Manchester United are looking for their seventh head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, after Ruben Amorim was sacked. Former "Red Devils" midfielder Darren Fletcher will temporarily lead the team in the Premier League match against Burnley, before hosting Brighton at home in the FA Cup third round.
However, according to sources, Man United's leadership has not yet finalized the plan, either appointing an official coach immediately or waiting until the summer, when a series of big names may be ready after the World Cup.
So which are the brightest candidates for the hot seat at Old Trafford? Below are two shortlists that Man United may be considering.
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace)
The Crystal Palace coach's contract at Selhurst Park will expire at the end of this season and has not yet started negotiating a contract extension. Glasner's reputation is growing rapidly after he helped Palace win the FA Cup last season and win a ticket to the UEFA Conference League.
Previously, the Austrian coach also brought Eintracht Frankfurt to the top of the Europa League in 2022, thereby affirming his ability in the two most recent jobs.
At the age of 51, Glasner prefers a 3-center-back system - similar to Amorim - so if Man United wants to continue pursuing this model, he will be the right choice. With the current contract situation, Glasner can also become a free option at the right time, helping to reduce compensation pressure.
Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town)
The 39-year-old coach has led Ipswich to promotion twice and was interviewed by Chelsea for the hot seat in 2024, before Enzo Maresca was appointed. McKenna is also no stranger to Old Trafford. He used to work in the Man United coaching staff under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, so he understands the club's environment and has a certain understanding of many current players as well as young talents.
Ipswich is trying to promote back to the Premier League this season, but if Man United knocks on the door, it could be too great an opportunity for McKenna to refuse.
Gareth Southgate (free)
The former England national team coach has left the coaching chair after EURO 2024. At the age of 55, he is said to be not too enthusiastic about returning to coaching. However, bringing England to the two EURO finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals still helps Southgate receive significant respect, including a part of the fans at Old Trafford.
Southgate is free, meaning Man United does not need to pay compensation fees. If he is willing to accept, this will be an option that can be implemented immediately.
Xavi (free)
The former Barcelona coach helped the Catalan team win La Liga 2022-2023 for 3 years at Camp Nou, but has been unemployed since leaving the team at the end of the 2023-2024 season.
Xavi wants to try his hand at the Premier League and his willingness to lead the team will make him a noteworthy candidate. However, lack of experience in the league, along with the challenge of managing a dense schedule, could turn this into a risky option. In particular, Man United has witnessed both Amorim and Erik ten Hag face difficulties in adapting to the harsh environment of English football.
Michael Carrick (free)
Carrick had a temporary spell at Man United in 2021 after Solskjaer left the bench, leading the team in 3 matches. After that, the 44-year-old coach worked for 3 years at Middlesbrough in the Championship.
Since leaving Boro at the end of last season, Carrick has not clearly shown his intention to return immediately. However, his extensive knowledge of Man United and the squad can help him become a safe choice to steer the transition period until the summer, before the "Red Devils" make a long-term appointment decision.
Enzo Maresca (free)
Enzo Maresca is currently unemployed after leaving Chelsea last week. In 18 months at Stamford Bridge, he helped the team achieve success in the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup. Being free makes Maresca an option that can be implemented immediately.
Another plus point is that Maresca used to work with Man United CEO Omar Berrada, and Football Director Jason Wilcox when all three were at Manchester City. However, Maresca's ball control philosophy may not be really suitable for Man United's current framework, which has not been built to operate optimally according to that model.
Thomas Tuchel (England team)
The England national team head coach once negotiated with Man United about the possibility of succeeding Ten Hag in the summer of 2024, before choosing not to return to club football. Tuchel's current contract with England is expected to expire after the World Cup, so he may become a worth considering target this summer.
At the age of 52, Tuchel meets many criteria that Man United seeks. He won the Champions League with Chelsea and has coached famous teams such as Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. However, Tuchel's straightforward style and tendency to often challenge superiors also contain the risk of internal conflict - something Man United clearly wants to limit after many cycles of fluctuations.
Mauricio Pochettino (US team)
Mauricio Pochettino still has a contract to lead the US national team after the World Cup, but sources say the 53-year-old coach is ready to return to club football when his international term ends.
In the past 10 years, Man United has considered Pochettino three times. He was also on the shortlist of two candidates along with Ten Hag in 2022, before being overtaken by the former Ajax coach in the race. With experience working at PSG, Chelsea and Tottenham, Pochettino is considered a suitable option for the renovation and dressing room management requirements at Old Trafford.
