Gary Neville says Manchester United’s next manager needs to fit the club’s DNA, but who will fit the bill? As their hierarchy begins discussions with prospective candidates, Between the Lines returns to see how their options stack up.
Darren Fletcher has been appointed interim manager as Manchester United look for a replacement for Ruben Amorim, but Neville insists it is time to return to the club’s traditions after a series of “experiments” following Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Neville told Sky Sports News: “Louis van Gaal had his own philosophy. Jose Mourinho plays a certain style of football. David Moyes as well. Erik ten Hag is a very different style of football. Ruben Amorim is also a very different style of football.”
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“I’m not saying these managers aren’t good managers, but they all came with different ideas, different styles of play, different philosophies, so none of them really fit the Man Utd way.”
So, with Oliver Glasner, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Enzo Maresca, Xavi, Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane all mentioned as candidates to replace Amorim, which prospect’s style of play best fits the club’s identity?
What is Manchester United’s DNA?
Neville referred to a video circulating online of Sir Bobby Charlton explaining Manchester United’s DNA. “Adventurous and exciting football, young players playing and fun from the crowd,” he said.
Mr Charlton goes back to the 1950s and 60s when under Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United won five domestic titles and the European Cup with a youthful team that played attacking football.
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Ferguson has tapped into the same tradition that saw United emerge as a Premier League powerhouse under him, adopting a front-foot approach that emphasizes playing out wide and attacking quickly.
After Ferguson was appointed manager, the club drifted away from this principle, and Amorim’s unnatural commitment to a back three became a source of controversy, as exemplified by the appointment of manager Amorim.
And Neville is adamant about what the next man should bring. “Ajax won’t change for anyone, Barcelona won’t change for anyone. I don’t believe Man United should change for anyone.
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“The club must now find a manager who is experienced and willing to play fast, entertaining, aggressive and attacking football.”
Best and worst fits revealed
To create a template for Manchester United’s DNA, we used 15 style indicators from Ferguson’s last managerial season in 2012/13, when he won the last of his 13 Premier League titles as manager.
Sir Alex Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles with Man United
Manchester United’s victories that season were determined by their distinctive attacking style. Using a 4-2-3-1 formation and focusing on attacking speed, width and crossing, they scored 11 goals, more than any other team.
When comparing prospective candidates and selected managers on the same 15 metrics in controlled league matches, it was former Chelsea and Spurs manager Antonio Conte who statistically ranked as the person most suited to United’s DNA.
The Napoli manager, who was previously linked with a move to Old Trafford, has a suitability score of 78.89 out of 100 based on his work at Chelsea and Spurs, just ahead of former Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who currently manages the Portugal national team.
Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness is next on the list, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in fourth place, with an aptitude score of 77.74 out of 100. Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is in the top five, just ahead of Chelsea legend and current Coventry manager Frank Lampard.
Marcelo Bielsa, Carlo Ancelotti and Fulham manager Marco Silva are also in the top ten.
Antonio Conte ranks as the style that best fits Man United’s DNA
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is in 11th place with a suitability score of 73.06, just ahead of the other three managers linked to the vacancy of former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino and England boss Thomas Tuchel.
Recently sacked Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has also been rumored, ranking 20th on the list with an aptitude score of 67.52 out of 100.
Josep Guardiola was reported to be a Manchester United target even before he joined Manchester City in 2016, but interestingly he is at the bottom of our 32-man list with a style suitability score of 50.77 out of 100.
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Gareth Southgate, Kieran McKenna, Roberto De Zerbi and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, all of whom have been mooted as possible replacements for Amorim, are also low on the list, suggesting they do not fit well into the club’s DNA.
View the interactive graphic to see how the style of the selected managers compares to the DNA of Manchester United under Ferguson.
