Manchester United Seeks New Leadership After Amorim’s Departure

Manchester United has officially parted ways with manager Amorim after just 14 months in charge, following a heated outburst regarding the team’s unsatisfactory 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.

In the interim, former midfielder Darren Fletcher has taken over but has yet to secure a victory, recording a 2-2 draw against Burnley in the Premier League and a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup’s third round. Fletcher is anticipated to return to his previous role overseeing the Under-18 team, while his former teammate, Michael Carrick, is expected to be appointed as interim coach for the remainder of the season. This marks Carrick’s second stint in temporary charge, having previously managed for three games after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021. Carrick’s coaching staff at Old Trafford is projected to include Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate and former Chelsea and England assistant Steve Holland.

Manchester United is now actively searching for a permanent head coach to guide the club back to its former glory. According to reports, Luis Enrique is among the club’s primary targets, and the Red Devils are closely monitoring his situation at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The club aims to appoint a manager with extensive experience who can handle the pressures inherent in managing Manchester United. Enrique is considered a strong candidate, particularly as he will enter the final year of his contract in the summer without having extended it. Other noteworthy candidates on Manchester United’s shortlist include Mauricio Pochettino, England’s Thomas Tuchel, and Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti.

The club’s interest in Enrique is unsurprising given his remarkable managerial success. He achieved a treble during his first season at Barcelona and continued to build on that success with PSG, becoming only the second manager to win the treble with two different clubs after PSG’s historic Champions League victory last season. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether he will be persuaded to leave Parc des Princes at the season’s end. Recently, speculation about Enrique’s potential departure was dismissed as “100% fake news” by sporting director Luis Campos, who noted the club’s Qatari owners are eager to secure him with a lifetime contract, impressed by his work thus far.

Carrick is set to lead Manchester United training for the first time on Wednesday, following a brief hiatus after their FA Cup exit against Brighton. His inaugural match back in the Manchester United dugout will be a challenging one against Manchester City at Old Trafford, followed by a fixture against league leaders Arsenal. However, Carrick will be bolstered by the return of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo from the Africa Cup of Nations, with both players available for selection after their respective quarter-final exits.