There's rarely a moment where Ruben Amorim is not in the spotlight at Manchester United. Since taking the job in November 2024, the club have flattered to deceive under the Portuguese head coach, often falling short of expectations.
A dismal first season in the Old Trafford dugout went terribly, with the team finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing 14 out of a possible 27 games. And while fortunes have improved slightly in his sophomore campaign with the Red Devils, there have still been some results which have left supporters infuriated, particularly their recent 1-1 draw against struggling West Ham.
Some United fans might be forgiven for thinking whether their fortunes might have turned out differently had they turned to a different head coach. Prior to Amorim's arrival, they had been linked with six other managers - but what are each of them up to now? And have they been a success elsewhere?
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Thomas Tuchel
England manager Thomas Tuchel during the latest England squad announcement.
Having thrived at Chelsea, taking the Blues to Champions League glory, appointing a serial winner in the form of Thomas Tuchel might well have seen United thrive. Reports in 2024 constantly linked the German with the position, with him keen on taking it if it was offered to him.
However, the call never came, which led to Tuchel embarking on a different career path. Named England manager from 2025 onwards, he has guided the Three Lions through World Cup qualification, winning all but one of his 10 matches in charge so far. If he manages to win the World Cup in 2026, then United fans really will wish that things had turned out differently.
Graham Potter
West Ham United head coach Graham Potter
Graham Potter might well have been highly-rated as an up-and-coming manager while at Brighton, but his career has gone off the rails since then. A disastrous seven-month spell at Chelsea saw him win just 12 of his 31 matches at Stamford Bridge, and things then got even worse while at West Ham.
The Irons' squad just never really fit the football that Potter was trying to play at the London Stadium, with him relieved of his duties in September 2025. He wasn't out of work for long, though, taking on the Sweden job the following month, where he is yet to win a game.
Roberto De Zerbi
roberto de zerbi
Another manager who was previously in charge at Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi was identified as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag way back in March 2024. However, the Dutchman would go on to keep his job, while the Italian ultimately parted ways with his own Premier League club.
Any thoughts United might have had about making a move for De Zerbi at that point were quickly squashed, though, as he went on to take charge of Marseille. The former Seagull has been in his post since July 2024, helping to guide them back into the Champions League for 2025/26 as Les Phoceens finished 2nd in the league during his first season at the club.
Mauricio Pochettino
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout
The links between Mauricio Pochettino and the job at Old Trafford stretch as far back as 2021, when the Red Devils were looking for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's successor. In the time between then and Amorim's appointment, the Argentine had left Paris Saint-Germain, joined Chelsea and then left the Blues after a difficult single season in charge.
Despite all that, United remained interested in him, although that did eventually cool despite his availability. Instead, Pochettino went on to manage the United States national team, but things haven't gone incredibly well so far. The Stars and Stripes have won 14 out of 22 games under his watch, but lost the Gold Cup final to Mexico in July. He will be hoping for better fortunes when the 2026 World Cup kicks off on home soil.
Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank
At Brentford, Thomas Frank became one of the more impressive coaches in the Premier League. His teams were notoriously difficult to beat and constantly found themselves punching above their weight, mainly thanks to the superb attacking power they possessed in the form of Ivan Toney, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa.
His achievements in west London captured the attention of United's hierarchy, who were "very impressed" by him. However, supporters might well be thankful that a move to Old Trafford didn't materialise, as Frank has struggled since being appointed Tottenham manager in the summer of 2025. The club's board are unhappy with recent results under his tenure, with questions being raised over whether he will still be Spurs' manager come the end of the season.
Marco Silva
Fulham manager Marco Silva
Like Frank did at Brentford, Marco Silva has managed to turn his Fulham side into a dangerous proposition for the Premier League's biggest teams. It's his ability to get the best out of his players which has impressed fans and those within the game during his soon-to-be five-year tenure at Craven Cottage.
Having joined the club in July 2021, Silva has taken charge of over 200 games, with him winning 92 of those. But he might not have reached that landmark had United chosen to activate his release clause before they finalised a move for Amorim instead. Instead, he remains in charge of the west London club, although they have not made the brightest of starts to the 2025/26 season, languishing in 15th place.