Following Ruben Amorim’s departure, Manchester United have begun the search for their seventh permanent manager/head coach of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
The club announced that they had parted company with their Portuguese tactician at the beginning of January, with the 40-year-old dismissed after 14 months at the helm.
Darren Fletcher was immediately placed in caretaker charge, overseeing a draw at struggling Burnley before presiding over a disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton.
Since then, Michael Carrick has been appointed as interim head coach until the end of the season, embracing his second term following a three-game stint in the winter of 2021.
The Old Trafford hierarchy must be well aware of the importance of their next permanent appointment, taking the time to make such a monumental decision.
Dozens of names have already been linked to the role over the past 10 days, but ultimately only a select few will truly be considered.
Here, I run through who I believe to be the top four candidates for the biggest job in football.
Roberto De Zerbi
After a sudden exit from Brighton in summer 2024, Roberto De Zerbi was one of several candidates interviewed by United’s new Ineos-led hierarchy as they pondered the future of then-manager Erik ten Hag.
Ultimately, nothing more materialised at the time, and the Italian was soon appointed as manager of Ligue 1 giants Marseille, where he remains.
It’s no secret that De Zerbi is someone well thought of by Old Trafford chiefs, and his previous Premier League experience would be a big tick on his resume.
The 46-year-old’s stellar work in England and the style of football he preaches have been praised by other big-name coaches such as Pep Guardiola, who once declared De Zerbi as “one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years.”
Although he can come across as a rather combustible character, there is no doubting his coaching methods.
Still, there may be concerns about how his confrontational approach would play out whilst working under the likes of Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada.
Julian Nagelsmann
Another name that is likely to be on United’s shortlist is Julian Nagelsmann.
Still only 38, the German has already built a wealth of experience with Hoffenheim, Red Bull Leipzig, Bayern Munich and, of course, the German national team.
After winning the Bundesliga in his debut campaign with Bayern, the young manager was controversially relieved of his duties midway through the 2022/23 season, with Munich CEO Oliver Kahn citing “fluctuations in performance” as the primary reason.
Described as a “genius” by football journalist Julian Laurens, Nagelsmann is currently the most expensive manager in football after Bayern paid a €21.7 million fee to Leipzig to secure his services just a little under five years ago.
The German would be an exciting, long-term appointment if United were to go down that route, with his attractive, aggressive style of play sure to appeal to the fans.
One stumbling block could be his involvement at the World Cup, as this would inevitably delay any potential appointment in M16.
Thomas Tuchel
One of the most intriguing candidates on the list is former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
The 52-year-old is currently the manager of the English National team, having been appointed in October 2024 before gaining World Cup qualification with minimum fuss.
Like De Zerbi, he held talks with United in May 2024. Inevitably, he chose to pass up the opportunity – citing the need for a sabbatical from the game amid rumours of concerns over United’s transfer policy.
Should the timing now suit both parties, then the experienced Krumbach native could well be the outstanding candidate.
He will be available at the end of July as a free agent with no compensation package required, as his contract with the England national team expires.
Having won three domestic league titles, a UEFA Champions League, two domestic cups and a Club World Cup, his credentials are of the highest order in the game.
Perhaps one concern is his history of falling out with owners in his own pragmatic manner.
United may be justified in having some slight reservations about going all-in for the one-time Mainz supremo, but he undoubtedly represents a chance of success.
Luis Enrique
Tentative rumours have recently surfaced that United identified Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique as one of their top targets in the search for a new permanent head coach.
The 55-year-old is considered, by many, to be the best manager in the world today, having guided PSG to the treble in June last year.
Enrique’s pedigree is unquestionable, having also achieved a treble in his first season as manager of FC Barcelona in 2015, whilst guiding Spain to the World Cup finals in Qatar during his time in charge of the nation.
With an intense, attacking and quick style of play, the Gijon-born coach would absolutely suit United’s historic brand of football, and possesses the correct personality for the job.
He has transformed PSG in his own image, turning a complicated club with huge egos into a ruthless, winning machine that plays as a team.
Furthermore, he rid the squad of names such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, while instilling discipline and togetherness by prioritising team play, pressing and youth development.
This is something that has been required at Old Trafford for some time, and as unlikely as it is that they manage to secure Enrique, stranger things have happened in football.
Who do you want to see as the next Manchester United manager? Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk, katatonia82, vitaliivitleo via depositphotos.com.
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