Manchester United are accelerating plans to appoint an interim manager until the summer, following the dramatic sacking of Ruben Amorim. This comes as fresh reports reveal the club previously made an enquiry for Aston Villa's highly-rated boss Unai Emery.
The Search for a Short-Term Solution
United are pushing to name a temporary boss before their crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City this Saturday. The decision follows Amorim's dismissal last week, which came hot on the heels of a fiery post-match press conference after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
Since the Portuguese coach's departure, caretaker manager Darren Fletcher has overseen two matches: a 2-2 league draw with Burnley and a 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat to Brighton. The club's hierarchy, however, wants a more established figure in place for the remainder of the campaign while they plot a permanent summer appointment.
Emery Interest and Past Enquiry
According to The Daily Mail, United's search for a long-term leader has previously led them to Unai Emery. The club reportedly made contact with Aston Villa about the Spanish manager's availability before ultimately appointing Amorim in November 2024.
Emery's continued impressive work at Villa Park, where he has guided the team to third in the Premier League and Champions League qualification, means he remains a figure of interest for the Old Trafford board. However, any move would face significant hurdles.
Villa are expected to put up a fierce fight to retain their manager, making a potential deal extremely costly. Furthermore, Emery is known to favour complete control over football operations, a sticking point that reportedly contributed to Amorim's exit after just 14 months in charge.
Carrick Leads Interim Race as Summer Plans Take Shape
Former midfielder and ex-Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick has emerged as the favourite for the interim role. He is understood to have held further talks with the club on Monday as they look to finalise the short-term appointment.
Looking ahead to the summer, several other names are being linked with the permanent job at Old Trafford. Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner, Fulham's Marco Silva, and former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez are all reportedly under consideration, with Spanish sources suggesting Xavi could be open to the move.
The club's experience with Amorim has highlighted the need for structural clarity, suggesting that any future appointment, particularly of a strong character like Emery, may require changes to United's football hierarchy to ensure a successful partnership.
