Darren Fletcher will take charge of Manchester United for Wednesday's Premier League clash with Burnley, stepping up at least temporarily following the sacking of Ruben Amorim. The club announced Amorim's departure on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after a 1-1 draw away to Leeds United.
The 41-year-old Scot previously served as assistant to former United boss Erik ten Hag before being appointed head coach of the club's under-18s side in July. Now he will lead the first team at Turf Moor while the Old Trafford hierarchy considers its next move.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who managed United for over two decades, predicted Fletcher would become a manager long before the former midfielder retired from playing in 2020 following a spell with Stoke City. In a 2017 interview with West Bromwich Albion's media team, Ferguson recalled how he prepared Fletcher for a coaching role amid concerns the player might never return to the pitch after being diagnosed with chronic bowel disease in 2011.
Ferguson described an occasion when he watched Fletcher take charge of a reserve-team game against Altrincham. Speaking about the half-time team talk, Ferguson said: "Darren was doing the motivation, tactics, and Warren had given him that head to do that. It was fantastic. I'll always remember he says, 'If you're playing for Manchester United, there's an expectation, son, that you're not showing out there. If you can't do it in a reserve game you've absolutely no chance of playing for Alex Ferguson.'"
Asked whether Fletcher would become a coach after retiring, Ferguson said: "[It is an] absolute certainty. I think his long-term position will be as a coach. Maybe even management. He's got the presence, he's got the sacrifice." Ferguson added that the role demands sacrifice, including giving up family life and attending matches week in and week out.
