The search for a new Manchester United manager is in full swing, and two of the club's most decorated former players have weighed in with some surprising suggestions. Legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have shared their thoughts on who should succeed the recently dismissed Ruben Amorim.
The End of the Amorim Era
Ruben Amorim was officially dismissed on Monday following a decision made by the club's hierarchy last Friday. The 41-year-old Portuguese coach's exit came in the wake of a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers and a subsequent stalemate against Leeds United. After the Wolves match, where he reverted to his favoured back-three system, Amorim is believed to have held talks with football director Jason Wilcox, where differences over playing style emerged.
The situation escalated dramatically on Sunday when Amorim launched a fiery rant aimed at United's leadership, insisting he was a 'manager' and not just a coach. By Monday morning, he was summoned to the Carrington training ground and informed of his departure by Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, with the full backing of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the board.
Legends Have Their Say
With under-18s coach and former star Darren Fletcher installed as caretaker boss for at least the next two matches, the debate over a permanent successor has intensified. On their podcast, The Overlap, Scholes and Butt were presented with a list of potential candidates and gave their direct verdicts.
Several high-profile names received an immediate rejection. Former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez was given a direct 'no', as were England manager Gareth Southgate, Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, and ex-Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca. Fulham's Marco Silva was also deemed unsuitable.
However, the duo showed interest in a host of other managers. They said 'yes' to the prospect of hiring England head coach Thomas Tuchel, Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Aston Villa's Unai Emery, and Newcastle's Eddie Howe. Available legend Zinedine Zidane was given a 'potentially' suitable rating.
The Roy Keane Surprise
The most eye-catching approval came for their former teammate and club captain, Roy Keane. Both Scholes and Butt gave their blessing when the Irishman's name was mentioned, despite his last managerial role being as assistant to Martin O'Neill at Nottingham Forest back in 2019. Keane has since become a prominent pundit and media personality.
United are not looking beyond Fletcher's initial caretaker stint, which covers a midweek trip to Burnley and an FA Cup tie against Brighton. The prospect of throwing a new manager into the Manchester derby next weekend is not favoured by the club.
Despite concerns that the squad is built for Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system, club insiders maintain the group is flexible. The decision to sack the coach was taken to give the team the best possible chance of securing European qualification this season, with top names like Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti unlikely to be available until after the upcoming World Cup.
