The Challenge of Hiring a New Manager for Manchester United

omidbasir- Hiring a new manager for Manchester United poses a significant challenge. The role has become increasingly daunting, and for the seventh time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in May 2013, the Premier League’s most prominent club is seeking a new coach after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal on Monday morning.

It is a recurring theme at Old Trafford every time a managerial vacancy arises, but this time it is crucial for the club to make the right choice.

Manchester United must take bold action. As one of the most influential clubs globally, it is imperative to appoint a manager who possesses the experience, proven track record, Premier League credentials, and the charisma necessary to make leading the club feel like an opportunity rather than a burden.

The question remains whether they are willing to wait for candidates such as Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, or Carlo Ancelotti until after the World Cup, or if they will take a risk on someone like Oliver Glasner, Kieran McKenna, or Gareth Southgate. Current sources have indicated to ESPN that there is no definitive plan regarding whether to appoint a new manager swiftly or to allow Darren Fletcher to serve as interim coach until summer.

Lessons learned from past mistakes must guide United in selecting a manager who can succeed where others, including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag, and Amorim, have failed. The new appointee must handle pressure effectively, promote exciting football, and most importantly, secure victories.

A United source shared with ESPN, “Each manager we appointed post-Ferguson exhibited some sort of personality flaw. They were either overly cautious, inflexible, combative, or simply not suited for the role. If we could merge their strengths, we might find a candidate who meets all the criteria.”

Julien Laurens elaborated on Amorim’s shortcomings at Manchester United after his termination, which came after just 14 months at the helm. Although he was seen as a rising star in European coaching when hired from Sporting CP in November 2024, bringing charisma and a successful track record, Amorim ultimately proved to be out of his depth. Sources revealed that he was deemed “too stubborn and immature” to meet the job’s demands and failed to adapt his preferred 3-4-3 formation pragmatically until it was too late.

After merely 14 months, Amorim became another casualty of the club’s post-Ferguson managerial struggles, indicating yet again the consequences of appointing a coach lacking the necessary credentials.

One source remarked that United is an “extrovert club managed by introverts,” highlighting the difficulties faced by managers like Amorim and Ten Hag, who struggled under the scrutiny from legendary former players like Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, and Roy Keane, now prominent pundits.

While Solskjaer exhibited resilience, he lacked the commanding presence expected of a top club manager. Moyes, who lasted only ten months as Ferguson’s chosen successor, was overly sensitive to criticism, hindering his performance. Van Gaal managed to stabilize the team after Moyes, yet his adherence to a negative and unattractive style led to a loss of faith among players, fans, and management alike. Although Mourinho arrived with the credentials befitting a United manager in 2016, he was no longer at his peak, coming to the club five years too late.

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens assessed potential managerial options for Manchester United following Amorim’s dismissal. Senior figures at United had previously recommended Pochettino in 2016, but the Glazer family, the club’s majority owners, opted for Mourinho based on his past success and persona. This time, the Glazers will likely influence the decision, with co-chairman Joel Glazer weighing in alongside minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox.

The critical question now is the direction this leadership group will choose. Will they opt for a head coach to collaborate with the director of football, or will they pursue a traditional manager with comprehensive authority over the team and club?

Ferguson often stated that the manager must be the most dominant personality at the club, a sentiment that holds even truer at United today. The club requires someone with the ego and qualifications to manage the expectations, criticism from former players, and the demand for attractive, winning football.

Since Ferguson’s departure, no one has successfully filled this role, and the time has come for a change.