Zinedine Zidane’s conditions for taking over at Manchester United after Amorim exit

January 5, 2026 Oliver Obel

Manchester United are again reshaping their leadership after another managerial change, with uncertainty surrounding both short-term control and long-term direction at Old Trafford.

The decision followed mounting pressure over results and performances, with senior figures ultimately opting to act despite earlier signals of patience.

Exit confirmed

Ruben Amorim was dismissed on Monday after 14 months in charge, bringing an end to a turbulent spell marked by inconsistency and growing scrutiny.

United’s 3–1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday intensified pressure on the Portuguese coach. At the time of his dismissal, the 13-time Premier League champions were languishing in 14th place, having collected seven points from six matches and conceded 11 goals.

Read also: Flex erupts as United sack Amorim

Amorim departs with United sixth in the league standings overall this season. His final match in charge was a 1–1 draw away to rivals Leeds on Sunday. Speaking afterwards, he said he had agreed upon arrival to be “a manager, not a coach”.

Despite that distinction, the club’s statement confirming his exit referred to him as head coach — the title he held throughout his tenure — underlining a disconnect between Amorim’s public framing of his role and the club’s internal position.

Interim measures

Darren Fletcher, currently United’s under-18 coach, will take charge on a temporary basis in the immediate aftermath of Amorim’s exit.

However, BBC Sport reported that the club does not intend for Fletcher to remain in charge for the rest of the season. United are instead expected to appoint an interim manager in the coming weeks before moving to secure a permanent successor in the summer.

According to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had planned to give Amorim the remainder of the season, having backed him during the summer transfer window. The club were said to be adamant that no replacements had been lined up.

Even so, with Premier League managers facing diminishing tolerance for poor runs of form, United ultimately felt compelled to act as results failed to improve.

The decision was taken by the football department, including chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. United have already paid compensation following Erik ten Hag’s departure, adding further financial weight to another managerial change.

Leading candidates

Attention has quickly turned to potential replacements. Oliver Glasner, Enzo Maresca and Gareth Southgate have emerged as leading contenders for the role on a permanent basis.

Maresca, who left Chelsea on New Year’s Day, and former England manager Southgate are both currently out of work. Glasner, by contrast, is approaching the final six months of his contract at Crystal Palace, a situation that could allow United to negotiate a deal without significant compensation.

Zidane question

Zinedine Zidane remains a speculative but persistent name in the discussion. The former Real Madrid coach has been out of work since leaving the Bernabeu for a second time in 2021 and said in November that he expected to return to management “very soon”.

He has been repeatedly linked with United in recent years. Turkish media reported earlier this month that Zidane had reached an agreement to take over at Fenerbahce, though the role ultimately went to Domenico Tedesco.

Zidane has previously cited language as a barrier, telling L’Equipe in 2022 that his lack of proficiency in English had discouraged him from taking a job in English football. He has also been linked with the France national team once Didier Deschamps steps down after the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking in 2024, Zidane’s former France teammate Emmanuel Petit said any move to Old Trafford would depend on firm assurances.

“At the moment, the environment at Manchester United for years has not been good,” Petit said.

“The stability of the bench, the level of the players as well, the expectation of the club is not the same that it used to be.

“United is still a huge club, but not on the pitch anymore. And Zizou is very conscious and very careful about that… If he takes the job at Manchester United, that means he’s got solutions.”

For United, the challenge remains unchanged: restoring stability in a climate where patience is scarce and expectations remain unforgiving.

Sources: BBC Sport, L’Equipe