‘Special’ manager waiting for Ruben Amorim to be sacked as he eyes Man United job
Ruben Amorim has eased some of the immediate pressure on his position at Man United but remains under intense scrutiny after a frustrating start to the season.
Man United’s 2-0 win against Sunderland is believed to have given the manager breathing space heading into the international break.
Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on 3 October that Amorim is unlikely to leave Man United despite suggestions he could quit rather than be sacked.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains determined to back Amorim despite the poor start to the season and has dismissed suggestions he could be sacked in the immediate future.
However, Man United are considering alternatives to Amorim in case they decide to pull the trigger at some stage before the end of the season.
Xavi in the running to replace Ruben Amorim at Man United
One name who has emerged as a contender for United is Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona midfielder and manager, who is currently out of work.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown who worked at Old Trafford for over a decade during their most successful period, exclusively told Football Insider that Xavi is interested in the role and is keeping a close eye on Amorim’s situation.
However, there are a number of candidates should Untied part ways with their current boss, and Xavi is not currently seen as a front-runner.
“There’s been talk that Xavi wants to be the Man United manager,” he told Football Insider.
“But the fact that somebody who’s out of work at the moment would like to be the Man United manager will not come as a big surprise to anybody.
“Either way, I’m sure he’ll be keeping an eye on what happens with Amorim and he’ll aim to be one of the contenders if the job does become available.
“The issue the United hierarchy will have, is that they cannot afford to make another mistake.
“There are a few candidates who have been mentioned with the job, and they have to get it right.
“Gareth Southgate has been spoken about a lot, and I think he would be a good face for the club, and then you’ve got Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola too.
“They want to make sure they get the right man for the job, whoever that may be.
“So it’s no surprise that there is interest from probably a number of managers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be up there with the front-runners.”
While questions remain about whether Xavi would be among the contenders for United, he has received high praise, with Robert Lewandowski recently dubbing him “special”. [BBC]
Southgate, Glasner and Iraola lead the way for Man United
Man United have begun assessing replacements for Amorim, with Southgate, Glasner and Iraola heavily linked with the position.
Southgate has been tipped as a good front-facing manager for United, having previously performed expertly under the pressure of the England job.
Meanwhile, Glasner and Iraola have impressed at Crystal Palace and Bournemouth respectively and have Premier League experience behind them.
Premier League experience is seen as a valuable asset for the Reds’ next manager to turn their fortunes around, although it is not crucial.
Meanwhile, Xavi’s most recent role was in May 2024 at Barcelona where he was sacked following defeats to PSG and Real Madrid, having previously led them to a La Liga title.
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