Manchester United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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One person's interference is another's constructive feedback, which is how Jason Wilcox's exchange with Ruben Amorim before the draw at Leeds at the weekend has been interpreted.

It was supposed to be a chat about the transfer window but the topic became tactics.

Points were made about the wisdom of switching formations and returning to a back three for a meeting with bottom-of-the-table Wolves at the end of December.

According to sources, Amorim "blew up", went to his pre-match press conference, when he hinted at a changing strategy, before going nuclear at Elland Road, identifying Wilcox as one of the people he felt was overstepping the mark.

It is easy to see why Amorim might view suggestions he should change his formation, and be questioned about his perceived negative approach against Wolves, as someone going outside of their remit.

Yet it is also true that while the manager, or head coach, of a football team may be in a powerful position, there are people beyond the fanbase he is accountable to.

At Manchester United, Wilcox is one of them.

The events of the past few days will draw more attention to Wilcox, whose brief is enormous.

"The academy is under me," Wilcox told the in-house Inside Carrington podcast at the beginning of November.

"On the women's side, I support [head coach] Marc [Skinner] from a technical perspective. Recruitment, operations, travel, logistics, kit. Medicine.

"The breadth of the role is huge. I'm accountable for it but I have an amazing team."

Read more

Manchester United are searching for a new boss after Ruben Amorim's departure on Monday.

Who should be appointed as his successor? Our fan contributor Beth Tucker discusses some of the possible options...

Find more from Beth Tucker at The United Stand, external

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Manchester United's interim boss Darren Fletcher will look ahead to Wednesday's trip to Burnley from 17:00 GMT on Tuesday.

The former United and Scotland midfielder is an old hand in dealing with the media, so that will not faze him in the slightest.

It will be interesting to see how much detail he goes into around intended tactics, but given he has played with a back four all season with the under-18 team, I would be staggered if he stuck with Ruben Amorim's three-man defence.

With Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes more or less ready to return from injury, will one of Fletcher's first tasks be to drop one - or both - of his sons?

Jack and Tyler Fletcher have both been on the bench for United's past three games.

Tyler is yet to make his senior debut but Jack made three appearances under Amorim.

Come back to this page later on Tuesday for all the key lines from Fletcher.

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have plumbed depths that should not be possible the way football's finances are arranged these days.

The fourth richest club in the world, according to Deloitte's 2025 rankings, have struggled - for the most part - to compete with well-run smaller rivals like Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton, finished last season behind West Ham and were level on points with Wolves.

Ruben Amorim went into the summer promising this season would be better. It has been - to an extent - but is it right to measure a United manager against a 15th-place finish?

The spotlight, though, cannot just be on the coach.

United knew what they were getting into. Does Sir Jim Ratcliffe's "best in class" apply to Omar Berrada? Or Jason Wilcox, whose experience as a technical director was limited to 15 months at Southampton before he accepted the United job?

In going for Amorim and delivering their 'now or never' ultimatum, United's hierarchy must have known the squad being inherited did not fit the coach's style. They backed him to the tune of more than £200m in the summer and also signed off his decision to exile Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho.

Maybe there was unease at Amorim's method of dismissing Garnacho, which effectively reduced his value in a market the player himself cut to one by sticking to his desire to join Chelsea.

They also went with Amorim's desire to change his main striker, meaning £72m Rasmus Hojlund has joined Scott McTominay at Napoli, while Benjamin Sesko has scored two goals in 17 appearances following his £74m move from RB Leipzig.

Where they drew a line was Emiliano Martinez.

Amorim wanted Aston Villa's World Cup-winning goalkeeper. United's powerbrokers refused to sanction that, preferring to invest in the youth of Senne Lammens - on a much lower salary. Data analysis concurs with objective judgement Lammens has the capability to become of one Europe's best goalkeepers at some point - and United officials say they remain comfortable with their choice.

Instead, United prioritised their hefty investment towards the forward positions with a view to greater return on investment.

But heads are still scratched over the wisdom of selling McTominay, then spending far more on Uruguay international Manuel Ugarte, who played no role in the Europa League final Casemiro started.

Recruitment is a collective failing - and predates Amorim by a long way. The failed pursuit of Antoine Semenyo is proof United are no longer the draw they once were.

Amorim is yesterday's man now, just as David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Erik Ten Hag were before him.

The search for a successor is on. But it may take more than a new man at the helm, with a new formation, to sort out the problems at Manchester United.

Read more from Simon about Amorim's exit

"It is striking that whenever the present gets a bit too much for Manchester United, they go back to Sir Alex Ferguson, and who remembers him, and they give them a call."

That's the view of the Monday Night Club's Rory Smith on the situation at United, who have appointed former midfielder and current under-18s coach Darren Fletcher as interim boss after the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

"Fletcher seems really bright, articulate, astute and a good coach - the sort of person you would respect," added The Observer's football correspondent.

"But it does feel a little bit like they have run out of managers and they have got one of the dads to do it!"

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones responded: "I agree, but for the next two games they need someone who understands the DNA of the club and the standards it takes to represent United.

