RUBEN AMORIM is prepared to walk away from Manchester United - but which managers are on the shortlist to replace him?
The Portuguese boss, 40, was only appointed SIX months ago but has overseen the worst period in the club's recent history.
United missed the chance to end another horror season on a positive note as they were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.
Amorim immediately claimed he would quit Off Trafford with no pay-off if the board and fans decide his time is up.
He said: “I’m always open, if they feel that I am not the right guy, I will go the next day without any conversation about compensation.
“But I will not quit. I am really confident in my job. As you can see, I will not change nothing in how I do things.”
United were seven points off a Champions League spot when Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag, but now are a remarkable TWENTY SEVEN points off fifth spot.
Yet Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are backing the man who has picked up just NINE points since December as United hit a new low every week.
But while the post Sir Alex Ferguson era has got worse and worse, no manager has suffered the humiliation of being 16th in the Prem table, with the cash-less squad needing an entire overhaul.
SunSport takes a look at the six candidates to replace Amorim if he decides to head for the ever-lasting revolving door.
Massimiliano Allegri
Former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri leads the betting markets at 4/1, according to Betfair.
The pragmatic 58-year-old - once hailed as an "extraordinary technician" by Sir Alex - was a front-runner in October 2024 before Amorim was hired.
It's claimed that he was involved in angry exchanges with officials, a reporter and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli after the 1-0 win over Atalanta - which largely contributed to him receiving the boot.
The decorated coach won five Serie A titles with Juve, as well as five league cups.
He also reached two Champions League finals during his first stint in charge, before returning in 2021 to manage them for a further three years.
Allegri first managed AC Milan between 2010 and 2014, winning Serie A in the 2010-11 season.
Kieran McKenna
Ipswich boss McKenna was also on United’s shortlist of candidates to replace Ten Hag last year.
The Northern Irishman - who was a coach under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United - is still held in high regard despite being unable to avoid relegation with the Tractor Boys.
McKenna knows United inside out, but whether he's ready to front England's biggest team is another story - just look at Amorim.
Ipswich won back-to-back promotions from League One to the Prem, ending the club's 22-year absence, under his tutelage.
Jose Mourinho
He couldn't. Could he?
The Special One is a staggering 6/1 favourite to make a stunning return to Old Trafford and take over from his former apprentice.
Mourinho guided United to their last European cup victory in 2017 and it's hard to imagine him losing to Spurs in any final.
The 62-year-old, who is just about to finish second in the Super Lig in his debut campaign with Fenerbahce, spent just over two seasons with United before he was sacked in December 2018.
The former Chelsea boss then spent two years at Spurs before things turned sour in 2019, with United going trophy-less until 2023.
The likelihood of Ratcliffe bringing him back seems slim, especially given his past history with the chaos club who don't need anymore scandals.
But serial winner Mourinho loves the Prem and will believe he can find success anywhere - before inevitably falling out with everybody.
Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner's stock is at an all-time high following his FA Cup success against Manchester City.
Like Postecoglou ended Spurs' 17-year drought last night, Glasner won Palace's first ever trophy in the club's 120-year history.
The 50-year-old has experience of success, having led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022.
He also lifted the Austrian Cup twice with SV Ried, where he spent most of his playing career.
Glasner has never lost or conceded a goal to Man Utd either, smashing them 4-0 within months of going Palace in May 2024.
Mauricio Pochettino
Spurs fans wanted Pochettino back before Ange delivered a trophy at long last this week.
Pochettino, currently paid £4.5m a year in his US national team job, is available at 7/1 to make a return for a fourth stint in the Prem.
The Argentine previously managed Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, who he left by mutual consent last year.
But Poch, sacked in 2019, just months after leading Spurs to the Champions League Final, has spoken of “unfinished business” in North London.
While 53-year-old was once considered to become a future legendary boss, United fans don't want to become his fifth Prem club.
Gareth Southgate
The former England boss has been out of management since leaving his role with the Three Lions after the Euro 2024 final.
In October, he ruled himself out of any dugout jobs for at least 12 months - but may have turned his back on football for good.
Southgate - who is writing a book, been a technical observer for Uefa and gave the BBC's Richard Dimbleby Lecture - said: "I won’t coach in the next year, for sure. I'm certain of that.
"I need to give myself time to make good decisions. When you come out of a really big role you need to give your body time, you need to give your mind time."
The ex-Middlesbrough coach was somehow strongly linked to the Old Trafford hotseat last summer, amid uncertainty regarding the future of Ten Hag.
Southgate is said to have admirers within Ineos, but the fans will surely riot if he arrives as gaffer.
Gwinghltd
0
this man will go entirely bald headed in his week .
