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WHAT’S NEXT? WHICH ELITE MANAGER IS WAITING TO REPLACE RUBEN AMORIM AT UNITED?

Manchester United sack Ruben Amorim after 14 months. Darren Fletcher takes charge of Burnley. Read the full fallout and stats.

What’s Next? Which Elite Manager is Waiting to Replace Ruben Amorim at United?
Amorim is Officially Manchester United’s Worst Manager Ever.

Manchester United finally pulled the plug on Ruben Amorim after 14 months that felt like a slow-motion car crash. It’s been a stretch full of bad decisions, stubborn tactics, and more than a few moments that fans would rather forget.

Amorim showed up in November 2024, not long after Erik ten Hag got the boot—even though Ten Hag had just signed a new contract. The club wanted someone to bring some fresh energy and direction, and Amorim, with two Primeira Liga titles at Sporting under his belt, seemed like the guy. But here we are, with United sitting sixth in the table and Amorim blowing up at reporters after a 1-1 draw with Leeds at Elland Road. So, how did it all fall apart?

First, the tactics. If there’s one thing people will remember about Amorim at Old Trafford, it’s his absolute refusal to try anything but his beloved 3-4-3. When he took the job, everyone knew the squad just didn’t fit that system—the full-backs couldn’t play as wing-backs, and the midfield was left wide open. Didn’t matter. Amorim even joked that not even the Pope could change his mind. That stubbornness helped seal his fate, and now whoever comes in next has to work with a squad built for a system that isn’t working.

Then there’s the Marcus Rashford mess. Rashford scored right away under Amorim, but it was all downhill from there. The two never clicked. Rashford was out the door on loan to Aston Villa by January and then off to Barcelona in the summer. Rashford’s career got back on track elsewhere, but United only got loan fees and lost a homegrown star for basically nothing.

Amorim was supposed to be great with young players, which is something United always expects from their managers. But he wasted that chance. Alejandro Garnacho, who looked untouchable just last summer, ended up being sold to Chelsea. Rasmus Hojlund was loaned to Napoli. And then there’s Kobbie Mainoo—he started the Euro 2024 final for England, but under Amorim, he turned into a utility man, shuffled around with no clear role. Fans hated it.

Last season was a disaster—United finished 15th, their worst in 50 years. Even Amorim admitted, “We are being the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United.” He picked up just 27 points from 27 games. Things got a bit better this year, but not enough for a club with United’s history.

If there was one bright spot, it was the Europa League run. Amorim took United all the way to the final, with that wild comeback against Lyon in the quarters. But then they didn’t show up against Tottenham, losing 1-0—their fourth loss to Spurs that year. No trophy, no big Champions League payday. It stung.

And who could forget the Grimsby humiliation? That was just the cherry on top of a tenure the club will want to move on from fast.

Amorim had some rough losses—those games against Bournemouth, Brighton, and even a ten-man Everton stand out. But honestly, nothing topped getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Grimsby Town, a team from League Two.

Grimsby jumped ahead with two goals, but Manchester United scored twice late to force penalties. The shootout turned into a marathon, ending 12-11, and Grimsby’s fans wasted no time. They started chanting “sacked in the morning” at Amorim, and social media lit up with memes of him clutching his tactics board on the sideline.

Things really fell apart for him over the holidays. That stretch is always brutal in England, and it ended up being his breaking point. First, there was a dismal home draw with Wolves—a team that barely had any points. Then, a 1-1 draw at Leeds. After that match, Amorim aimed for the club’s scouting department and the sporting director right in the press conference. Less than a day later, the club showed him the door.

FORWARD EVOLUTION: ANALYZING MBEUMO’S TRANSITION FROM A RIGHT-WINGER TO A CLINICAL CENTRAL STRIKER

Red Devil revival: Discover why Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville think Bryan Mbeumo is the best signing in the Premier League.

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Jamie Carragher labels Bryan Mbeumo "one of the best" in England

Jamie Carragher can’t say enough good things about Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United’s big signing under Ruben Amorim. In fact, Carragher called Mbeumo “one of the best” in the Premier League this season.

United splashed out over £200 million in Amorim’s last transfer window, bringing in Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Senne Lammens. All four have made their mark, especially during the team’s recent hot streak under caretaker boss Michael Carrick, who stepped in after Amorim left last month.

