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Ruben Amorim was sacked by Manchester United after a difficult 14-month tenure, but who is in the hot seat to replace him at Old Trafford?
15:31, 06 Jan 2026
Who will replace Ruben Amorim?(Image: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about the managers tipped to replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United
- Oliver Glasner (Currently at Crystal Palace): The Austrian is currently the top choice for the United board. His contract with Crystal Palace expires at the end of the season, and he has built a massive reputation in England after winning the FA Cup and Community Shield with Palace in 2025. Glasner won the UEFA Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021/22 season and secured a Premier League manager of the month award in September 2025. He has a 44% win rate with Palace and has previously worked with Wolfsburg, LASK, and SV Ried.
- Enzo Maresca (Sacked by Chelsea in January): Maresca has become a high-value candidate following his stint at Chelsea. While his tenure at the Blues ended on New Year's Day, he is credited with introducing a very modern, tactical approach that could help United address its identity issues. Maresca has managed at Leicester City and Parma before his stint with Chelsea. At Stamford, the Italian boss had a 59% win rate and is already well-versed in dealing with the pressure required at a big Premier League club.
- Xavi Hernandez (Ex-Barcelona manager): The ex-Barcelona manager is one of two managers currently available on this list who isn't tied down to another club. He has been linked to United previously and is seen as a coach capable of managing the ego and pressure of a massive club. Having managed just two clubs - Al Sadd and Barca - it could be argued that a job of this magnitude may be seen as a step too far. However, with a 62% win rate in LaLiga, the Spaniard may well be the way to go.
- Kieran McKenna (Currently at Ipswich Town): A former United coach under Solskjaer and Rangnick, McKenna has been a hero with Ipswich Town, taking them from League One to the Premier League. His familiarity with the Carrington setup makes him a more 'homegrown' appointment. Ipswich is his only managerial job so far, and with a 46% win rate, he may be one for the future.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Sacked by Besiktas in August 2025): In the last 24 hours, Solskjaer has emerged as a bookmaker's favourite for a romantic return. While potentially a stopgap for the club, his win rate remains one of the highest among post-Ferguson managers at Old Trafford. Molde, Cardiff City, United and Besiktas are all former places of employment for Solskjaer. He had a 54% win rate at Old Trafford, with a 51% tally at his most recent job in Turkey.
- READ MORE ABOUT MANCHESTER UNITED'S SEARCH FOR A NEW MANAGER HERE: Next Man Utd manager LIVE: Glasner breaks silence, Solskjaer's stance, Amorim's payout