Manchester United legend Paul Scholes made a bold choice back in early 2022 when discussing who he felt should succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Red Devils manager.
The morale around Old Trafford was particularly low, Solskjaer had been relieved of his duties in late 2021 after a particularly dire run of results came to a head with a 4-1 battering at the hands of Watford. Ralf Rangnick was appointed as interim boss until the end of the 2021/22 season, before transitioning into an upstairs role within the club hierarchy in a consultancy role.
Well, that was the plan at least. Things didn't quite work out that way, but while Rangnick was sitting in the United hot seat and expected to become part of the board the following season, a whole plethora of names was touted when it came to who would be the next permanent figure in the role.
One that seemed to be an ideal candidate in the eyes of both Scholes and his fellow BT Sport pundit Glenn Hoddle was former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
On paper, it certainly made sense. Hasenhuttl had worked as a manager at RB Leipzig at a time when Rangnick enjoyed the role of sporting director at the German outfit.
Before United welcomed Southampton to Old Trafford last term, Hoddle explained why he felt Hasenhuttl was the man for the job.
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"Would that not be a good fit? For me, if they've [Rangnick and Hasenhuttl] worked so closely together if he's going to be the sporting director eventually - that works," he claimed.
"Southampton will want to keep him, of course, they would, because he's doing such a very good job with the players that he's got there. He's doing an excellent job. If he wanted it, it would make sense."
Scholes was quick to echo Hoddle's sentiment, adding: "Watching that interview, there is a closeness between them. As a sporting director, he was the right choice at the right time for Leipzig - he did brilliantly - and I've always liked him.
"I've always thought 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.
"This would be a different kind of pressure; I think people around this club, and fans especially, are thinking more of possibly Pochettino or an Antonio Conte and what people have been at the bigger clubs.
"The more I think about it, I don't think it would be a bad thing. The way he goes about his business, he looks good."
Of course, the history books show that Rangnick never went on to take up the consultancy role within the United hierarchy and instead took the Austrian national team job.
Those at Old Trafford opted for Erik ten Hag as the man to drive the club forward and so far everything has gone to plan, with the Dutchman already securing his first piece of silverware in the Carabao Cup and could have more by the end of the season, as well as Champions League qualification.
As for Hasenhuttl, he was dismissed by Southampton in November of last year and has been out of work ever since. A far cry from the days of being touted for the United job.
