Manchester United continue to be linked with a list of potential head coaches after Ruben Amorim was given his marching orders on Monday. There will be many players in the dressing room with a clear preference about who they think should get the job.
It has been a hectic week at Old Trafford. The media has been in overdrive following Manchester United’s decision to sack Ruben Amorim because every reporter is trying to find out what steps the club will take next.
Darren Fletcher is currently in charge of United’s first team and will keep that role until the board decide on who should be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Fellow club legends Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy are all in contention for the temporary job.
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This means United are most likely to wait until the summer to appoint a permanent head coach. The early top contender is Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace, with Ineos keen on coaches with Premier League experience.
It remains to be seen if the board will lean on the dressing room to assist their search for a new head coach. Plenty of United stars will have their favourites in mind.
Thomas Tuchel and Mason Mount at Chelsea
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Mason Mount could reunite with Thomas Tuchel at Man Utd
The media are drawing up a long list of potential candidates to become United’s next permanent coach.
United’s priority now is finding the right interim head coach, but they will also have to draw up a shortlist of options to take control of the team in the summer.
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According to The Mirror, United’s shortlist includes Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti and Mauricio Pochettino.
All three of those managers will be competing at the World Cup this summer, meaning their arrival at Old Trafford could be delayed until their teams are eliminated from the tournament.
Tuchel is currently in charge of England after succeeding Gareth Southgate as manager. He will be competing with Ancelotti (Brazil) and Pochettino (USA) in the 48-nation tournament.
Perhaps the biggest surprise from Tuchel’s time in charge of the England national team is his reluctance to select Mason Mount for the squad in previous months.
The German coach has been linked with a move to United in the past, so it’s hardly a surprise to see the rumours resurface.
Mount’s last appearance for England was in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final when the Three Lions suffered defeat against France. It remains to be seen if he can get into Tuchel’s plans before the World Cup this summer.
The reason for this is that Mount has struggled to stay fit and play regular football since his 2023 transfer from Chelsea to United. His form has been encouraging, other than the frequent setbacks.
However, there was a time when Tuchel was a huge admirer of Mount when they worked together at Chelsea, winning the Champions League in 2021.
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They share a positive relationship to this day, with Tuchel taking time to explain his England selections to Mount.
Tuchel arrived at Stamford Bridge in January 2021 after the sacking of Frank Lampard, before making an immediate impression on Mount.
“I remember we had a meeting in the morning,” Mount said, as per The Mirror. “The week was a kind of whirlwind; it was crazy. It’s something I’ve never experienced before.
“We had a meeting where he [Tuchel] put down everything that he wants us to do, how he wants us to play, how he likes to manage. He told us everything and then we went out and trained, and we had a game the next day.
“So, it was a crazy kind of turnaround but he was so clear on what he wanted and how he would like us to play, very clear on the roles and responsibilities, that it made it very easy for us to transition.
“From day one, as players we realised how he gives his game plan. It made it easy for us to go onto the pitch and do it. As a team we are players who react off that and adapt very quickly.
“It made it easy, and we want to play in these big games and win trophies. That has always been our goal, and since he has come in, he has pushed us, and we have definitely had the opportunity to win big games and play in finals.”
In the months that followed, Tuchel turned a team sitting ninth in the Premier League into Champions League winners. A League Cup and FA Cup final were achieved the following campaign, but relations with the Chelsea hierarchy broke down in September 2022.
It remains to be seen if Tuchel will become United’s head coach, but the rumours exist, and they’re likely to excite Mount.
Man Utd can speak to Casemiro about Carlo Ancelotti
Casemiro is unlikely to be at United next season due to his contract expiring in the summer, but the experienced midfielder could still play a hand in helping United hire a new head coach.
The relationship between Casemiro and Ancelotti has been strong for a long time.
Casemiro was one of the best defensive midfielders in the world when he played under Ancelotti at Real Madrid, where they won everything together.
As of May 2025, Casemiro and Ancelotti have famously reunited on the international stage with the Brazil national team.
Ancelotti has been full of praise for Casemiro since their reunion, but the 33-year-old could prove beneficial to United if they have any questions about the Italian coach.
In a previous interview with El Chiringuito TV, Casemiro revealed that Ancelotti cried when the midfielder left Real Madrid for United.
“When I was close to leaving, I entered Ancelotti’s office & he was crying. I asked him: ‘Why are you crying?’ He said: ‘Case, I don’t know, I just want you to know that I love you & don’t want you to leave’.
“That was when I doubted leaving.”
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