Although Manchester United’s boardroom bosses, including the divisive minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are willing to give Ruben Amorim three more years at the Old Trafford helm as a means of getting things on track – but, in terms of who could succeed the Portuguese tactician, Red Devils defender-turned-pundit Gary Neville has been tipped as a replacement.
Bringing a totally different style of play to Stretford, Amorim arrived from Sporting CP in November 2024 with plenty of promise after beating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League last season, but things haven’t gone to plan. He faced defeat in the Europa League final in 2024/25 and finished the Premier League season in 15th place.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Amorim has won just 20 of his 50 matches in charge of Manchester United; that equates to a 40% win rate.
A smattering of Amorim-inspired signings over the summer – think Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko – had promised the Old Trafford faithful improvements, but it’s been largely more of the same, especially given they crashed out of the League Cup at the hands of fourth-tier opposition Grismby Town in August.
At the time of writing, Amorim’s Red Devils sit tenth in the table after picking up victories – including an unforeseen 2-1 win over Chelsea – in just three of their opening seven games. Up next for the Red Devils, when their squad returns from October’s international hiatus, is a trip to Anfield to face Arne Slot’s reigning champions in Liverpool.
Gary Neville Tipped as a Potential Ruben Amorim Replacement at Man Utd
In the football echo chamber, there have been a myraid of names – the out-of-work Xavi Hernandez, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola all spring to mind – who have been linked with the Manchester United position. But Neville’s name has also come up in the conversation by former striker Alvaro Negredo.
Madrid-born Negredo, formerly of Manchester City, played under Neville during the latter’s hodgepodge spell at Valencia – and he believes the 50-year-old, who won just 10 of his 28 matches in charge of the Spanish outfit, could be an enticing candidate for the Old Trafford hierarchy.
The former right-back’s ill-fated stewardship in Spain, which spanned between December 2015 and March 2016, is his only managerial spell to date but Negredo believes that he could soon return to management. Speaking to Coin Poker, as reported by The Mirror, the former Sevilla and Middlesbrough centre-forward said:
“It also depends on the situation at Manchester United. I think he was a very important player for Manchester United. He’s a player who gave a lot to English football. Perhaps, similar to Valencia at that time, it’s a United team who haven’t been consistently at the top for a long time, and perhaps now wouldn’t be the best moment.”
That said, Negredo cited United’s tumultuous state as a reason why Neville’s managerial skills could be called upon should they decide to cut Amorim’s spell short. “But it is also true that changes come when the team is not in a good moment,” the 40-year-old said before adding: “I would try because, as I say, as a coach, I did like him.”
Since being sacked by Valencia 10 years ago, ex-England international Neville has resorted to being a full-time pundit for the likes of Sky Sports, while he is also part-owner of Salford City alongside former teammate David Beckham. Negredo, however, expected him to return to the dugout sooner: “Yes, it surprises me because I considered him capable and qualified.
“Perhaps in Spain at that time, due to the language barrier, he didn’t get more opportunities, but in the Premier League, I would have given him more, based on my experience. For me, he was a good coach who, as I said, came with a very good attitude and desire to improve.
“He had been a player, so he also possesses knowledge of the football world. These are decisions that perhaps he didn’t want to continue experiencing, and he hasn’t had the opportunity to continue coaching,” Negredo, who notched 12 goal contributions (nine goals and three assists) in 25 matches under Neville, said.