Saaeklno
0
no one qualified for the managerial position... at Man United ... Man United ... need to learn from arsenal management... how they have been patience with the coach...
deycempsz
0
why not bring in Micheal carrick please
lbcrna
0
who is the idiot that is making this decisions. Bring Mourinho back
Zebeiklno
1
I don't understand the fans of red devil club, we say coach have no problem but problem is only player's player's are not giving tactics themselves but headaches they're one instructor player's the style he wants to play, 90% United are not using formation 5 4 1 or 5 3 2 but United naturally formation was 4 4 2 or 4 3 3,if you come especially in England premier league using 5 4 1 system using 5 defense 2 defensive midfielders 1 winger 1 role No 10 and strike sometimes you can fail because England league not like other league, unless you can use 4 defenders 2 defensive midfield 1 role no 10 2 wingers and 1 strike that is why you see our strike no 9 he is not score many goals, because the coach system very difficult to him, he's a finisher, Houland is dangerous when you have someone shooting a ball outside of box or you have winger cross the the ball in keeper area, he can score anytime you want.
moodelprsz
0
Allegri or Xavi. But Amorin should be given a full season
moodelprsz
0
Why not Xavi
Feyacdilnz
1
I do not trust Amorim anymore. He, actually has given up, and indirectly admits that he messed up, and is ashamed of changing his tactics.That's clear as daylight. Why keep him?
foccdruy
1
give him time, please
Stop, just stop. He's been here six months, every day it gets worse.
hezabdko
0
zeidan
hezabdko
0
Call Evra.we will see how much he can do for football.
fimaklnry
0
Overhaul the squad and test the Coach with new signings..simple!!
Nahabnostz
0
give him time, please
siuacortz
0
the manager can walk away because you can't buy a Ferrari then you can't afford to fuels it? they club claim many things at the same time they buy young players without experience? problems has bin sorounded pressure less of key players injuries so you adgust till enough is enough that's why you a coach he is ready to go away if you don't need him ........young players.. and win... what about the expiraince.....man u fight for almost every trophy the players some they cant afford that energy..boys of futbol.....vini jr.. Bellingham... Diaz odegard yamal and etc young but strong hard working claver in the game so if you need a gud futbolers now the season is gone go shopping buy players and build the game in your side that's how it goes winning and loosing is part of he game and it's never end from there then
Dapcmostz
0
Smallest club in the world
zuncderst
0
where is he walking to he led in this mess let him rectify it
Umaroone
2
If they let Amorim go they will regret it
Ciabemopr
0
Casemiro is finally successful after winning the Europa league and qualified for the Champions league
Kodeknru
0
What trophy did alegeri won no ucl
then explain to me which trophy did Gareth win as a coach?
ĚlGilberto
0
Mc kena is good bros
Lazdmru
2
I prefer Gareth Southgate
Gberto
0
I think Barca should appoint Allegri since One season wonder Flick would probably bottle the next season just like he did with Germany National Team. We should probably fire him in mid season and go for an experienced technician like Allegri known for winning trophies
continue with him and find Man United in championship very soon
Lazdmru
0
I prefer Gareth Southgate
Gberto
1
ETH shouldn't have been stacked in the first place. Some cannot take a team 7 pts to top 4 then puts it at 27pts then depend on Europa to go to UCL. Ten Hag at least gave 2 trophies in 2 years but fans wanted him sacked. Now I hear some fans saying he should be given more time. No No No ! continue with him for him to send you down to championship. You can't loan strikers to depend on defenders to score goals
Chower
2
They should bring back OLE
misbckmprs
0
so man u can't find a better coach all this coaches listed here are trash
Kasadklmop
0
The problem is not the coaches or the players. Manchester United is cursed. Sir Alex Ferguson did a lot of shaddy things there
Kitdekmnrt
0
I think Barca should appoint Allegri since One season wonder Flick would probably bottle the next season just like he did with Germany National Team. We should probably fire him in mid season and go for an experienced technician like Allegri known for winning trophies
You’re very stupid and senseless!!
nabaopy
4
Still calling united the 'biggest team in England' is hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nosadlmrty
0
I think Barca should appoint Allegri since One season wonder Flick would probably bottle the next season just like he did with Germany National Team. We should probably fire him in mid season and go for an experienced technician like Allegri known for winning trophies
You’re very stupid
jickpstuz
0
Give him times, he still not event have a chance to rebuild the squads, with the current squads still have a lot of thing to change including stadium, team morale and attitude of players.
wimlmpru
0
hire me.. i can do a better job than Amorim..
lawdekluyz
0
What trophy did alegeri won no ucl
BiIIyDedon
0
I think Barca should appoint Allegri since One season wonder Flick would probably bottle the next season just like he did with Germany National Team. We should probably fire him in mid season and go for an experienced technician like Allegri known for winning trophies