Man United have three-manager shortlist of Ruben Amorim replacements | OneFootball

Man United Consider Managerial Alternatives After Brentford Defeat

Manchester United’s patience with Ruben Amorim continues to be tested following a damaging 3-1 defeat at Brentford, and reports suggest the club have drawn up a shortlist of potential successors. According to TEAMtalk, three managers have emerged as options, with one viewed as a particularly strong candidate for Old Trafford.

Southgate in direct contact

Amorim has struggled to steady United, winning only nine of his 33 league matches, and the hierarchy remain reluctant but not unwilling to make a change. Compensation of around £12million would still be due if he were dismissed before November 1, a figure that is influencing the club’s cautious stance.

TEAMtalk note that “United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been in direct contact with Southgate in recent weeks, and the 55-year-old was considered when the Red Devils hired Amorim last year. However, he did not want to return to club management at the time.”

Southgate’s reputation as a manager is well known, yet his record in club football is far from flawless. His last spell in domestic management came with Middlesbrough in 2009, ending with relegation. Despite guiding England to two major finals, questions linger over his tactical style and whether it would satisfy the demands of Old Trafford.

Photo IMAGO

Glasner’s Palace progress

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has also been linked and has strengthened his credentials with an impressive start to the season. His crowning achievement remains the FA Cup triumph, the first piece of major silverware in the club’s history.

Palace, however, are a side that thrive on transitions rather than sustained possession, something that does not always align with United’s traditions. TEAMtalk point out how “a case in point was the win over champions Liverpool on Saturday, where they had 28% possession but still managed to secure the three points.”

Glasner is admired for his tactical organisation, yet United’s supporters would expect a more front-foot style of play, making him a solid but perhaps stylistically imperfect candidate.

Photo: IMAGO

Iraola’s adaptability

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is viewed as the most intriguing of the three. He was courted by Tottenham last summer before they turned to Thomas Frank, and his work at the Vitality Stadium has impressed many across the league.

TEAMtalk highlight that “Bournemouth play attacking front-foot football but Iraola is adaptable enough to change things up depending on opponents, masterminding a superb 1-0 win at Spurs weeks ago that could easily have been four or five, such was their dominance.”

Importantly for United, Iraola favours a back four, which would suit the squad better than Amorim’s stubborn commitment to a 3-4-2-1 formation. His ability to adjust tactically while maintaining attacking principles makes him a compelling option if change is made.

Photo: IMAGO

Pressure building on Amorim

The numbers behind Amorim’s struggles tell a stark story. United have conceded the first goal in 21 Premier League games since his arrival, more than any other side in that period. The team have never won consecutive league fixtures under his guidance, a statistic that underlines their lack of momentum.

TEAMtalk also highlight the wider concerns: “The 40-year-old has taken charge of 33 games in the top-flight and has never won two in a row. In total, he’s only won nine of the 33 matches, losing 17 and drawing seven, with that record severely concerning.”

Amorim’s struggles stand in contrast to his success in Portugal, where he lost just 14 of 167 Primeira Liga matches. At United, he has already lost 17 in just 33 league outings, and the pressure continues to mount.

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For Manchester United fans, the prospect of managerial change will divide opinion. There is frustration at Amorim’s results, especially the inability to build momentum, yet many fans recognise the instability constant changes can bring. Calls for patience are becoming harder to sustain when defeats like the one at Brentford expose old weaknesses.

Southgate’s name will provoke debate. His international record shows progress, yet fans remain sceptical about his tactical style and the lack of attacking identity. For many, it would feel like a pragmatic choice rather than an inspiring one. Glasner, with his Palace achievements, has shown he can deliver silverware, but his counter-attacking style may not fit the expectations at Old Trafford.

Iraola represents the most exciting option. His adaptable approach, attacking instincts and ability to organise a back four make him well suited to United’s current squad. Fans want to see football with purpose, tempo and aggression, qualities that have too often been missing.

Ultimately, the situation reflects United’s deeper issues. Until the right balance is struck between recruitment, coaching and structure, any manager will face the same challenges. Yet supporters know that change may soon be inevitable if results continue in this vein.