Manchester United Seeks New Manager Following Amorim’s Departure
Manchester United is looking for its seventh manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013, following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Darren Fletcher, former United player, will take over on an interim basis for the Premier League match against Burnley and the FA Cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion. Sources close to the club indicate that the board has not yet decided whether to make a permanent appointment immediately or wait until the summer, when several renowned coaches could be available after the FIFA World Cup.Possible Candidates to Lead the “Red Devils”
Here are the options that Manchester United could be considering, both for immediate hiring and for waiting until the end of the 2025-26 season.Immediate Candidates
Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace: The Crystal Palace manager’s contract ends at the end of this season and he has not yet negotiated a renewal. Glasner has gained recognition after winning the FA Cup and leading Palace to the UEFA Conference League. In addition, he won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, demonstrating his ability to win titles.
Glasner, 51, prefers a three-man defense, as does Amorim, which could be a good option for United. His contractual situation also makes him potentially available.
Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town: The 39-year-old young coach has led Ipswich Town to two promotions and was interviewed for the position at Chelsea before Enzo Maresca’s arrival. With previous experience at United as part of the coaching staff of José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, McKenna knows many of the players and young promises of the club.
Ipswich are aiming for promotion to the Premier League this season, but United could be an opportunity too attractive for McKenna to turn down.Gareth Southgate, Without a team: The former England manager has been out of work since leaving his position after Euro 2024. Southgate, 55, has not shown interest in returning to coaching, but his track record, including two Euro finals and a 2018 World Cup semi-final, has earned him admirers at Old Trafford.
Southgate is available and would not involve financial compensation; if he were interested, he would be an immediate candidate.Xavi, Without a team: The former Barcelona coach led the team to win LaLiga in the 2022-23 season. However, he has been without a job since he left the club at the end of the 2023-24 season. Xavi, 45 years old, is interested in working in the Premier League, which makes him an attractive candidate. However, his lack of experience against Premier League rivals and the management of the match load could be factors against him, considering the difficulties of Amorim and Erik ten Hag in adapting to the demands of English football.Michael Carrick, Without a team: Carrick had a brief stint as interim manager at United, managing three matches in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure. Subsequently, he managed Middlesbrough in the EFL Championship for three years.
Carrick, 44 years old, has not yet expressed his desire to return to coaching. However, his knowledge of the team and the club would make him a safe option to guide the team until the summer, before the arrival of a permanent coach.
Was Manchester United right to sack Ruben Amorim?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Without a team: Solskjaer remains a very popular figure among United fans. He led the team with an attacking style during his three years as coach, from 2018 to 2021.
The United were Premier League runners-up in the 2020-21 season under Solskjaer, but the team lacked defensive solidity, which led to his departure in November 2021 after a series of defeats, including a 5-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Liverpool. Solskjaer was recently in charge of the Turkish club Besiktas, but after leaving in August, he is available for a possible return to United.Enzo Maresca, Without a team: Maresca is unemployed after leaving Chelsea last week. In his 18 months at Stamford Bridge, he achieved success in the Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. His availability makes him an obvious candidate, and Maresca also worked closely with United CEO Omar Berrada and Football Director Jason Wilcox when the three were employed by Manchester City. However, Maresca’s philosophy, based on ball possession, might not work with United’s current squad.Candidates for Summer
Thomas Tuchel, Without a team: The former Chelsea coach spoke with United about the possibility of succeeding ten Hag in the summer of 2024, but ultimately chose not to return to club football. With his contract with the English national team about to expire after the World Cup, he could be an option for the summer.
Tuchel, 52 years old, meets all the requirements for United: he won the Champions League with Chelsea and has also managed Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. However, his reputation for being direct and challenging his bosses could generate internal tensions.Mauricio Pochettino, Without a team: The United States coach has a contract until after the World Cup, but sources indicate that the 53-year-old coach would be willing to return to club football when his international commitments end. The United has considered Pochettino on three occasions in the last 10 years, and was on a shortlist of two candidates alongside ten Hag in 2022, before the latter was chosen. With his credentials in the Premier League and his experience in big clubs like PSG, Chelsea and Tottenham, Pochettino would be a good option for United.
Julian Nagelsmann, Without a team: The Germany coach has a contract until the 2028 European Championship, but his future could depend on the outcome of his team’s campaign in the World Cup.
At just 38 years old, Nagelsmann has rebuilt his reputation in the Germany job after his turbulent 18-month period at Bayern Munich, which ended with his dismissal in 2023. Previous success at TSG Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig made Nagelsmann one of the most sought-after coaches in Europe, and his reputation remains high.Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth: The Bournemouth coach has earned praise for his work at the Vitality Stadium, transforming the Cherries into a team that consistently outperforms its budget.
It remains to be seen whether his high-energy playing style would work with United’s current squad. However, as a manager with proven experience in the Premier League, Iraola will be under consideration at United.
