Manchester United have parted ways with manager Ruben Amorim after a disappointing 14-month tenure, sparking an immediate search for his permanent successor at Old Trafford.
Amorim's Swift Departure and Interim Plans
The club confirmed the departure of the 40-year-old Portuguese coach on Monday, leaving United in sixth place in the Premier League table. Former midfielder Darren Fletcher has taken temporary charge and will lead the team for their midweek fixture against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Speculation is already swirling that former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be in line for a sensational interim return until the end of the season, while the club's hierarchy conducts a thorough search for a long-term appointment.
Joe Cole's Verdict on the Situation
Former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole has given his reaction to the sudden change, expressing sympathy for Amorim while criticising the club's structure. "It was the right time," Cole stated in an interview with Paddy Power.
He elaborated, "When he came into the club - and everyone was expecting him to just breeze in and waltz it like he did at Lisbon - I was never fully on board with that. The ownership need to have a look at themselves, as well." Cole added that the club has been "a mess for so many years" and that he feels sorry for the departed manager.
Why Oliver Glasner is Tipped as the Ideal Candidate
Cole has publicly backed Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner as the perfect figure to steer Manchester United back on course. He pointed to the Austrian's contract situation at Selhurst Park, where he has just six months remaining on his current deal, as a potential advantage for United.
"Crystal Palace fans won't like me for saying this, but letting your manager go down to six months left on his contract is worrying for them," Cole said. "I think Oliver Glasner could be someone that could get Manchester United back on track if the people above him let him do his job."
However, Cole issued a significant caveat, emphasising the need for cohesive work behind the scenes. "You can have the best manager in the world and the best director of football in the world... but if they don't work together, then it can't work," he warned.
For his part, Glasner has already moved to dismiss the speculation linking him to the vacancy, brushing off questions during a recent press conference. The search for Amorim's full-time replacement is now firmly underway, with the club's troubled structure under as much scrutiny as the candidates themselves.