"He knows the players because he has been involved for the past few years, and he offers stability for the next couple of games."

Fletcher will be the fourth former player to step in as interim since Ferguson left, seemingly following a pattern the club have formed when looking for a longer-term option.

"It is this constant cycle of getting someone in who reminds them of what it used to be like," added Smith.

"They steady the ship and then they build again."

Watch the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Ruben Amorim's latest disgruntled news conference was enough to push his employers over the edge.

His cry that he was brought in "as a manager, not a coach" unsubtly underlined that executives were deciding what was needed on the pitch over and above him.

To their eyes, the hired help simply did not know his place and he had to go.

Amorim clearly thought additions had to be made to his squad this month and I have some sympathy with him.

The major acquisitions Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Sesko have had mixed success so far but they showed fight at Leeds - which is an improvement on recent years, even if it was still a work in progress.

In 14 months, he shipped out seven first-team players from a failing squad, so although money was spent, the first-team group was still too small.

The bench at Elland Road had two 17-year-olds, three 18-year-olds and a 20-year-old with a grand total of one Premier League start between them.‌

By steering United to joint-fifth, he had shown he deserved the backing in the transfer window this month if he were to be kept on.

Unfortunately, in the current climate, managers (and head coaches) are far lower down the food chain than they have been for decades.

Anything said that draws attention to those who make decisions above the manager but are not willing to take the flak when it goes wrong is seen as unacceptable.

Most United fans will not weep at his departure, just at the state of a club that might just have shot itself in the foot once again.

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Following the sacking of Ruben Amorim on Monday, we asked for your views on who should be the next person to take the Manchester United hot seat, both in the short and long term.

The decision now rests with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, who will lead the process to appoint the club's next head coach.

Here are some of your comments:

Ashir: Zinedine Zidane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick. Please, for the love of all that is holy, don't go to someone we've never heard of again.

Stephen: It's hard to see who will be the next United manager, but if I had a choice then it would be Zidane. He understands what it takes to manage a huge club like United and stay true to the traditions of the club

Allan: Bring Ole until the end of the season at least. We had some good football under him.

Ben: Feels like anyone who comes into this club is doomed by the incompetence of the board, Ratcliffe and the Glazers. All you can hope for is that some promising and relatively unproven (at least at the top level) manager, like Kieran McKenna or Oliver Glasner, doesn't end up ruining their reputation by joining before inevitably being sacked mid 2027.

Tim: We need a strong personality with a United connection. Get Ole back!

Steve: I just worry about who the next poor victim will be. The next appointment needs to be strong, maybe a Mauricio Pochettino or Gareth Southgate? I'd love to see Carrick or McKenna, as they know United, but I can't see them flourishing in the current climate.

Luke: Honestly, I'd bring Ole in until the end of the season. Pre-Cristiano Ronaldo's return, Ole's time at the helm was the best post-Sir Alex Ferguson era for United. Spend the time between now and then scouting out a permanent long-term manager/head coach.

Alex: Can we please appoint a manager with proven tactical nous and pragmatism? Would it be possible to prise Carlo Ancelotti away from the Brazil national team after the World Cup?

This is your Man Utd page. Select 'Follow' at the top to get club news on your BBC Sport homepage and, if on the app, tap the bell icon to get notifications sent directly to your device.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club that "it is never nice for a man to lose their job" but Ruben Amorim's sacking is no great surprise.

"He was employed because he had a big success rate at Sporting and he was the new guy on the block," said Jones. "He was the confident young manager who was going to transition into United and take the club forward.

"It has been very difficult at times to watch - and the Wolves draw, for me, was the final nail in the coffin.

"At Old Trafford you expect speed, intensity and aggression. United should be sustaining the attacks, having crosses and shots - but there just wasn't any of that.

"I thought they were OK against Leeds but there has clearly been a breakdown in communication. That is what you can't come back from."

Image source, i paper and Daily Star

Tuesday's newspaper back pages are unsurprisingly about Amorim's exit, but the Daily Star report there is "a split" within the board over who should be given the job long term.

England boss Thomas Tuchel and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner are two of many names being floated around at this early stage.

But are either the right fit?

"It would sum things up at Manchester United if Thomas Tuchel is at a World Cup and pre-season starts," said former Premier League striker Chris Sutton. "That is a floored start already. It would be absolutely ridiculous.

"Glasner plays the same formation very well at Palace but the demands at Crystal Palace compared to Manchester United are completely different."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to appoint a manager who "fits the club's DNA" after Ruben Amorim was sacked on Monday.

Former United full-back Neville believes the next managerial appointment at Old Trafford must reflect the traditions of the club.

"The experiments have got to stop," he told Sky Sports.

"I've always been very proud of what this club is - adventurous, exciting football, playing young players and entertaining the crowd. They must take risks and have the courage to play attacking, aggressive football.

"United have got to a point where they need a manager who fits the DNA of the football club.

"Barcelona will never change for anybody - I don't believe United should change for anybody. The club has to find a manager who has got experience and who is willing to play fast entertaining, attacking and aggressive football."

