Manchester United: Candidates for the Old Trafford hotseat

Ruben Amorim got dismissed as Manchester United's manager on Monday following 14 months at the helm, igniting discussions about who might replace him at Old Trafford.

The under-18s coach Darren Fletcher has stepped in as temporary boss, and reports suggest the club aims to install a caretaker for the remainder of the season.

AFP Sport examines possible choices as United hunt for their seventh full-time manager since Alex Ferguson left in 2013.

Oliver Glasner

Oliver Glasner led Crystal Palace to their inaugural major honour by claiming the FA Cup last season. This 51-year-old Austrian, whose deal with Palace runs out at the end of this term, has drawn interest from various teams. Similar to Amorim, Glasner often deploys a back three with wing-backs at Palace, yet he shared with Sky Sports last year that his preferred setup is 4-4-2.

Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca split from Chelsea last week due to disagreements with the board. The 45-year-old Italian secured the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup during his debut year at Stamford Bridge, and rumours tie him to Manchester City if Pep Guardiola departs at season's end.

Gareth Southgate

The ex-England head coach Gareth Southgate, aged 55, is said to be respected by those at Old Trafford and has featured in speculation for the United role before. However, it's uncertain if the previous Middlesbrough manager would opt for a club comeback after leaving the England post post-Euro 2024.

Unai Emery

Unai Emery has revolutionised Aston Villa's performance since arriving over three years back. The 54-year-old Spaniard orchestrated an exciting Champions League run last term, and his team is now challenging Arsenal and Manchester City closely for the Premier League summit.

Darren Fletcher

Should Darren Fletcher, 41, make a strong start in his interim role, might he emerge as a contender for the permanent position at United? The ex-Red Devils player has no experience managing senior squads but now has a prime opportunity to shine. He could aspire to emulate his old colleague Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who secured the job on a full basis after succeeding as temporary manager.

Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel's current focus is solely on securing the World Cup for England this year. The 52-year-old German has suggested openness to extending his tenure, but the ex-Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich manager might find the Old Trafford position appealing.

Mauricio Pochettino

Manchester United has been connected to ex-Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea chief Mauricio Pochettino in prior reports. The 53-year-old Argentine currently leads the US national side, so he might be free to step in after the World Cup.

Andoni Iraola

Spain's Andoni Iraola, 43, has shone since assuming control at Bournemouth in 2023, achieving record Premier League points for the club in his opening two years. His three trips to Old Trafford managing Bournemouth have yielded two 3-0 victories and a thrilling 4-4 stalemate last month.