Erik ten Hag Eyes Premier League Comeback as Managerial Opportunities Heat Up
Reports suggest that former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has expressed interest in the Wolverhampton Wanderers position, with the Dutch manager being evaluated after Gary O'Neil decided against rejoining his previous club.
Wolves dismissed Vitor Pereira on Sunday following the Midlands side's disappointing 3-0 defeat to Fulham. The Portuguese manager managed only two points from his opening 10 league matches this season, leaving his team as the sole club across England's top seven divisions still searching for their first victory.
Pereira had received a fresh three-year deal merely 45 days prior—BBC Sport indicates the club's leadership "were reluctant to make alterations" heading into last weekend's matches, but the manner of the Craven Cottage loss ultimately became one embarrassment too many.
Ten Hag surfaced as an unexpected contender to succeed Pereira following his dismissal. Nevertheless, O'Neil had been positioned as the frontrunner to rejoin a club that released him just 11 months previously. A surge of supporter opposition met those reports, leading multiple sources to quickly suggest that the English manager had pulled out of contention.
According to The Telegraph, personal agreements between O'Neil and Wolves had been reached before the club yielded to public sentiment.
Ten Hag Competing with Man Utd Former Players for Wolves Position
An additional report from ESPN indicates that Ten Hag is being evaluated by Wolves' leadership and the 55-year-old welcomes a Premier League comeback. He does, nevertheless, harbor concerns about accepting a mid-season appointment.
Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards represents a younger option, alongside former Manchester United midfielder and caretaker manager Michael Carrick. Reports suggest that Wolves would prefer appointing a younger coach, and it's uncertain whether Ten Hag will advance in the selection process due to this preference.
Carrick remains available after departing Middlesbrough during the summer following an underwhelming 10th-place Championship campaign. There were significant expectations for his coaching abilities after securing a top-four finish in his inaugural season at the Riverside, but progress has declined since then. The main worry regarding Carrick reportedly centers on his struggle to make effective in-game adjustments.
Another United veteran Ole Gunnar Solskjær was the consummate match-winner during his playing days but hasn't quite matched those standards as a manager. The former Premier League vice-champion is also available after his departure from Beşiktaş in August.
Whatever candidate assumes control at Molineux faces a compelling first match, as Wolves visit Chelsea's Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.