Paul Parker has named four possible candidates for the Manchester United job following Ruben Amorim’s sacking.
Amorim was relieved of his duties on Monday morning after a breakdown in his relationship with United director of football Jason Wilcox.
Friday’s pre-match press conference saw Amorim hint he was growing frustrated with his bosses and their reluctance to back him during the January transfer window.
Amorim took another swipe at the Old Trafford hierarchy after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United, insisting he would perform his job as a manager and ‘not a coach’.
Much was expected of Amorim after he took over from Erik ten Hag in November 2024 but he won just 25 of his 63 games in charge.
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Amorim built an impressive reputation at Portuguese giants Sporting but his 14-month stint in charge is the shortest reign for a Manchester United manager since David Moyes, who replaced Sir Alex Ferguson.
In the statement confirming Amorim’s sacking, United also said their former midfielder Darren Fletcher would take interim charge of the side, starting on Wednesday when the Red Devils face Burnley.
United are expected to name a permanent successor for Amorim in the summer, with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner the current favourite for the job.
Parker insists Glasner is a ‘serious candidate’ for the vacant position but wants Manchester United to also consider ex-Arsenal manager and current Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is another option, at least for Parker, who has also suggested United legend Roy Keane could return to Old Trafford in a coaching role.
Man Utd statement on Ruben Amorim sacking
‘With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club’s leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change.
‘This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.
‘The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.’
‘It won’t happen with these players but I would love to see Roy Keane as part of the coaching staff,’ the former Manchester United defender told freebets.com.
‘They’ll be crying to their agents after the first training session. They’re all too pampered these days.
‘But I think there are some serious candidates in the league already. Glasner’s definitely one of them for what he did with Frankfurt and what he’s gone and done with Crystal Palace. It’s incredible what he’s done with Palace.
‘I would look at the manager of Bournemouth. He’s got big aspirations to go further.
‘He’s another one at the moment who inside is burning up because when he gets someone good and the makings of a really solid team, he has to lose them because of money, look at the players he’s seen leave and they still compete with the best teams in the league.
‘I would look at Unai Emery as well. I know there are some who thinks he failed at PSG, but who hasn’t?
‘He didn’t fail at Arsenal either, Arsenal fans are self-entitled people who decided that he didn’t match up to Arsene Wenger and everyone else and the media decided to take the mick out of him because he couldn’t speak English particularly well.
‘But he’s a proper coach – proven European pedigree and gets players working hard.’
Amorim’s Manchester United finished just 15th in the Premier League last season and failed to salvage the campaign by losing a drab Europa League final to Tottenham.
United have certainly improved this term but still lacked consistency, with Sunday’s draw at Leeds leaving them sixth in the table.
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