No need to wait until summer: "World Champion Coach" is ready to become Manchester United's permanent manager immediately, and is close with the club's executives.
On 9 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Team Talk, a well-known football media outlet, reported that Manchester United, the Premier League giant, has a high-profile coach ready to take the job immediately after deciding to dismiss Rúben Amorim from his position at Old Trafford.
Manchester United assigned Darren Fletcher, former player and U18 team coach, to act as interim manager following Rúben Amorim's departure, initially planning to have a caretaker manager guide the team until the end of the season before seeking a permanent manager in the summer.
Reports indicate that Manchester United is negotiating with Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick, two leading candidates for the interim manager role, both well-acquainted with the club as former players and coaches. However, there is now someone ready to step in as the permanent manager immediately.
Team Talk revealed that Enzo Maresca, who recently left his role as Chelsea manager, is interested in taking the Manchester United job right away. The 45-year-old Italian head coach led the "Blues" to win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2024-25 UEFA Conference League.
Additionally, Enzo Maresca previously guided Leicester City to the Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League in the 2023-24 season within a year, before moving to Chelsea on a five-year contract. However, he stayed less than two seasons before parting ways with the club.
Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca also maintains a good relationship with Omar Berrada, Manchester United's CEO, having worked together at Manchester City where Maresca was an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola. Several major bookmakers also list him among the top contenders to become the new permanent manager of the "Red Devils."
