Top manager wants Manchester United job

January 9, 2026 Oliver Obel

Manchester United’s search for a new head coach is entering a sensitive stage, with club executives juggling immediate results against longer-term stability after another abrupt change on the touchline.

Ruben Amorim’s dismissal after 14 unsettled months has left United in a holding pattern at a point in the season when momentum is already fragile. The priority now is damage limitation but without repeating past mistakes.

Short-term cover under consideration

According to Teamtalk, United are exploring interim appointments to take charge through the end of the campaign. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are among the former club figures discussed internally as potential short-term solutions.

Those talks, however, are taking place alongside a broader review of candidates who could extend beyond a caretaker role, reflecting concern about another rapid managerial turnover.

Maresca available and interested

One name under discussion is Enzo Maresca. Teamtalk reports that the Italian coach is open to the Manchester United role and would consider stepping in immediately if the opportunity arose.

Maresca, 45, has been out of work since leaving Chelsea last season. His departure came after a campaign that included silverware, but Chelsea opted for a longer-term reset and appointed Liam Rosenior on a five-and-a-half-year contract.

While there is no indication that formal negotiations have begun, the report describes Maresca as receptive to a return to management.

Familiarity behind the scenes

Maresca’s candidacy is strengthened by an existing relationship with United chief executive Omar Berrada, who previously worked with him at Manchester City. During that period, Maresca served on Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff.

Guardiola has publicly described Maresca as “one of the best managers in the world”, praise that continues to be cited whenever the Italian is linked with elite-level roles.

A defining decision for INEOS

The context surrounding the appointment is difficult. United have trimmed their wage bill, leaned more heavily on younger players and accepted short-term growing pains all of which place added importance on coaching continuity.

For co-owners INEOS, the next managerial choice is widely viewed inside the club as a defining one. Whether Maresca ultimately fits that brief remains uncertain, but reported openness from both sides suggests his name is part of a wider, ongoing conversation.

Sources: Teamtalk