Top Contenders to Replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United

Ruben Amorim has departed his role as Head Coach of Manchester United with the lowest win percentage (38.71) of any permanent Manchester United manager since the Premier League’s inception in 1992.

With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, “the club’s leadership has reluctantly decided that it is the right time to make a change.”

This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.

The 40-year-old was appointed in November 2024 and won 25 of his 63 games in charge of the Red Devils.

He also led the team to a UEFA Europa League Final in Bilbao in May 2025.

Amorim’s 14-month stint is the shortest reign of a permanent manager at United since David Moyes was sacked just eight months into his tenure in 2014.

With several prominent names emerging as potential successors, the early favorites include Oliver Glasner, Gareth Southgate, Andoni Iraola, and Enzo Maresca.

Oliver Glasner

The current favourite, Glasner, has earned widespread praise for his work at Crystal Palace, where he won the FA Cup and Community Shield.

His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, which could make an appointment easier as United would not have to pay a compensation fee to the club.

Gareth Southgate

Highly regarded by the United hierarchy, particularly the INEOS group, the former England manager has been a long-term target.

Though some fans are reportedly hesitant due to his limited club management experience, his success with the national team has built a strong reputation for man-management and creating a winning culture.

Andoni Iraola

The Spanish manager has impressed at Bournemouth by implementing an effective system and developing young talent despite a limited budget.

He is considered an elite coach by some within the industry and is expected to move to a bigger club in the near future.

Xavi Hernández

A free agent since leaving Barcelona in 2024, Xavi is reportedly keen on the United job.

His availability and experience managing a major European club make him an attractive option, and he is thought to have admirers within the club’s board.

Mauricio Pochettino

The current United States national team coach has been linked with the Old Trafford job on many occasions.

However, with a home World Cup approaching in the summer of 2026, it is considered unlikely he would leave his current post right now.

Also Read: Top Football Managers Sacked in 2025

Michael Carrick

A popular choice among the United fanbase due to his long playing career at the club, Carrick previously had a successful interim spell as manager.

He is currently out of work after being sacked by Middlesbrough and would be a low-risk, albeit less experienced, appointment.

Enzo Maresca

The Italian coach left Chelsea last week after 18 months, following a rapid fallout with the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge.

During his tenure, he won the UEFA Conference Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Maresca has been linked with becoming the next manager at Manchester City. Should Pep Guardiola leave, could Maresca actually take charge on the red side of Manchester?

Ole Gunnar

After being sacked by Manchester United in November 2021, Solskjaer managed briefly at Besiktas before leaving in August 2025, making him a potential candidate.

As a legendary former player and manager who brought stability and positive results (like a top-four finish and Europa League final) before his departure, he’s a familiar, popular figure.

Solskjaer has always publicly stated he would accept the job if offered, finding it an honor despite the difficulty of discussing it.

Reports surfaced in late 2025 that United considered him for a temporary role if they couldn’t secure Ruben Amorim.

Media outlets have covered the possibility of a surprising comeback, highlighting his potential to bring attacking football back to Old Trafford.

Also Read: Football Moments That Defined 2025

Marco Silva

The former Everton and Watford boss, who signed a three-year contract in 2023, earned promotion with Fulham in 2022 and has kept the club in the top flight since then.

He has been linked in the past with vacancies at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Other Managers who would fit the Manchester United role include:

Thiago Motta

Motta’s managerial career is marked by a rapid rise and tactical innovation, most notably:

1. Bologna Success

He transformed a team battling relegation into one that qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1964-65 during the 2023-24 season.

2. Serie A Coach of the Month

Awarded multiple times, reflecting his impact at both Spezia and Bologna.

3. Juventus Appointment

Appointed head coach of Juventus in June 2024, though his tenure was brief, ending in March 2025.

Motta’s coaching philosophy, heavily influenced by his time at Barcelona’s La Masia academy and coaches like Gian Piero Gasperini and Carlo Ancelotti, is built on “The Value of the Ball”.

Marco Rose

His coaching achievements include: multiple Austrian Bundesliga and Cup wins with RB Salzburg, including the UEFA Youth League title with their U19s, followed by guiding Borussia Mönchengladbach to Champions League qualification and achieving strong Bundesliga finishes, and winning the DFB-Pokal and German Supercup with RB Leipzig, solidifying his reputation for developing teams with aggressive, transition-focused football.

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