Manchester United are looking out for their seventh permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, with a decision made on how much involvement he will have in the process.
Manchester United’s hierarchy have no plans to consult Sir Alex Ferguson over who should be the next manager(Image: (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images))
The Manchester United hierarchy are not planning to discuss who will be the next manager with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, as they look for their next permanent replacement for Ruben Amorim.
The Mirror report that both the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are not looking to get the legendary manager’s input on the next hire.
It comes as Man United announced an end to Amorim’s 14-month reign at Old Trafford earlier this week, citing that it was the ‘right time to make a change’ for the highest possible finish in the Premier League.
While Darren Fletcher is in place as interim head coach, talks are ongoing with the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick over taking the role as caretaker until the end of the season – giving the hierarchy time to make a thorough decision on the next permanent hire in the summer.
Current names on the United shortlist include Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Mauricio Pochettino – all of whom could be available as part of a large managerial shuffle in the summer, following their World Cup duties with their respective national teams.
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There will be plenty for CEO Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox to ponder over with their next appointment, given the mixed reception to the exit of Amorim and questions over the long-term direction of the club.
This is now the seventh permanent manager United are looking to hire since Ferguson’s retirement back in 2013, with no clear indication on who could be the next through the door to try and bring back the success the legendary manager brought them.
The 84-year-old won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, and two Champions League titles, on top of many other honours in his time at Old Trafford.
Ferguson has often been viewed as a figure that Man United need to emulate, but given their struggles on the pitch, it has been tough for any manager to stay in post long enough to bring that level of success.
His presence still looms large, even though Ineos terminated his contract as a global ambassador for the club back in 2024 as part of a wider-scale cutback on costs.
Fletcher made keen reference to Ferguson when taking over the role as interim head coach, when he said to the press: “I don’t like to make any major decisions without speaking to Sir Alex.
Darren Fletcher took charge of Manchester United for the first time earlier this week in the 2-2 draw with Burnley(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“I’ve got a really good relationship with Sir Alex, so I wanted to speak to him first and ultimately to get his blessing, to be perfectly honest with you. I think he deserves that respect.
“I wanted to run it by him and he echoed my thoughts. When you’re an employee of the club, it’s your job to do your best for Manchester United. It is something I try and live and believe every day, so it was comforting for me for him to say that.”
While his influence over Fletcher and his role were clear, former captain Roy Keane is less than keen when it comes to the presence Ferguson still has around Man United.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former midfielder said: “Who is making the decisions at United? You have still got Ferguson and David Gill hanging around like a bad smell.
“Who is making the decisions? Ratcliffe, Wilcox? Who is going into the interview process, getting a feeler for them and saying, ‘this is the guy for us’.”
In this instance, it seems as though the hierarchy will avoid seeking out Ferguson’s blessing over their next managerial appointment, as they look to usher in a new era at the club.