Man Utd wasted no time in selecting a new manager after sacking Ruben Amorim, who was particularly favored by the club executives.
On 6 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Team Talk, a renowned football media outlet, reported that Manchester United, the Premier League giant, already has a preferred candidate to succeed Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim, who was recently dismissed.
Ruben Amorim ended his 14-month tenure at Man Utd due to conflicts with senior executives, especially football director Jason Wilcox, who reportedly was unhappy with Amorim's tactical inflexibility, particularly his insistence on a three-defender system rather than switching to a four-man defense.
Meanwhile, Man Utd appointed former player Darren Fletcher, who had been coaching the U18 squad, as interim manager to replace Ruben Amorim until a new head coach is found, starting with the Premier League match away to Burnley on Wednesday, 7 Jan 2026 GMT+7.
Sources reveal that Jason Wilcox and his team have considered candidates to replace Ruben Amorim before deciding to sack the manager. One short-term option viewed as suitable is Michael Carrick, the former midfielder who played for the Red Devils for 12 years.
Reports state that 44-year-old Michael Carrick is highly respected by the club, having served as a Manchester United staff coach assisting José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He also acted as interim manager after Solskjær was sacked in 2021.
Michael Carrick managed Manchester United in three matches without defeat: two Premier League games (one win, one draw) and one UEFA Champions League match (one win). He left after the club appointed Ralf Rangnick and went on to manage Middlesbrough from 2022 to 2025. He is currently unemployed.
Man Utd is likely to continue with an interim manager to steady the team until the end of this season before appointing a permanent manager in the summer. Several prominent coaches are rumored candidates, including Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Xavi Hernandez (unemployed), and Gareth Southgate (unemployed).
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