But what does Neville mean?

Since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United in May 2023, there have been 10 different faces in the dugout - including interim, caretakers and permanent managers.

Premier League veteran David Moyes was picked by Ferguson himself to be his successor, then there was more experience brought when Louis van Gaal followed.

Shortly after Van Gaal, the man who has always been known for his winning mentality, Jose Mourinho, was brought to Old Trafford - and when he was sacked, they went to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who knew the club inside and out.

More interim managers followed but United then switched their attention to emerging managerial talent in Europe, with first Erik ten Hag and then Ruben Amorim.

In between all of those permanent faces, four former United players have been appointed as interim and caretakers at different points - Giggs, Michael Carrick, Ruud van Nistelrooy and now Darren Fletcher.

Is it hard to argue that Manchester United have not already tried everything post-Ferguson. So who is the right fit?

Read more wider punditry reaction here

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast, hosts Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath break down Ruben Amorim's sacking and Darren Fletcher's appointment as interim head coach.

Despite Amorim leaving Manchester United in sixth place, Drinkwater now thinks the Red Devils will drop down the table, likely finishing the campaign in the bottom half of the table.

"I can't see a way under a manager with no experience that Man Utd can improve and sustain the level they're at for the rest of the season," he said. "I now think United will drop to 10th this season, or maybe below."

Co-host McGrath disagreed with Drinkwater's claims that United will drop down the table, instead suggesting the tactics Fletcher deploys will help improve their fortunes.

"I have been struggling watching Man Utd under Amorim's system," said McGrath. "I believe that if Fletcher comes in and plays a 4-3-3, and we're able to get Bruno [Fernandes] and Kobbie [Mainoo] in the same squad, we can get the most out of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Amad Diallo when they're all back.

"I don't see us going below 10th. I see sixth place being bang on where we end up.

"I have weird faith in Fletcher playing a solid formation and getting the best out of the players in that odd-manager bounce that we might get."

Listen to the full episode here

Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds

Manchester United sacking Ruben Amorim could provide forward Marcus Rashford, who is on loan at Barcelona, a route back to Old Trafford. (Mirror), external

Oliver Glasner is likely to be Manchester United's top target to replace the sacked Amorim. The club's hierarchy are huge admirers of the Austrian, whose Crystal Palace contract expires in the summer. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Fulham are preparing for an approach from United for their Portuguese manager Marco Silva. (Sun), external

Midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte and forward Joshua Zirkzee were all desperate to leave United in January had Amorim stayed. (Mail - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, United are keen on Rennes' 20-year-old French defender Jeremy Jacquet - as are Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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It has been a whirlwind of a day for Manchester United.

A club statement confirming Ruben Amorim's sacking, dressing-room reaction and immediate questions about what comes next - all unfolding with United sitting sixth in the Premier League.

If you have been away, here are some of the highlights on our United page. Scroll down or click the link to go to your favourites.

• How Amorim's situation became untenable, writes our Manchester United reporter Simon Stone.

• "A decision the board will regret"? - fans give their verdict on dismissal

• No "trust in the board to make the right appointment" - our United fan writer Alex Turk.

• Who could replace Ruben Amorim? - some of the candidates in the frame

Return to this page throughout the week for further updates.

Tap 'Follow' at the top to get the latest United news on your BBC Sport homepage and, if you are on the app, hit the bell icon to receive news notifications.

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The search for Manchester United's next manager is on.

Darren Fletcher will take charge for the next few matches before United appoint a caretaker manager for the rest of the season.

But who could be handed the reins full-time this summer?

Former midfielder and current under-18s coach Fletcher spent 11 years playing for United under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Premier League rivals who have impressed include Unai Emery, who has done a sterling job at Aston Villa or Andoni Iraola who will have his suitors after leading unfancied Bournemouth to ninth last season.

Last season's domestic cup winners Eddie Howe of Newcastle United or Oliver Glasner, who is out of contract at Crystal Palace, could also be in the frame.

Others with United connections include former midfielder Michael Carrick, currently out of work after being sacked by Middlesbrough in the summer or Jose Mourinho's assistant at Old Trafford, Kieran McKenna, boss of Ipswich Town.

How about a return for former United striker and boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who remains a favourite with the fans?

Perhaps Chelsea's recently sacked boss Enzo Maresca could be in the frame, while another big name floated is former England manager Gareth Southgate.

BBC Sport spoke to Manchester United fan George Allen about the possibility of Southgate returning to club management...

As for international options, USA boss Mauricio Pochettino has regularly been linked with United, while Barcelona legend Xavi has been out of work since 2024.

Fellow Spaniard Luis Enrique delivered the Champions League for Paris St-Germain last season and has won it all with the French champions, and the great Zinedine Zidane remains out of work four years after leaving Real Madrid.

Finally, Roberto de Zerbi, who saw success in England at Brighton, is impressing at Marseille and has been on Chelsea's radar.

Read more about all the potential contenders and cast your vote here

So now it's over to you again...

Who do you think United should turn to next - in both the short and long term?

Get in touch with your views here