Ruben Amorim has been sacked as Manchester United manager just hours after insisting he would not walk away from the role. The Portuguese boss was dismissed following a frosty draw with Leeds United, with tensions behind the scenes at Old Trafford coming to a head.
Amorim had told reporters: 'I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach. I'm not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.' However, the board decided to act sooner than expected, leaving the club searching for a sixth permanent manager in a decade.
Darren Fletcher, a former United midfielder currently working with the academy, will take charge against Burnley. He could remain until the end of the season if he impresses. Another ex-United midfielder, Michael Carrick, is also available after leaving Middlesbrough and has previously served as caretaker manager.
Gareth Southgate, admired by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and sporting director Jason Wilcox, is available but has not managed in club football for 16 years. Enzo Maresca, recently departed from Chelsea, has experience coaching rather than managing at the top level, though his ties to Manchester City may be a factor.
Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner are also under consideration, with both having contracts expiring soon. Iraola has impressed on the south coast, while Glasner led Palace to their first trophy last season. United may wait until the summer to move for either.
