Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League Final 2025 - Source: Getty
Manchester United are reportedly considering three of Chelsea's ex-managers as potential candidates to take over as manager this summer. The Red Devils sacked coach Ruben Amorim earlier this month, with Darren Fletcher currently serving as interim coach.
Ruben Amorim signed for Manchester United last season in November 2024 from Sporting CP, with his 14-month-spell at the club being far from the expectations. The English giants ended last season after a loss to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, and finished 15th in the league. Further, this season also showed little ray of hope after United bowed out of the Carabao Cup after a loss to Grimsby Town. Amorim's sacking came after he made some controversial statements in a press conference earlier this month.
According to the Daily Mirror (h/t Metro UK), Manchester United have shortlisted three former Chelsea managers to replace Ruben Amorim this summer. This includes current England boss Thomas Tuchel, Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti, and USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino. All three candidates are currently focused on their respective international campaigns ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mauricio Pochettino has considerable experience coaching in the Premier League, having led Southampton (2013-14), Tottenham Hotspur (2014-19), and Chelsea (2023-14). He is expected to leave the USMNT after the World Cup, making him available to take over at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel previously led Chelsea to triumph in the UEFA Champions League in 2021. Tuchel is currently focused on leading England to the 2026 World Cup, with his contract ending this summer. Finally, Carlo Ancelotti, often considered among the greatest coaches of all time, is leading the Brazil national team, with his contract potentially going beyond the 2026 World Cup.
Reports suggest that Manchester United are willing to wait until the summer of 2026 to sign a permanent coach. An interim manager will remain in charge until then, with Darren Fletcher being the favorite to land the position. The Red Devils' decision will also depend on the results of the World Cup and the availability of their potential candidates.
Gary Neville names former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti as an "outstanding candidate" to be the manager at Manchester United
Carlo Ancelotti - Source: Getty
Carlo Ancelotti - Source: Getty
In a newsletter on The Overlap, Manchester United legend Gary Neville named ex-Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti as an outstanding candidate to become the next coach at Old Trafford. Neville wrote (via The Mirror):
"The outstanding candidate for me would be Carlo Ancelotti, even if it would mean potentially delaying his arrival until late July if Brazil reached the World Cup final. No-one comes as close to fulfilling everything laid out above than he does. Ironically the club met with Carlo shortly before his retirement in 2013 and we could have short circuited this entire process and started with him at the beginning of the cycle."
He continued:
"But by that stage he was close to agreeing to joining Real Madrid for his first spell in charge and so what might have been a perfect appointment never happened."
Carlo Ancelotti also has experience managing a Premier League side, having led Chelsea to the league title in 2009-10, and also holding the helm at Everton. Brazil are counting on him to lead them to the 2026 World Cup, with further discussions about his future depending on the same.