the German national team. The ex-Bayern Munich coach is – just like Xavi – known for his highly offensive style. He would probably fit United’s football philosophy, but his contract with Die Mannschaft seems like a hurdle set too high to be topped easily.##NAJAVA_MECA_8445274##
