Manchester United considering Oliver Glasner as a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim
Manchester United made a dreadful start to the 2025/26 Premier League season, and manager Ruben Amorim is in the firing line. The Portuguese joined United as the manager in November 2024, but could not stop United from finishing 15th in the league and losing the Europa League final last season. Now, the club has won just one out of the four games in the Premier League so far and is 14th in the points table.
Meanwhile, League 2 side Grimsby Town has also knocked out United from the Carabao Cup, which has just added to the pressure on Amorim. United lost the Manchester Derby 3-0, and now the Portuguese manager’s position is in danger, as the board had provided significant financial backing for signings this summer. To add to the disquiet, reports reveal that Manchester United players are surprised by Ruben Amorim’s handling of Kobbie Mainoo, which has left many wondering if he is mismanaging a crucial young talent.
United Look at Glasner as a Possible Successor
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke has reported that the board is already looking at possible replacements for the former Sporting CP manager. He feels that the club might target Crystal Palace’s current manager, Oliver Glasner, as his contract with Palace ends after this season.
The Austrian has established himself as a tactically astute Premier League coach, led Crystal Palace to an FA Cup triumph. The Red Devils are one of the legendary clubs in football history, and being appointed as the manager is a triumph for any coach. So, the 51-year-old might be looking at this as a perfect opportunity.
“I think obviously if Man United do decide to part ways with Ruben Amorim, they’re going to look for the best man for the job. Whether it’s somebody who’s already in the Premier League or somebody managing elsewhere, they will look at the market and see who is available.
“The Manchester United job will still be attractive, whatever their current situation, because they’re still a huge club with a huge fan base. And obviously, there has been financial backing in the transfer market as well for managers, which is always a tempting prospect for a manager.
“If they did decide to go for somebody in the Premier League, there are a few options for them who would be able to come in and hit the ground running. Glasner’s an interesting one as he is IN the final year of his contract at Crystal Palace and still seems there’s no progress on talks there, and what his situation is going to become next summer. But look for United right now, they’re still remaining fully behind Ruben Amorim and they hope that he can turn things around.”
Should United stick or twist?
We have to admit that Amorim’s tenure as United manager has been dreadful, and the Portuguese can’t run away from the criticisms. Under him, the team has managed just eight wins across 31 league games, which is a shambolic stat for a club of the stature of United. Moreover, the 40-year-old has remained adamant and rigid on his 3-4-2-1 formation, which has certainly not worked, and the fans have the right to show frustration after all these developments. There should be an argument for his dismissal when you see the Premier League points table and the defeat to a side like Grimsby Town
Yet we cannot ignore the deeper issues. The decline started well before Amorim walked through the doors, and successive managers have battled with flawed recruitment and inconsistent leadership. He lost Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho in the summer, and rebuilding after those exits is no simple task. At least Amorim has publicly taken responsibility, something not all of his predecessors did. Moreover, reports confirm that Manchester United have registered an annual income of £666.5m, which can help them sign Carlos Baleba.
Glasner, on the other hand, has proven himself at Palace. He has formed a disciplined side capable of overachieving. His use of wing-backs and robust central defenders might even make United’s current shape function more effectively. That said, changing managers every season has become a damaging habit, and patience might prove more valuable than another reset. Crystal Palace are one of the two sides yet to be beaten in the Premier League this season, further cementing Glasner’s ability to get the most out of his resources.