Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag could be set for a swift return to management as RB Leipzig consider him as a potential replacement for under-pressure boss Marco Rose.
The Bundesliga side are enduring a torrid run of form, having failed to secure a victory in their last six matches across all competitions.
Rose’s position has become increasingly precarious following a humiliating 5-1 home defeat to Wolfsburg last weekend.
The development comes as former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp prepares to take up his new role as Red Bull’s head of football development in January.
Erik ten Hag could be set for a new job in the near future
Reuters
Leipzig currently sit fourth in the Bundesliga table, nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Their European campaign has been particularly disappointing, having lost all five of their Champions League matches this season.
The club’s last victory came on 29 October in a DFB Pokal second round match against St Pauli.
A crucial round of 16 clash with Eintracht Frankfurt in the coming days could prove decisive for Rose’s future at the club.
According to Sky Germany’s Patrick Berger, Leipzig officials have already begun sounding out potential replacements for their beleaguered manager.
The situation creates an intriguing dynamic, as Klopp shares a particularly close relationship with Rose, having managed him at Mainz nearly two decades ago.
“I trust Marco in everything,” Klopp once said of Rose. “Marco could do any job and do it well, he is really the most hyped coach at the moment, everyone is asking about him.”
Jurgen Klopp could play a major role in Erik ten Hag’s new job
PA
Despite their strong bond, Klopp may face a difficult decision regarding Rose’s future when he officially assumes his new position on 1 January.
The potential appointment of Ten Hag would be especially noteworthy given his previous rivalry with Klopp during Manchester United-Liverpool clashes, where he recorded two wins, two draws and three losses.
Ten Hag brings valuable German football experience, having previously managed Bayern Munich’s second team during Pep Guardiola’s tenure at the club.
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Erik ten Hag was sacked from Manchester United in October
Reuters
The Dutchman was dismissed from Manchester United in October after the club’s worst-ever Premier League start, leaving them in 14th place.
Former Benfica manager Roger Schmidt is also being considered for the Leipzig role, having previously worked within the Red Bull system at Salzburg.
However, according to Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan, Schmidt “does not wish to take a job in the middle of the season and would prefer to wait until the summer.”
Ten Hag’s appointment could potentially benefit Manchester United financially, as it might reduce their compensation obligations following his departure.