Mbeumo and Cunha have quickly become real threats up front, and Sesko just can’t stop scoring, with six goals in seven games since Amorim’s exit. Lammens, meanwhile, has settled in as United’s new No. 1 after his £18 million move from Royal Antwerp. He looks like a smart bit of business.

The turnaround has been dramatic. United have picked up 16 points out of a possible 18 under Carrick, rocketing into the Champions League spots. This, from a team that finished way down in 15th last season.

Carragher, the Liverpool legend, has loved watching United’s revival, and he keeps coming back to Mbeumo as a standout. On Sky Sports, he said, “Bryan Mbeumo came in as almost a right-winger or a right-sided forward in Amorim’s system, and I was surprised to see him go through the middle. But for me, he’s been one of the best signings in the Premier League this season. He just fits Manchester United.”

He added, “Gary Neville always talks about what a United player should be, and honestly, Mbeumo looks the part. He’s got the power and pace to drive you up the pitch, and he’s clinical too. He’s been fantastic, whether he’s leading the line or out wide.”

Neville himself is a big fan, calling Mbeumo “a really solid signing.” He even suggested Arsenal and Chelsea missed a trick by not snapping him up. On the Stick to Football podcast, Neville said, “Looking at it now, Mbeumo probably would have been better for Chelsea and Arsenal than some of the players they signed. Joao Pedro’s been decent, but Mbeumo would have been a sensation for Arsenal. He’s just a good signing for United. I like him a lot.”

Ian Wright agrees and admitted he was “gutted” Mbeumo didn’t end up at Arsenal. “He always looks dangerous,” Wright said. “Absolutely, he would have made Arsenal stronger.”

United just edged out Everton 1-0 on Monday night and are gearing up to face Crystal Palace next. After the win, Carrick said, “We had to work for it. Credit to Everton; they made it tough and forced us to defend our box a lot. The way we dug in was top class. Keeping a clean sheet is fantastic. We know we can play better, but it’s satisfying to come away from home and get the win.”

GARY NEVILLE SPEAKS OUT: UNITED URGED TO FIND "TOP CLASS" MANAGER DESPITE CARRICK'S SUCCESS

Unbeaten but uncertain! Discover why Gary Neville wants Manchester United to find an elite manager despite Carrick's success.

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Gary Neville wants United to "aim high" for managers

Gary Neville thinks Manchester United needs to look for a new manager, even though Michael Carrick’s done a great job as interim head coach. Since Carrick took over, United haven’t lost in the Premier League. They’ve beaten City, Arsenal, Spurs, and Fulham, and only just drew with West Ham. You can see the team has turned a corner, and plenty of fans want Carrick to get the job full-time.

Still, Neville says United should go after the “best class of manager available.” He’s not ruling Carrick out, especially if the team grabs a Champions League spot, but he wants the club to aim high.

Before the Everton game on Monday, Neville told Sky Sports, “Manchester United have to go out and find another manager now, because you just don’t know how things will play out." When someone like Thomas Tuchel signs with England, it narrows United’s options. But that’s not a bad thing for Michael; his chances aren’t hurt at all. If he gets United into the Champions League, fans will be desperate for him to stay. I love Michael; I really do. But United needs to go for the top managers. They’ve already tried young, inexperienced options with the last two appointments. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was another ex-player, and it just didn’t work. So now, I think they need to play it safe and cut down on risk.”

Neville also shared that he spoke to the club a few weeks back to make his view clear. He told Sky Sports, “I’ve already said where I stand. I’m not going to repeat it every week, but I did speak to the club because journalists always ask them what’s going on. It’s a tough spot for them. There’s a huge push for Carrick, and the more he wins, the stronger that will get, especially if he gets close to Champions League football.

I asked the club where they stand and what they’re telling people. Honestly, their answer was solid. They said they’ve started the process of looking for a new manager, gathering data, reaching out to people, and just getting on with it. That’s what you need. You have to plan.

But they also told me they’re not going to rush. No matter what happens with results – win, lose, or draw – they’re waiting until the end of the season to make a decision. If Michael’s interested in the job at that point, and honestly, I can see him saying no, because he’s that sort of guy always putting the club first, well, then he can put his name forward. Or maybe he’ll decide he’s ready and wants to stay. Either way, they’re handling it the right way.”

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