Jason Wilcox has told Premier League giants Manchester United have been told to consider a League One manager in the future.
United have struggled ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club. Several managers, from elite names such as Jose Mourinho to club legends such as Ole Gunnar Solskjær, have tried their luck, but no one has been able to bring much domestic or European success.
Michael Carrick was given the job full time after impressing as interim manager last season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim. This season his side have struggled, leading to question marks over his future and who could take over if he does leave.
One name that has come up, rather surprisingly, is Leicester City manager Russell Martin. The former Southampton manager might not be next up, but Man United’s Director of Football Jason Wilcox has, according to reports, advised the board to consider Martin in the future.
Jason Wilcox Recommends Russell Martin to Manchester United Board
The Athletic have reported this morning that when Eric ten Hag departed Manchester United, Wilcox was tasked with, along with others, to put forward a list of potential replacements. One that Wilcox recommended was Martin, although not for the job immediately, more so as an option further down the line.
That pair worked together at Southampton. Wilcox, who was the Director of Football at the Saints at the time, hired Martin. It was a move that worked well, as the 40-year-old guided Southampton to the Premier League.
Now, as the Director of Football at one of the leading clubs in the world, Wilcox still seems to hold Martin in the highest regard – even if the suggestion might raise some question marks, especially given his recent history as a manager.
Similar Situation to Vincent Kompany? – Opinion
Martin to Man United does seem a little far-fetched, but you can imagine his style of play is attractive to elite teams. He wants his team to keep the ball and play out from the back, even if it’s against far superior teams; he won’t change – as Southampton fans found out in the Premier League. If he were managing elite players, would he have success?
It’s a similar situation to what Burnley fans saw with Vincent Kompany. The Belgian got Burnley promoted to the Premier League and, similar to Martin, was reluctant to change his style of play, leading to Burnley being relegated.
Despite relegation from the Premier League, he was appointed manager of Bayern Munich, beating some experienced names to the job. Working with elite players, Kompany guided the club back to the Bundesliga title in his first campaign and then a domestic clean sweep in his second season.
If Martin were to work with elite players, using his style of play, would he go on to have success like Kompany has had at Bayern? If Man United’s hierarchy considers Wilcox’s recommendation in the near future, maybe fans will find out.
