Information from The Athletic revealed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe will let Ruben Amorim lead Manchester United for the entire season before evaluating and making a final decision next summer.
This shows that the "Red Devils" leadership wants to maintain stability in the short term, and at the same time, this could be a move to prepare carefully for a bigger reform in the long term.
The question is not just whether Ruben Amorim is capable of getting Man United back on track. In the summer of 2026, the coach market will be extremely vibrant with a series of potential names. That will be a key moment for Man United's leadership to plan for the future.
Keep Ruben Amorim a gamble with INEOS
Ruben Amorim arrived at Man United in the context of the team needing a breath of fresh air after a deadlock. Possessing a strict 3-4-3 organizational philosophy, the Portuguese captain is expected to bring identity and discipline to a team that has often declined.
However, everything was contrary to initial expectations. Especially this season, Man United's achievements under Ruben Amorim are extremely poor. They have suffered consecutive defeats in the Premier League and were eliminated from the League Cup by a Fourth Division team.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe, he still has faith in Amorim when he considers the inconsistent results, incomplete integration with the Premier League environment and the accumulation of experience as unknowns that must be known by the end of the season. In addition, Sir Jim's decision is not only a patient move, it is also a challenge for Amorim to try harder every week.
Free options in the Premier League
If Man United decide to end Amorim after the 2025-2026 season, they will enter a very vibrant coach transfer market. At that time, the three Premier League strategists will expire their contracts and become strong candidates to replace the Portuguese coach.
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace) is making a strong impression with his organized play, solid defense and the ability to maximize limited resources. Two titles in recent months and a record of 19 consecutive unbeaten matches have made Crystal Palace considered a surprise this season.
In addition, the experience that helped Eintracht Frankfurt win the Europa League is also considered a note to make Glasner a strong candidate for bigger teams.
Andoni Iraola has turned Bournemouth into a team that plays fast, pressing high and attacking freely. The Spaniard is in line with the youthful, modern trend, something INEOS can consider if they want a long-term rebuild.
Bournemouth's record in the last 2 seasons since Iraola took charge is also quite good. From a team struggling in the red light group, they have begun to climb to the top half of the rankings.
After turbulent years, Marco Silva has proven his stability and ability to build Fulham sustainably. Although not too flashy, he has a lot of experience in the Premier League and brings safety.
These three names do not require a release fee, both reducing financial pressure and opening up flexible testing opportunities.
Attraction from national teams after the 2026 World Cup
Another factor that INEOS must have considered is a series of strategists in the teams whose contracts will expire after the 2026 World Cup. That is the time when many famous coaches will be free, ready to return to the club environment.
Mauricio Pochettino (USA), Thomas Tuchel (UK), Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil), Ralf Rangnick (authrich) are all quality names and bring solidity in the organization stage. However, choosing who to match is also a headache for INEOS.
The coaches are free
In addition to the above options, INEOS can also target a series of strategists who are not yet ready to join the tournament but are rich in experience such as Xavi Hernandez, Zinedine Zidane, Gareth Southgate, Michael Carrick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Graham Potter.
These are temporary solutions in case INEOS is forced to change coaches in the middle of the season and needs a true "fire" to temporarily take charge.
Interim coach scenario
In case the pressure from performance and public opinion forces INEOS to fire Amorim in the middle of the season, the scenario of using an interim manager is very likely. At that time, an insider like Darren Fletcher could be promoted, helping the team put out the fire until the end of the season.
This is not new to Man United as they have gone through interim stages with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (2018) or Ralf Rangnick (2021) before looking for a long-term solution.
