Five possible replacements for Ruben Amorim at Man Utd

Cameron Smith

• 5 Jan 2026 09:05 CST
• 4 min read

News

Manchester United are officially searching for a new head coach following their decision to sack Ruben Amorim on 5 January.

The Portuguese tactician was fired following his post-match rant after the club’s 1-1 draw versus Leeds United on Sunday, with INEOS opting to remove him from his post at Old Trafford after 14 months in charge.

U18 head coach Darren Fletcher has been named as the Man Utd interim boss following Amorim’s departure and the club are now set to begin their search for a new permanent manager.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through five possible replacements for Amorim at Man Utd.

Oliver Glasner

Oliver Glasner has been widely tipped to leave Crystal Palace at the end of the 2025-26 season and a move to Man Utd has been labelled as one of his more likely next steps.

The 51-year-old has excelled since his arrival at Selhurst Park and he is among the bookies’ favourites to replace Amorim at Old Trafford this year.

A mid-season deal may be tricky as United will owe Palace a large compensation fee, but Glasner is certainly on Man Utd’s radar amid their pursuit of a new head coach.

Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca left Chelsea by mutual consent on New Year’s Day and he has already been touted to complete a bombshell return to management with Man Utd.

The Italian clashed with the Stamford Bridge board on a number of issues and the manner of Amorim’s exit suggests he could face similar problems should he join the Red Devils.

However, Maresca enjoyed a thoroughly successful 18-month spell at Chelsea and his pedigree suggests he would likely be an excellent appointment by INEOS.

Kieran McKenna

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna spent five years in the Man Utd coaching set-up before being appointed as the Tractor Boys head coach in 2021 and he has been tipped to return to the club several times in recent years.

McKenna has established himself as a top-level manager at Portman Road and he was heavily linked with both Chelsea and Man Utd in the summer of 2024, before opting to sign a new four-year deal at Ipswich.

However, the Northern Irishman remains a managerial candidate for Man Utd and Amorim’s departure is likely to fuel rumours of an Old Trafford switch.

Gareth Southgate

Gareth Southgate has been out of work since resigning as England boss after the 2024 European Championship final and he has suggested that he may never return to football management.

However, he has a close relationship with Man Utd minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and he has continuously been linked with an Old Trafford move over the past 18 months.

Southgate was seriously touted as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag in late 2024 and he is undoubtedly an option to replace Amorim if Man Utd want to gamble on a coach who hasn’t managed a club team since being sacked by Middlesbrough in 2009.

Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel’s contract as England manager is set to expire following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup and a move to Old Trafford could be on the cards later this year.

Reports suggest that Fletcher could remain in interim charge until the end of the campaign, with the Man Utd hierarchy supposedly eager to appoint a permanent manager this summer rather than mid-season.

If that is the case, Tuchel could be a top candidate for the role once his agreement with England comes to an end, especially considering he was wanted by Man Utd before the arrival of Amorim.

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