Manchester United have sacked manager Ruben Amorim after 14 months in charge, with the Portuguese boss losing more game than he won in 2025 and leaving Old Trafford with a win rate of less than 39%.
With speculation over the former Sporting Lisbon gaffer’s future growing with every passing week until now, here are six managers Manchester United should have already had waiting in the wings to prepare for this moment.
1. Oliver Glasner
The number one priority for the Red Devils should be Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner. The Austrian has a proven record of over achieving at his other jobs, famously winning the Europa League in 2022 with Eintracht Frankfurt, as well as securing his current employer’s their first piece of silverware in their history in the FA Cup last season along with a Community Shield a few months later. Glasner is yet to manage a ‘top’ club, but would reportedly be willing to make the move to the red side of Manchester with the 51-year-old’s contract at Selhurst Park up at the end of this season.
2. Xavi Hernandez
Another perfect fit for United would be Barcelona icon Xavi. The silky Spaniard would command respect from the dressing room, given his standing and all that he has achieved as a player, something many would argue was sorely missed with Amorim. Having won league titles in Qatar and Spain in his management tenures at Al Sadd and Barcelona, his hand at Barca was also forced into producing young talent due to the financial mess of the Catalan giants, seeing him introduce the world to a certain Lamine Yamal. A match made in heaven for a club like United who take such pride in the youth talent that they have produced over the years.
3. Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer
Former Man United player and manager Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer must be desperate for a second bite at the cherry. The Norwegian was sacked after a poor beginning to the 21/22 season after taking the job permanently in 2019. Looking back, he is the only manager post Sir Alex Ferguson that has a good relationship with the support. Perhaps it is mere revisionism, but it seems there is a section of the Manchester United faithful yearning for Ole-ball to return, and the baby faced assassin is available following his sacking from Turkish giants Besiktas at the beginning of this season.
4. Zinedine Zidane
The man who appears to be linked with every high profile job under the sun, yet keeps himself far from the limelight. French legend Zizou won three Champions League trophies in a row in his first spell as Real Madrid manager, and won a league title in each of his spells. A CV like this would appeal to every big club in Europe, yet the jury on the former Ballon D’Or winner’s coaching ability is still out, provided that he is yet to manage outside of the Spanish capital and hasn’t managed at all since 2021.
5. Andoni Iraola
The Spaniard has developed a reputation at Bournemouth of overachievement and has his side playing some entertaining football at the Vitality Stadium. The Bilbao legend took over the Cherries in 2023 following a failed application for the Celtic job, and has been in the discussion for any big 6 vacancy pretty much since. It would be interesting if United be the first to take the chance on him, however, considering the South-coast club’s form this season.
6. Enzo Maresca
The immediate bookies favourite, Maresca left Chelsea on New Year’s Day following disputes with the club’s hierarchy. The Italian has experience of working in Manchester already, winning Premier League 2 with rivals Manchester City’s development squad, as well as working under Pep Guardiola as assistant the season the Cityzen’s won the treble. He guided Leicester City back to the Premier League as Championship winners the year after as manager, before leaving for Chelsea where he spent eighteen months, winning a UEFA Conference League and the first expanded version of the Club World Cup within six weeks of each other.
