With a points-per-game average in the Premier League of just 1.03, based on 34 points from 33 games as Man United manager, it’s starting to feel like the writing is plastered all across the walls at Old Trafford for Ruben Amorim.
United expect far more than a 14th-place finish in the Premier League and a Carabao Cup exit at the hands of Grimsby Town. Yet the manager seems blind to the damage caused by persisting with his faltering 3-4-3 system, a tactic that’s doing more harm than good for the 20-time champions.
The memes have started, as have reports of players ‘losing faith’. It’s time for the powers that be to start preparing for a future without Amorim, so here are five managers we believe could help steady the ship.
Oliver Glasner
Unlike Amorim, Glasner has enjoyed immense success in England with a back three system. Perhaps that’s because he is playing his players in their best position and playing to their strengths rather than sticking with a useless ideal.
The Austrian secured Palace’s first EVER piece of silverware last season, beating Pep Guardiola’s Man City 1-0 in the FA Cup final. He then went one better and beat Liverpool in the Community Shield.
Now that United’s squad is somewhat built with a back three in mind, sticking with a manager that plays that way would make sense. For example, it’s hard to imagine Patrick Dorgu playing as a left-back, while Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are not traditional wingers.
Glasner would at least shore things up at the back and make United much harder to beat, although the midfield would remain a problem. Thankfully it would be unlikely to see him put Bruno Fernandes in the pivot.
Xavi Hernandez
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Barcelona legend is said to be keen on returning to management following his departure from the Catalan giants at the end of the 2023-24 season and would jump at the chance to join United.
If there is one thing that Xavi would have over Amorim, it’s having the experience of managing one of the biggest clubs on the planet and deal with the pressure that comes with such a job.
Without the emotional attachment that came with his time at Barcelona, he would know that threatening to quit after every bad result is a bad look and would be willing to listen to those with more knowledge of the club on how to get back to winning ways.
The biggest worry, however, would be that appointing Xavi would mean yet another period of transition for United. It would take more transfer windows and more money to build the squad in his image, something Sir Jim Ratcliffe may not fancy.
Andoni Iraola
Many laughed when Andoni Iraola was hired to replace Gary O’Neil at Bournemouth, and considering his start to life at the club, he was lucky not to suffer the same fate. Since then, the Spaniard is one of the most sought-after managerial prospects in Europe.
Bournemouth lost almost all of their defence during the summer, with Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Ilya Zabarnyi, and Kepa Arrizabalaga all leaving for pastures new, yet the small south coast club haven’t been fazed at all.
One of the biggest issues at United under Amorim is that without the ball, his side look completely clueless. Last season, Bournemouth were the best high-pressing team in the Premier League, leading the way in high recoveries, and goals directly from the result of high turnovers.
Should Iraola join, United would have to sign some centre-backs, and a midfielder, that can actually run. And let’s be honest, it’s likely that bigger and better jobs would be coming Iraola’s way soon enough should he play the waiting game.
Carlo Ancelotti
Now, there would be a lot of variables that Man United would have to get around in order to hire the legendary Italian, the most significant one being that they would have to wait until after next summer’s World Cup to lure him away from Brazil.
Perhaps it’s time for United to move away from hiring young, hipster managers, and go for one that has been there, done that, and got almost every t-shirt in the game. In terms of silverware, Ancelotti would be the most successful manager to take over since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
He’s not married to a tactical system and has a history of getting the absolute best out of the players at his disposal. The football would be simple, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially following the disastrous appointment of Amorim.
This one is a bit of a pipe dream though, and it’s unlikely it would be for more than a few years. If would also take a massive amount of acknowledgement that the higher-ups got it massively wrong in hiring Amorim in the first place.
Darren Fletcher
Perhaps the solution is already at the club? The former Man United midfielder has been in charge of the clubs under-18s since the start of the season and is working wonders with an incredibly talented group of young players.
United U-18s lost their 100% start to the season with a 4-2 defeat to arch rivals Man City on Saturday (September 27), but they still sit second in the table with 15 points from their opening six league games.
According to the Daily Mail, club icon and current U18 head coach Darren Fletcher has been making a strong impression behind the scenes at Carrington. The report notes that United officials have been impressed by Fletcher’s work ethic and believe the academy graduate is “destined for the top level of management.”
Sometimes ‘knowing the club’ is a valid reason to hire a manager, particularly in a time of crisis. Few know it better than Fletcher, and given the fact it would cost the club pennies to make it happen, it’s relatively risk averse.