Ratcliffe identifies ex-PSG coach as his “clear favourite” to replace Amorim, but Wilcox is ready to say no – report

Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Ruben Amorim and the Argentine has support from a pivotal figure at Old Trafford, according to a new report. INEOS run out of patience INEOS’s response to Amorim‘s war of words in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday afternoon was as decisive as it was deadly. Ruben Amorim Managerial Stats TeamFromToGames PlayedGames WonGames DrawnGames LostWin % Casa Pia1 July 20187 January 2019430175.00 Braga B16 September 201923 December 20191182172.73 Braga23 December 20194 March 202013101276.92 Sporting CP4 March 202010 November 2024231164343371.00 Manchester United11 November 20245 January 20266324182138.10 Career total——322209555864.91 Less than 24 hours after the Portuguese coach was criticising Jason Wilcox to the media, United’s sporting director, alongside chief executive Omar Berrada, dismissed him in a meeting at Carrington. The outburst at Elland Road was not the decisive factor behind Amorim’s departure, however. In reality, United’s hierarchy had already decided to bring an end to his tumultuous tenure 48 hours earlier, following a heated one-on-one between Wilcox and Amorim in which the coach angrily rejected calls to adapt his favoured 3-4-2-1 system. INEOS, driven by Christopher Vivell – the increasingly influential recruitment director – wanted United’s approach to be less predictable with more attacking intent. And there was optimism after the Boxing Day triumph over Newcastle, which saw United surprise the Magpies by lining up in a back four. However, these feelings dissipated when Amorim reverted to his three-man defence against bottom-placed Wolves just four days later, and the abject performance which ensued. It was this 1-1 stalement, rather than the one against Leeds, which sealed his fate – a decision full supported by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe’s Favourite Option Under-18’s coach Darren Fletcher will take charge of the senior side against Burnley tomorrow night. But a permanent caretaker, likely to be Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, will then take the reigns until the end of the season, before a long-term replacement for Amorim is sourced over the summer. There will be intense debate, both inside and outside the club, over who the best candidate for the role is, with early signs pointing towards Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner. However, ESPN reports Pochettino, current managing the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT), is also under consideration. And TEAMtalk reporter Rudy Galetti reveals the 52-year-old coach, who enjoyed previous spells at Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Paris-Saint Germain, is Ratcliffe’s “clear favourite” to take the hotseat at the Theatre of Dreams. The World Cup – hosted by the United States this summer, and Pochettino’s immediate priority – is a complicating factor, which Galetti claims is the reason “other profiles are being evaluated”. But the report concludes that Ratcliffe will “not have the final say” – that responsibility will fall upon Wilcox, though it is salient to note who hired the sporting director and pays his salary every month. Featured image by Justin Setterfield via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.