Next Manchester United Manager: Max Allegri Leads Field If United Axe Amorim

Manchester United’s season is going from bad to worse after ending 2024 with a third successive home defeat.

Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim accepted that Newcastle deserved their 2-0 victory and later admitted his team are in danger of relegation.

United are just seven points clear of the bottom three in 14th place, their lowest position at the turn of the year since 1989.

The best betting sites are now weighing up the possibility that Amorim is starting to skate on thin ice and that he could be sacked in a bid to stop the rot.

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Amorim was brought to Old Trafford to much fanfare from Sporting in a bid to get the fans excited again following a couple of tedious years under Erik ten Hag. 

But, since his first game on November 24, only Southampton have lost more matches than United in all competitions. 

The Portuguese is struggling to get his new charges to adapt to his preferred 3-4-3 formation and he came under criticism for fielding Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in the heart of midfield on Monday night.

Marcus Rashford returned to the squad for that game but once more was just a spectator.

Asked by a BBC reporter whether United could go down this season, Amorim said: "I think that it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans."

With the clouds descending once more and money too tight to mention, is it already time for the Reds board to simply ditch their experiment and bring in another manager who will go back to basics? 

We take a look at potential candidates to replace Amorim and the latest next Man Utd manager odds.

Next Manchester United Manager Odds

Allegri Early Favourite For United Job

Manchester United’s new cost-cutting regime under minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe is well known, so it makes sense to look at a couple of managers that are available without the need to pay compensation.

Ratcliffe had already established himself as a Scrooge-type figure even before the Christmas bells started jingling, slashing costs across many areas of the operation.

With that in mind, serial winner Max Allegri would seem to be the perfect fit for a club lacking stability.

Allegri has won Serie A five times with Juventus and once with AC Milan, and twice reached the Champions League final with the Old Lady.

The Italian has deployed numerous formations during his managerial career, but generally played with four at the back at Juventus, a system which suits United and one which could bring Rashford back into the fold.

Allegri has never coached outside Italy, but is available after leaving Juve last season with two games remaining and is 7/4 favourite with football betting sites to be the next Manchester United manager.

Arise, Sir Gareth!

Newly-knighted Gareth Southgate is another manager waiting for the right opportunity.

Southgate’s eight-year reign as England coach ended after the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain, but could he make a return to club management at one of the world’s biggest clubs?

The former Middlesbrough and Aston Villa boss led the Three Lions to two European Championship finals and the last four of the 2018 World Cup.

Southgate stood down in the summer and said he wanted to take a year out of management, but he would surely be tempted if United came calling.

Betting apps make Southgate 2/1 to end up at Old Trafford should United’s board decide to wield the axe.

Iraola Reputation Rising 

United fans saw the capabilities of Andoni Iraola once again a couple of weeks ago when Bournemouth handed out their second 3-0 drubbing at Old Trafford in successive seasons.

The Cherries spent just £32.7million in the summer transfer window – around a third of United’s outlay – but they have eight points more and a realistic chance of playing Champions League football next season.

Their success is down to the tactical nous of Iraola, who has made a real impact since replacing Gary O’Neil 18 months ago.

The Spaniard seems destined for a big job one day and he is 5/2 to end up at United next.

Xavi Would Excite Fans

Barcelona legend Xavi was one of the greatest midfielders the world has ever seen – and he has already had some success in the early stages of his career as a coach.

The nine-time Liga winner won the Champions League four times as a player with Barca, so his arrival at Camp Nou was greeted ecstatically by supporters in November 2021 when he replaced the unpopular Ronald Koeman.

Ninth when he took charge, Xavi steered the Catalan giants to a runners-up spot and then won La Liga in the following season.

Although his tenure ended badly, Xavi has the footballing brain required to get the best out of United’s ailing midfield and is 3/1 to make the move to Manchester.

Forest Manager On A Roll 

Nuno Espirito Santo has had mixed experiences of managing in the Premier League, but his reputation could not be any higher.

Espirito Santo has steered Nottingham Forest to the dizzy heights of second place at the turn of the year and he is 4/1 to replace Amorim should his fellow Portuguese be axed.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank continues to work miracles on one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League and the likeable Dane is 5/1 to end up at Old Trafford.

Would the board risk the ire of United fans by appointing former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini?

Mancini famously snatched the Premier League title from United’s grasp when Sergio Aguero scored the winner in the dying seconds of the 2011/12 season and is available after leaving his role as Saudi Arabia head coach in October.

Mancini is 6/1 to join United, while Fulham’s Marco Silva can be backed at 8/1.   

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick, who was unbeaten in his three games in temporary charge of United at the end of 2021, is 10/1. 

Ex-Chelsea boss Graham Potter and former Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic are 14/1 and 16/1 respectively in the next Man Utd manager odds.

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.