Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi and the candidates to succeed struggling Erik ten Hag as Man Utd manager - ranked

Mourinho is never far from the conversation when any top job becomes available given his track record for success and his charisma, and no shortage of United fans would like to see him back and given proper backing in the transfer market.

However, his stock has undoubtedly fallen since he was sacked by the Red Devils in 2018, meeting the same fate with Tottenham and Roma as well as increasing his reputation for losing his head and getting into trouble. United would do well to steer well clear of Mourinho, whose methods are out-dated in the ever-changing modern game and who is more likely to leave a legacy of scorched earth than silverware.

Conte is also on the market and United have flirted with the idea of hiring him in the past. The Italian has a more recent record of success, leading Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018, before ending Inter's 11-year wait to win Serie A. He also quickly turned things around at Tottenham, clinching Champions League football.

However, as with Mourinho, every Conte success comes with a large caveat of simmering tensions with the board and his squad, and his incredible, bitter press conference which led to him being sacked by Spurs is still fresh in the memory.

“He’s the most thorough and analytical, step-by-step, process-driven coach that I’ve worked with," said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of McKenna, his former assistant coach. "He makes it so easy for the players to see and understand what we wanted from them."

McKenna worked his way up from being United's Under-18s coach in 2016 to sit by Solskjaer's side when he replaced Mourinho, having also impressed the Portuguese. The Northern Irishman is now thriving as a head coach, leading Ipswich Town to automatic promotion from League One at the first time of asking, and is now overseeing their charge towards the Premier League, heights they have not scaled since 2002.

He would be a bold choice due to his limited experience, but given his background in the club, he is certainly one to watch.

Carrick is another member of Solskjaer's former backroom staff who is thriving as a head coach. He took Middlesbrough into the Championship play-offs in his first season in charge and to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup in his second, all while playing exciting and attractive football.

As a crucial member of Ferguson's last great side, Carrick would also appeal to fans. However, he will need another couple of seasons under his belt an at a higher level before he can be properly considered for the top job at his former club.

Alonso has quickly gone from being the flavour of the month to the most coveted coach in Europe after leading Bayer Leverkusen towards a first ever Bundesliga title, soaring 10 points above Bayern Munich while remaining unbeaten.

The Basque would be an ideal choice for United, but his Liverpool past would make him unlikely to choose Old Trafford as his next destination, especially as the Anfield dugout will soon be vacant, as will the hot seat at Bayern, another of his former clubs.

Frank took humble Brentford into the top-flight for the first time in their history and has kept them punching well above their weight, playing tactically shrewd football on a shoestring budget and making the most of data analysis.

Ratcliffe has made it clear that he does not plan to fix United's problems with marquee signings and Frank has shown there is another way to get success. He would be a leftfield choice, but also a fascinating one.

United fans have been starved of success for much of the post-Ferguson era, winning just one trophy (and it was the Carabao Cup) since 2017. So the serial-winning Inzaghi would surely appeal to them.

The former striker has won eight trophies with Lazio and Inter and is certain to add the Serie A title to his list of achievements in the coming weeks as Inter are riding 15 points clear at the top of the table. He also took the Nerazzurri to the brink of Champions League glory, giving Man City a real test in the 2023 final despite most of his players being on the wrong side of 30.

Zidane's name often comes up when a United manager is under pressure and it is easy to see why: he won an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid, as well as two La Liga crowns.

He has not worked since leaving Madrid in 2021 and INEOS are reported to admire him. It is believed that he would only return to management to coach France, Marseille or Madrid again, but if Ratcliffe could convince him to come to Old Trafford, it would be quite the coup.

Xavi is another big-name coach who will be available in the summer after stepping down at Barcelona, where he became the latest in a long line of managers to fall victim to the infamously unforgiving surroundings of Camp Nou and the sniping 'entorno'. But it should not be forgotten that Xavi delivered Barca' first title in four years last season and has been battling against an injury crisis.

He has said he plans to take a sabbatical after being worn down by the pressure of coaching Barca, but if he got the call to take over at Old Trafford - where he made his Champions League debut as a player - it would be hard for him to resist.

Southgate might be seen as uninspiring among certain sections of England's support, but his record is truly inspirational, delivering a first World Cup semi-final for the first time in 28 years plus a first major final since 1966.

