Manchester United have begun their search for a new manager after parting ways with head coach Ruben Amorim on Monday, 6 January 2026. The club has confirmed that former midfielder and current Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher will take immediate temporary charge.
Fletcher's brief interim spell
Darren Fletcher will lead the team for at least the next two matches as the club's hierarchy plots their next move. His first game in the dugout will be Wednesday's Premier League trip to face Burnley, with club veteran Jonny Evans returning to assist him.
According to reports from The Athletic, Fletcher is also expected to oversee the FA Cup third-round tie at home to Brighton on Sunday. This short-term arrangement gives the United board a brief window to finalise their plans for a more formal interim appointment until the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.
Solskjaer emerges as front-runner for caretaker role
Discussions are already underway with several candidates for the interim position, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has emerged as the leading contender. The Manchester Evening News reports that the Norwegian, who has been out of work since leaving Turkish side Besiktas in August 2025, has held talks with the club.
Solskjaer, 52, is being considered for a longer-term caretaker role that would see him steer the club until a permanent successor to Amorim is appointed in the summer. Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is also understood to be among the candidates under discussion.
The ex-United boss, who managed the club for nearly three years before his dismissal in November 2021, has previously expressed his willingness to return. Speaking at the Oslo Business Forum in September 2024, Solskjaer stated: "If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week."
Amorim's departure and the search for permanency
Ruben Amorim's 14-month tenure at Old Trafford ended following Sunday's 1-1 draw away to Leeds United. The 40-year-old Portuguese coach's departure was confirmed the next day, with the club citing a breakdown in relations with the board.
The club's plan is now clear: appoint a trusted interim manager to guide the team through the remainder of the campaign, while conducting a thorough search for a permanent manager to be unveiled in the summer. This strategy aims to provide stability for the squad while ensuring the right long-term appointment is made.
Solskjaer's potential return would mark a dramatic comeback for a manager who secured 91 wins in 168 matches during his first spell and led United to a second-place finish in the Premier League. His last role saw him guide Besiktas to a fourth-place finish in the Turkish Super Lig before his departure earlier this season.
