Erik ten Hag could be offered immediate return to work as ex-Man Utd boss 'shortlisted'

Erik ten Hag could be offered an immediate route back into work by one Champions League outfit just weeks after being sacked by Manchester United.

Ten Hag’s sorry United reign was brought to an end following defeat away to West Ham United at the end of October, with Ruben Amorim ushered in as the Dutchman’s replacement.

But according to reports from Sky Germany, Ten Hag is on the shortlist of options to replace Marco Rose, should RB Leipzig part ways with the 48-year-old.

Rose was appointed by the Bundesliga outfit in 2022, but after a run of six winless games across all competitions, the pressure on the German coach has ramped up significantly.

Rose’s men last won on October 28th, with Leipzig having lost three of their previous four league outings, including Saturday’s thumping 5-1 defeat away to Wolfsburg.

Ten Hag would face competition for the role, should the Red Bull-owned side pull the plug on Rose, with Roger Schmidt also said to be in the running for the job.

Schmidt has a history of working under the Red Bull football group, having taken charge of sister club Red Bull Salzburg back in the early 2010s.

However, the report states Schmidt currently has no intention of taking up a role mid-season and would prefer to wait until the summer.

It could open the door for Ten Hag to return to management sooner rather than later, with Leipzig’s upcoming cup tie against Eintracht Frankfurt likely to be decisive in Rose’s prospects.

Given they’re already trailing Bayern Munich by nine points in the league and have very little hope of winning the Champions League, the DFB Pokal looks like Leipzig’s only chance of silverware this term.

They face Frankfurt in the East German city of Leipzig on Wednesday night.

It would mark a quick turnaround for Ten Hag, who was left in the managerial wilderness after being sacked by United.

In his final words to the Red Devils faithful, Ten Hag said last month: “Dear fans, Let me start by thanking you. Thank you for always being there for the club. Whether it was at a game far away or a tough match at Old Trafford, your support has been unshakeable.

“The atmosphere at Old Trafford has always been electrifying, thanks to you. I felt it many times. Also in away games, it gave the team and me an incredible feeling to hear the United chants taking over the opponents’ stadiums, whether the game was in England, Europe or during the summer tours.”