Manchester United<\/a> are searching for their seventh<\/em> new manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 following Monday’s dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Former United midfielder Darren Fletcher will take charge of the team on an interim basis for Wednesday’s Premier League<\/a> trip to Burnley<\/a> and the FA Cup<\/a> third-round tie at home to Brighton & Hove Albion<\/a> on Sunday. But sources told ESPN that United have yet to decide whether to make a permanent appointment quickly or wait until the summer, when an array of big-name coaches could become available after the FIFA World Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n Who are the likeliest candidates to be the next manager at Old Trafford? Here are the two short lists that United could be working off: one for an immediate hire, and one if they choose to wait until the end of the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n The Crystal Palace coach is out of contract at Selhurst Park at the end of this season and has yet to negotiate a new deal. Glasner’s stock is rising rapidly after winning the FA Cup last season and taking Palace into the UEFA Conference League<\/a>. He also won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt<\/a> in 2022, so has proved himself as a trophy winner in his last two jobs.<\/p>\n The 51-year-old favors a three-man defense, like Amorim, so if United want to continue that model, he would be a good fit. He’s also likely to be available now due to his contract situation.<\/p>\n 3:04<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Who could become Amorim’s successor at Manchester United?<\/p>\n Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens assess the managerial options available for Manchester United after sacking Ruben Amorim.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The 39-year-old has guided Ipswich Town to two promotions and was interviewed for the Chelsea<\/a> job in 2024 before former coach Enzo Maresca’s appointment. Having worked at United as part of Jose Mourinho’s and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching teams, McKenna has knowledge of many of the existing players and youth prospects at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n Ipswich are pushing for promotion back to the Premier League this season, but United would likely be too big a job for McKenna to turn down if they come calling.<\/p>\n The former England<\/a> manager has been out of the game since stepping down from his Three Lions role after Euro 2024. The 55-year-old has shown no inclination to return to management since, but after guiding England to two Euro finals and the 2018 World Cup semifinal, he has admirers at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n Southgate is available and therefore would not involve a compensation fee; if he is interested, he would be an immediate contender.<\/p>\n – Ogden: Man United must go big with next manager after firing Amorim<\/a> The former Barcelona<\/a> coach guided Barca to the 2022-23 LaLiga title during a three-year stint at Camp Nou, but he has been out of work since leaving the club at the end of the 2023-24 season.<\/p>\n Xavi, 45, is keen to work in the Premier League, and his availability would make him an attractive candidate. But with his lack of experience against Premier League opponents and managing the fixture workload, Xavi might have too many negatives for United to accept considering their past two appointments — Amorim and Erik ten Hag — struggled to adjust to the demands of the English top flight.<\/p>\n Carrick has had one previous spell at interim manager at United, taking charge of three games in 2021 following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The 44-year-old has since had a three-year spell managing Middlesbrough in the EFL Championship.<\/p>\n Having left Boro at the end of last season, Carrick hasn’t yet shown a desire to return to management, but his knowledge of the United squad and the club would mark him out as a safe pair of hands to guide the team until the summer before handing over to a permanent appointment.<\/p>\n 2:44<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Were Manchester United right to sack Ruben Amorim?<\/p>\n Mark Ogden reacts to Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim after 14 months at the club.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Solskjaer remains a hugely popular figure among the United fan base after his feats as a player in Ferguson’s treble-winning 1998-99 team, but he also won admirers for overseeing an attacking style in his three years in charge as manager from 2018 to 2021.<\/p>\n United finished as 2020-21 Premier League runners-up under Solskjaer, but the team lacked defensive solidity and he exited in November 2021 after a series of heavy defeats, including a 5-0 loss at Old Trafford to Liverpool<\/a>. Solskjaer most recently was in charge of Turkish club Besiktas, but after leaving them in August, he is available for an unlikely return to United.<\/p>\n Maresca is out of work after leaving Chelsea last week. In his 18-month stint at Stamford Bridge, he delivered success in the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup. His availability would make him an obvious candidate, and Maresca also worked closely with United CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox when all three men were employed by Manchester City<\/a>. But Maresca’s philosophy of a possession-based game might not work with the squad of players at United.<\/p>\n The England manager spoke to United about succeeding ten Hag in summer 2024 before opting against a return to club management. With his Three Lions contract due to expire after the World Cup, he would be potential summer hire.<\/p>\n Tuchel, 52, ticks every box for United — he won the Champions League with Chelsea and has also managed Bayern Munich<\/a> and Paris Saint-Germain<\/a>. However, his reputation for being outspoken and challenging his bosses could lead to fireworks behind the scenes.<\/p>\n The U.S. coach is under contract until after the World Cup, but sources told ESPN that the 53-year-old will be open to a return to club management when his international commitments come to an end.<\/p>\n United have considered Pochettino three times over the past 10 years, and he was on a two-man short list with ten Hag in 2022 before missing out to the former Ajax coach. With his Premier League credentials and his experience at big clubs such as PSG, Chelsea and Spurs, Pochettino would be a good fit for United.<\/p>\nImmediate candidates<\/h2>\n
Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source><\/source><\/picture>play<\/span>
Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town<\/h3>\n
Gareth Southgate, unemployed<\/h3>\n
– Marcotti: Unpacking Man City-Chelsea, Amorim out at Man United, more<\/a>
– Dawson: The inside story of why Man United sacked Ruben Amorim<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nXavi, unemployed<\/h3>\n
Michael Carrick, unemployed<\/h3>\n
<\/source><\/source><\/picture>play<\/span>
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, unemployed<\/h3>\n
Enzo Maresca, unemployed<\/h3>\n
Summer candidates<\/h2>\n
Thomas Tuchel, England<\/h3>\n
Mauricio Pochettino, United States<\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/source><\/source><\/picture>