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Manchester United’s hunt for a new permanent manager is likely to be the hottest topic of the summer. More than a decade after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils are still looking for a capable successor who can bring back the glory days to the Theater of Dreams.
The Premier League giants have had six permanent managers in that time, and none of them have lasted more than three seasons. Only Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag could add silverware to the trophy cabinet, although none of them could win the Premier League or the Champions League.
Former head coach Ruben Amorim should have been the man to take United back to their glory days, but the Portuguese dropped out at the start of the year with a winning percentage of just 38.10%. Michael Carrick took over as caretaker manager last month until the end of the season and has won his first three games, sparking talks about a permanent appointment.
However, Red Devils legend Jaap Stam has advised the club to appoint Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi instead.
Strain bug The Zerbi
Speaking recently, as quoted by the MirrorStam emphasized that the former head coach of Brighton & Hove would fit in well with Theater of Dreams. He said: “I like De Zerbi a lot, you know, because of the way he performed in Brighton and now in Marseille.”
“How he plays with his teams. Because he plays possession-based football, he is very good on the ball. He also puts the players in certain positions, which makes it very difficult for the opponent to put pressure on them.”
“You know, he goes forward, he attacks. Scores a lot of goals, sometimes concedes, but as a manager you know that.”
“But I think he’s also a good man-manager. I think he’s also good with the players and gives them the confidence, gives them the attention they need – and not just the starting XI, but the other players in the squad as well. And that’s what you need in such a big club. So I would be very happy if they don’t go for Carrick, and that they go for him.”
De Zerbi’s record in the Premier League
The Zerbi does reportedly among the shortlisted candidates for the full-time job at Old Trafford, with his future in doubt following Marseille’s Champions League exit. The Italian manager spent almost two years at Brighton & Hove Albion, so he is already familiar with the rigors of the Premier League.
During his time with the Amex, De Zerbi transformed the Seagulls into a well-drilled attacking unit, to much acclaim. He joined Marseille in the summer of 2024 and won 57.35% of his games for the French giants.
Roberto De Zerbi Management Statistics
| Team | By | Nasty | Games played | Matches won | Play drawn | Games lost | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darfo Boario | November 19, 2013 | June 30, 2014 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 22.73 |
| Foggia | July 1, 2014 | August 14, 2016 | 91 | 47 | 25 | 19 | 51.65 |
| Palermo | September 6, 2016 | November 30, 2016 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7.69 |
| Benevento | October 23, 2017 | June 30, 2018 | 29 | 6 | 3 | 20 | 20.69 |
| Sassuolo | July 1, 2018 | May 24, 2021 | 120 | 43 | 36 | 41 | 35.83 |
| Shaktar Donetsk | May 25, 2021 | July 11, 2022 | 30 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 66.67 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | September 18, 2022 | June 30, 2024 | 89 | 38 | 22 | 29 | 42.70 |
| Marseille | July 1, 2024 | Gift | 68 | 39 | 10 | 19 | 57.35 |
| Total | — | — | 462 | 199 | 109 | 154 | 43.07 |
Source: Wikipedia.
A previous report from The Peoples Person suggests that the Italian is keen to become United’s next permanent manager, which could also help matters.
Final thoughts
De Zerbi could be an exciting choice for a full-time job, but his lack of experience winning trophies could put him behind the likes of Thomas Tuchel, Xavi and Carlo Ancelotti in the race. Meanwhile, it would also be unwise to rule out Carrick, especially after his stunning impact at the Theater of Dreams.
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