Will Erik ten Hag still be in charge?! Sir Jim Ratcliffe eyes change to manager role at Manchester United, with or without Dutchman

According to The Telegraph, this proposed shift in leadership dynamics is part of Ratcliffe's broader vision to modernize and revamp the club's operations, regardless of the fate of current manager Erik ten Hag.

Ratcliffe aims to depart from the conventional model, reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson's era, where a single manager oversees various aspects of the club. Instead, under the envisioned new model, the head coach would primarily focus on matchday and training duties at Carrington, while recruitment responsibilities would be entrusted to incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada once they assume their roles at United.

Ten Hag's active involvement in player acquisitions has led United to shell out hefty amounts for securing signings like Antony, Casemiro, and Mason Mount. These players have failed to live up to expectations and hence his position has come under scrutiny. However, Ratcliffe's proposed restructuring is not related to Ten Hag's future at Old Trafford as a decision is yet to be taken by the board.

In a recent appearance on the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club podcast, Ratcliffe emphasized the importance of establishing the right organizational framework and highlighted the distinction between the traditional managerial role and the evolving role of a head coach.

“It’s where you start. You need the right organisation and structure. In the old days of Sir Alex Ferguson he was the manager,” said Ratcliffe.

“Well, we don’t have managers today, we have a coach. And a coach would normally report to a sporting director and a sporting director would report to the chief executive. Where do you put recruitment? Strategy? All that kind of stuff. You need to get your organisation right and then need to populate it with the people who are best in class.”

Historically, Manchester United's comprehensive football operations were overseen by figures like Ferguson where managers wielded significant influence over transfer decisions. However, Ratcliffe's proposed model aligns with modern trends in football management, where clubs increasingly opt for a separation of sporting and coaching responsibilities, enabling the head coach to focus on on-field performance while specialized executives handle strategic decisions.