Manchester United have held initial talks with former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick as they look to steady the ship following the sacking of Ruben Amorim.
The two club legends have emerged as the leading candidates to take over on a caretaker basis until the end of the season.
Amorim was dismissed on Monday after just 14 months in charge, with United currently sitting sixth in the Premier League. The Portuguese coach’s tenure ended abruptly following a reported power struggle with the club’s hierarchy over recruitment policy.
Familiar faces
Both Solskjaer and Carrick are well-versed in the “interim” role at Old Trafford.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: The Norwegian famously took over from Jose Mourinho in 2018, sparking a run of form that earned him the permanent job for three years. He has been out of work since leaving Turkish side Besiktas in August.
- Michael Carrick: The former midfielder served as Solskjaer’s assistant before taking charge for a successful three-game stint as caretaker in 2021. He is currently a free agent after leaving Middlesbrough last summer.
Sources suggest United are considering a “radical” proposal that could see the pair reunite as a joint management team, mirroring their coaching partnership under Solskjaer’s previous reign.
Fletcher leads the line
While negotiations continue, Darren Fletcher will take charge of the first team for Wednesday night’s trip to Burnley.
Fletcher, currently the club’s Under-18s coach, described the opportunity to lead the side as being beyond his “wildest dreams,” though he insists his focus remains solely on the immediate fixture at Turf Moor.
“It’s an amazing honour,” Fletcher told reporters. “It wasn’t in the circumstances I expected, but I have a job to do for this club.”
The summer plan
The United hierarchy, led by CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox, plan to appoint a permanent successor in the summer.
Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Marseille’s Roberto De Zerbi are understood to be high on the club’s shortlist. Glasner, who won the FA Cup with Palace last season, refused to fuel speculation on Tuesday, telling a press conference that asking about the United link “makes no sense.”
Analysis: A return to the ‘United DNA’?
By turning to Solskjaer and Carrick, United appear to be prioritizing stability and a positive atmosphere after the “turbulent” end to Amorim’s reign.
One first-team player told BBC Sport that the squad would welcome the return of familiar figures, suggesting that a shared role or a continuation of Fletcher’s interim spell could help bridge the gap until a permanent appointment is made in July.
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