After Erik ten Hag’s sacking, INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe had multiple managerial candidates in mind before appointing Rúben Amorim.
After two-and-a-half years at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag was sacked in 2024 with the Red Devils sitting in 14th by October. It wasn’t a shock departure, as it was reported that INEOS had already begun searching for a new manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, despite winning the FA Cup.
The trophy win helped ten Hag stay in post for a few more months into the beginning of last season, but he was ultimately relieved of his duties after a poor start to the campaign. Fans were generally supportive of this decision and were excited to see who would take the former-Ajax boss’s place.
Rumours circulated, and ex-England manager Sir Gareth Southgate, as well as Graham Potter, were just a couple of the names linked with the managerial job. Both options caused a divide within the fanbase, and ultimately neither where given the role.
Omar Berrada pushed for Rúben Amorim, who was working wonders with Sporting CP at the time, and the young coach was appointed on the first of November. There have been mixed opinions regarding Amorim’s tenure, but recently, things are looking more positive at Old Trafford.
However, another candidate has revealed they were interviewed for the role and are currently managing a side in the Premier League.
Frank reveals he was interviewed for United job
Thomas Frank was managing Brentford at the time of ten Hag’s sacking and had impressed English fans by bringing success to a smaller side in the Premier League. On one of the smaller budgets, Frank transformed Brentford into a team that could be viewed as the ‘best of the rest’.
He was another candidate to be linked with the United position, and the Danish manager has now revealed that he was interviewed for both the United and Chelsea jobs on the same day.
Speaking to Danish outlet Tipsbladet, Frank explained: “Sitting down to talk with two of the ten biggest clubs in the world – two hours apart – is quite unique.
“I know I didn’t get either job, but it was still huge. I remember walking through Battersea Park between the two interviews and thinking: ‘Thomas Frank from f****** Frederiksvaerk – am I really experiencing this?”
The report also notes that Frank’s interview was held in Ratcliffe’s garage, a rather unusual location for such a major meeting, although it was likely chosen to evade public attention.
Ultimately, Frank did not manage to land either role, but was hired by Tottenham in the summer, replacing Ange Postecoglou.
Similar to Amorim, both took over at a point where the club had won a major competition under the previous regime, and both have also had mixed opinions since taking charge.
Would Frank have suited United?
It is no secret that Thomas Frank turned Brentford into a side that performed way above what was expected of them, and the 52-year-old has to take a lot of credit for this. However, the club’s elite recruitment strategy, similar to that of Brighton, also played a huge role in their success.
The Spurs boss likes to play a fast-paced, high-press style of football, which could have worked at Old Trafford, depending on the personnel he would have been able to bring in. He had already spent many years with Bryan Mbeumo at Brentford, so would have likely made him the forefront of United’s attacks.
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Amorim has been allowed to bring in players that suit his system, which is slowly coming together with performances on the pitch. The Portuguese coach has had to endure plenty of rough spells and pressurised matches that could have cost him his job, but this was likely to happen to any manager who was appointed at United.
Frank is an impressive manager all around, but Amorim’s younger age provides more room for him to grow with his side, and seeing how Amorim has already weathered a turbulent period, I believe the 40-year-old will go from strength to strength throughout the rest of the 25/26 season.
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