Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has emerged as the early favourite to replace sacked Erik ten Hag as the new Manchester United boss. The Dutchman left the Old Trafford club on Monday after two and a half years at the helm.
Former Ajax coach Ten Hag led United to the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024 but the club dropped to 14th place in the Premier League after their defeat at West Ham on Sunday. Here, we look at the potential candidates to replace him.
Xavi Hernandez
The 44-year-old former Barcelona boss is currently without a club after leaving the Spanish giants last summer. Reds fans were sent into a frenzy on Sunday after Xavi’s wife, Nuria Cunillera, posted a picture of their son Dan wearing a United shirt on Instagram.
Xavi, who won La Liga in 2022/23 and the Spanish Super Cup in 2023 as Barca boss, has reportedly twice held talks with United about taking over the manager’s position.
Gareth Southgate
United’s co-owners Ineos, led by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are known to be admirers of the former England manager. Southgate left his role as Three Lions boss shortly after the Euro 2024 final, in which they were beaten 2-1 by Spain.
He also led the national team to the Euro 2020 final, where they lost on penalties to Italy, as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Graham Potter
The 49-year-old Englishman is available as he has not found work since his short stay at Chelsea came to an end in April 2023. He gained huge plaudits for his time at Brighton, where he turned the south coast club into a force to be reckoned with playing an attractive brand of football.
Kieran McKenna
The Ipswich boss is a familiar face at Old Trafford, where he was on the coaching staff between 2016 and 2021. After landing his first managerial job at Ipswich, he took them from League One to the Premier League in just two and a half years. Their tough start to life in the top flight has seen them slip into the relegation zone, however.
Thomas Frank
The Brentford manager knows Dave Brailsford, a key figure in the Ineos team at United, and is known to be admired by Ratcliffe. The 50-year-old Dane would not be cheap to lure to Old Trafford and recently said he was “irritated” by rumours of a switch to United.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
The former United striker is a club legend and has been appointed interim manager following Ten Hag’s departure. He joined his fellow Dutchman as assistant manager at Old Trafford on a two-year contract in July.
Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals for the club, was head coach at PSV Eindhoven from March 2022 until he resigned one game before the end of the 2022/23 season.
Simone Inzaghi
The 48-year-old Italian has been heavily linked with the United job. He led Inter Milan to the Serie A title last season and his side were beaten by Manchester City in the 2023 Champions League final.
Ruben Amorim
The 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon coach has won two Portuguese titles since joining them in 2020 and they are unbeaten in this year’s Primeira Liga, sitting top of the table with maximum points from nine matches.
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
SHAITTAN
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BELGIUM%20SQUAD
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Elvis
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Scoreline
Chelsea 1
Azpilicueta (36')
West Ham United 1
Hernandez (73')
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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57%20Seconds
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The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