Before he took charge of the national team it was beset by a culture of complacency and arrogance, which was responsible for decades of underachievement despite having a wealth of talent and resources. Sound familiar to United fans? Southgate has led a cultural reset, replacing toxicity with pride and truly connecting with players. Who is to say he could not do the same at United?

Michel has been at the centre of one of the most unlikely stories in Europe this season: tiny Girona's charge towards the La Liga title. The Catalans have slipped away in recent weeks, but are still on track to qualify for the Champions League, which would be a considerable achievement given they have the 13th-largest budget in Spain.

Girona's links to the City Football Group could be an obstacle, but United have already shown willingness to do business with their local rivals after hiring Omar Berrada as their next CEO.

Pochettino was close to taking over at United in 2022 before the club's hierarchy opted for Ten Hag, and Ferguson had previously recommended him for the job while he was working miracles at Tottenham.

The Argentine is reaching the end of his tether at Chelsea, with fans calling him for to be sacked amid another disastrous campaign. However, many good managers have been unable to work with the Todd Boehly regime and its breath-taking rate of player turnover, and Old Trafford could prove a better fit, especially under the new structure INEOS are building.

Tuchel will be a free agent in the summer after Bayern fell behind in the title race to upstarts Bayer Leverkusen, and United cannot afford to overlook him and his potential. The German is one of the most tactically astute coaches in the game, reaching successive Champions League finals with Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, turning the latter from a shambles under Frank Lampard into the top side in the continent in just four months.

And how Chelsea must regret getting rid of him when they did. He would take up the mantle from Ten Hag when it comes to ending player power, but his team would likely be far more resilient and intelligent.

Former Italy international Motta has been making headlines after overseeing Bologna's push to qualify for the Champions League for the first time ever. His side are on a hot streak, having won their last six Serie A matches, climbing above Atalanta and Roma into fourth.

The ex-Barcelona and PSG midfielder has taken the long road into management, starting out with the Parisian giants' youth team before taking jobs at Genoa, Spezia and finally Bologna in 2022. His stellar work has not gone unnoticed by INEOS, as it has been reported that he is being considered as a potential replacement for Ten Hag.

Amorim was heavily linked with Tottenham and Chelsea last year and remains one of the most admired young managers in Europe. He broke Porto and Benfica's 19-year stranglehold on the Primeira Liga title in 2021 and his Sporting CP side are pushing to repeat that incredible triumph this season, currently leading the standings as well as making the last 16 of the Europa League.

Amorim has refused to entertain speculation about a move to the Premier League in the past, but it is surely only a matter of time before he takes the plunge and tests whether he can translate his methods to the world's top competition.

Nagelsmann sure made an impression when he faced United as coach of RB Leipzig. He wore an eye-catching pleated suit to Old Trafford, although his team were in an even worse state, getting thrashed 5-0 by United. He got revenge back in Germany though, as Leipzig won 3-0 to knock the Red Devils out of the Champions League.

It is common consent that Bayern made a huge mistake sacking him last year and he is expected to look to return to club management after leading Germany at Euro 2024. And United could sure do with some fresh thinking and swagger.

Yet another coaching export from the Basque province which has produced Alonso, Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola, Lopetegui impressed in his previous spell in the Premier League with Wolves before quitting over the club's inability to back him in the transfer market. He has since rejected offers from Saudi Arabia and wants another taste of the Premier League action.

His name has been mentioned in relation to United already this season, and the fact he has coached Spain and Real Madrid, albeit with unsuccessful outcomes, shows how much standing he has in the game. He also had considerable success with Sevilla and would be a solid choice to step in at Old Trafford.

De Zerbi schooled Ten Hag in a stunning 3-1 win for Brighton at Old Trafford last year and has turned the Seagulls into one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League. He has been endorsed by Pep Guardiola and been touted to take over from him at City eventually, while he is also on Liverpool's shortlist to take over from Jurgen Klopp.

De Zerbi would guarantee entertainment and a distinct style of play, while he has an excellent track record of working with young players, which is what the Red Devils' future will be built on.

Potter helped build the platform upon which De Zerbi has thrived at Brighton and did so alongside Dan Ashworth, who is set to be United's next sporting director. Ashworth and Potter met up recently, sparking speculation that they could be reunited at Old Trafford.

Potter's first big job with Chelsea did go badly wrong, but as Pochettino's failings have shown, the Stamford Bridge hot seat is something of a poisoned chalice. And INEOS seem to understand that, as they remain interested in the cerebral Englishman.