Fifteen Free-Agent Gaffers Man United Could Turn to if INEOS Pulls the Plug on Amorim
Ruben Amorim may be a bright coaching mind, but Manchester United’s start to 2025/26 has been anything but. Three defeats in the first six Premier League matches, a penalty exit to Grimsby Town in the League Cup, and a carry-over of last season’s bottom-half lethargy have left the INEOS hierarchy staring down the barrel of a big call. The key stat? Across 33 Premier League games in the dugout, Amorim’s record stands at nine wins, seven draws and 17 losses — a return that won’t silence the Old Trafford groans any time soon.
Stick or twist? INEOS are on the clock
Poaching a boss mid-campaign is a messy business: compensation, upheaval, and bad blood. That’s why the free-agent market suddenly looks appealing. There’s experience, glamour and plenty of pragmatism available right now — and, crucially, no negotiating with aggrieved chairmen. If United want a reset without the saga, the timing’s not awful.
For broader context on the football landscape — from odds swings to where the smart money moves — have a look at our best betting sites hub. United need clarity of plan as much as a new face; panic appointments rarely end well.
The contenders: 15 unemployed managers who could step in
1) Xavi Hernández — The purist’s pick. Fresh from Barcelona, his footballing IQ is off the charts and he’d impose structure, brave build-up and sharper pressing. The fit is intriguing: a cultural reset with clear principles.
2) Zinedine Zidane — The ultimate A-lister. Three Champions Leagues on the spin with Real Madrid tells its own story. Man-management elite, tactical approach understated but effective. Language and Premier League adaptation are the unknowns.
3) Michael Carrick — Knows the club, calm communicator, and tactically tidy. After his Middlesbrough stint, he’d bring coherence and modern coaching detail without the megastar circus.
4) Roger Schmidt — High press, verticality, and organised chaos when it clicks. United’s squad has legs for it; the question is whether the club has the patience for teething problems.
5) Thiago Motta — Progressive structures, rotation football, and tactical bravery. A project coach who could modernise the spine, though he’ll demand full backing on profiles.
6) Marco Rose — Energetic, adaptable, and adept at quick turnarounds. Not the flashiest name, but a safe route to competent pressing and improved transitions.
7) Edin Terzić — Cup pedigree, emotional leader, and good at harnessing young talent. Would lift the mood quickly — but he’ll need a sturdy defensive platform.
8) Ole Gunnar Solskjær — Club DNA in abundance. Recently relieved of duties at Beşiktaş, he’s immediately available and would steady waters. The ceiling debate returns, but he knows how to simplify and unify.
9) Joachim Löw — World Cup winner with Germany. Enormous pedigree, yet it’s been over 20 years since he ran a club week to week. A romantic idea with a real risk factor.
10) Luciano Spalletti — Tactical chameleon and serial organiser. Title-winning nous and the ability to sharpen automatisms fast. Would bring discipline and method.
11) Sérgio Conceição — Tenacious, compact, and ruthless in transition. Demands warriors; United’s crowd would warm to the edge he brings.
12) Sean Dyche — If you want clean sheets and clear roles tomorrow morning, look no further. Not one for frills, but he’ll restore basics and improve set-plays immediately.
13) Gareth Southgate — Strong relationship with INEOS figures, tournament pedigree with England and elite man-management. Critics will ask about in-possession ambition at club level.
14) Rafael Benítez — Tactical drill sergeant with European stripes. Ex-Liverpool baggage makes it politically tricky at Old Trafford, but he’d bring structure overnight.
15) Domenico Tedesco — Young, sharp, detail-obsessed. Builds disciplined units and improves players. If United want a modern training-ground coach without the soap opera, he’s in the frame.
The call
If United want a philosophy appointment, Xavi and Motta top the list. If they crave instant authority and medal-winning aura, Zidane and Spalletti make sense. For a stabiliser who’ll tidy the mess, Dyche or Rose offer quick fixes. And if INEOS value a cultural reconnection, Carrick or Solskjær are the most seamless fits.
Amorim still has time — but the numbers don’t lie, and Old Trafford won’t tolerate drift. Whether it’s a grand project or a stop-gap, the next move must be coherent. Change for change’s sake? That’s how you end up right back here by Christmas.
