Updated Potential Replacements for Manchester United Head Coach Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim's time at Manchester United is over.

The Red Devils have sacked the coach after 14 months in charge, with the club sitting in sixth in the Premier League.

It was likely Amorim's comments around Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds United that forced the board's hand.

Amorim was terse with the press before the match, suggesting he wasn't getting the backing he needed to execute his contrived 3-4-2-1 formation. However, it's his words after the game that may have ended his time in charge.

"I just want to say I came here to be the manager, not to be the coach," he said, just months after he was hired to be the coach.

"In every department—the scouting department, the sporting director—[they] need to do their job. I will do mine for 18 months and then we move on."

The sporting director callout was a direct challenge to Jason Wilcox. "Amorim appeared to issue United's hierarchy with an ultimatum to back him or sack him," noted James Ducker of The Telegraph. And so it proved true.

Let's look at the potential replacements now Amorim's time is over.

Oliver Glasner

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It's no secret that Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner will end up at a European powerhouse before too long.

Reports suggest he won't sign a new deal at Selhurst Park when his contract ends in June, giving interested clubs a free run at locking him down for their next project.

Manchester United should be at the front of that list, and it appears he could be the favorite, but there are caveats to consider.

Glasner has far exceeded expectations in recent years. His Frankfurt side captured a superb Europa League title in 2022, including a two-legged win over Barcelona, while Palace took down Manchester City in last year's FA Cup final for their first-ever major trophy.

Defying expectations is the complete opposite of what United have done since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.

Interestingly, both of Glasner's triumphs have come while playing the same formation Amorim has forced on his side. Glasner's midfield doesn't implode as quickly, and his defenders are typically more aggressive, but his style still prioritises quick, counter-attacking football over the possession-dominant setup many believe suits United better.

Glasner tends to improve the players he works with, but the United board may be concerned about his complaints about a lack of investment following Palace's FA Cup win. The Eagles' squad is struggling badly with the added weight of European football, a situation which is likely to repeat at Old Trafford if the club qualifies for extra competition next season.

Enzo Maresca

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Stranger things have happened in football, right?

Enzo Maresca left Chelsea last week after a difficult relationship with the club's decision-makers, and admitted he's spoken to Manchester City about replacing Pep Guardiola when the time comes. Considering that it could be a while yet, it doesn't seem ridiculous to suggest United could sneak in.

Maresca plays pretty complicated football, which may be an issue for the current United squad, who have proved slow to grasp Amorim's game plan.

Vitally, Maresca does set up with four at the back, which will gain him plus points from the slew of ex-United legends who believe the club has a sacred DNA that can't be changed.

His teams transition into a more three-man formation when in possession, often with the goalkeeper stepping forward to start short passing moves. Finding space for a free man in midfield was key to Maresca's dominant time with Leicester City and underlines why he'd be a suitable replacement for Guardiola. It'd certainly be a switch for United to suddenly have control of the ball.

Maresca is undoubtedly a talented manager. He's capable of winning trophies if given time, but the breakdown of his relationship with Chelsea could put off anyone but City.

You have to ask the question if he'd sour his chances of moving to the Etihad Stadium, too, even if it would be exciting to see what he could squeeze out of this United squad.

Xavi Hernandez

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It's no surprise Xavi proved to be a smart coach at Barcelona. He was surrounded by the best during his playing days and was a key man in a tactical juggernaut of the tiki-taka era. His brand of controlled possession is exciting and well-structured.

Barca hadn't won La Liga in three years before he took over the pressure position, so he's used to dealing with expectation and the weight of history. He might prove an attractive prospect for the United board because he's also performed well with minimal resources and huge gaps in his squad.

Xavi is a fiery manager, and it would be interesting to see how he'd deal with the English press. United's decision to keep giving Amorim time may prove attractive to him: Xavi needs time to work on a project, so knowing he'd get backing on the level Amorim has after finishing 15th and losing a UEFA Europa League final could point to a passionate, if potentially explosive, marriage of legendary club and player.

Gareth Southgate

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This one seems inevitable at some point.

Gareth Southgate's excellent work with England wasn't limited to the pitch. He worked hard to change the public perception of what the Three Lions stand for and invested a lot of time in improving morale in a nation widely regarded as among the most toxic in football.

He didn't quite get England over the line when it came to the immense pressure of landing a trophy, but losing two finals is dreamland compared to what the men have achieved since winning the World Cup in 1966.

Southgate is a sensible hire. He's not a particularly sexy recruit for a side looking to rediscover its mojo. His decisions throughout Euro 2024 felt like a man lacking ideas. He seemed unable to utilise the country's incredible attacking talent (namely, Cole Palmer) and hesitant to loosen the reins when England were playing too slowly.

With that said, there are few managers who could bring as much positivity to the squad. He's an excellent man-manager and understands how to overcome extraordinary disappointment both as a player and a coach. He has to be an attractive prospect for any top team that needs stability and a strong figurehead.

Thomas Tuchel

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One to consider for the future. Thomas Tuchel's England contract ends after the FIFA World Cup in the summer. How the team performs will be the biggest decider on whether he stays.

Tuchel is a non-stop worker, so he may also have to consider how much he enjoys the relatively light workload of international football compared to the day-to-day of club life.

The United role is arguably the toughest job in football right now, but it's a challenge that would suit the German perfectly if he's given space to do his job.