Paul Scholes’ one-time first-choice pick for the Manchester United manager’s position has been appointed to his first job in over a year. Former Southampton chief Ralph Hasenhuttl has been out of work ever since he was fired by the then Premier League side, with the Austrian coach having this week been appointed as VfL Wolfsburg manager.
Scholes had previously thrown his weight behind the idea of Hasenhuttl being hired as manager at Old Trafford, despite a mixed spell in charge of Southampton. Hasenhuttl spent four years in charge of the Saints, but was relieved of his duties last season, with Southampton staring down the barrel of relegation.
But, back in 2022, Scholes believed Hasenhuttl would be the ideal replacement for Ralf Rangnick at United. Speaking to BT Sport, Scholes said: “I’ve always liked the football he plays at Southampton with not the best squad. The type of football has worked for them. His teams have been good to watch; I think it comes across really well.
“I think people around this club, and fans especially, are thinking more of possibly [Mauricio] Pochettino or an Antonio Conte and what people have been at the bigger clubs. The more I think about it, I don’t think [going for Hasenhuttl] would be a bad thing. The way he goes about his business, he looks good.”
Of course, Scholes’ suggestion wasn’t taken on board by the United hierarchy, with the Red Devils appointing Erik ten Hag at the start of the 2022/23 campaign instead. Hasenhuttl was sacked just three months later, leaving St Mary’s after over 170 games in charge, boasting a win percentage of 34 per cent.
While the Graz-born coach’s stint in England was by no means a disaster, the suggestion made by Scholes that Hasenhuttl could be in line for the United job was deemed strange at the time. That line of thinking appears to have been vindicated in the months that followed Hasenhuttl’s sacking, as he has only just been hired for work again.
The now 56-year-old has been appointed as the manager at Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg, marking a return to the German top flight, having previously been in charge at RB Leipzig and Ingolstadt 04. He will replace Niko Kovac at the Volkswagen Arena, with Hasenhuttl joining Wolfsburg at a crucial point in the campaign, as the side two places above the drop zone look to steer clear of danger following a disappointing 2023/24 campaign so far.
