Manchester United have now identified an “unbelievable” manager as their first-choice target to replace Ruben Amorim, amid the uncertainty surrounding the 40-year-old’s future.
Amorim not out of the woods despite improved results
Frank Ilett, the fan who has vowed not to cut his hair until Man United win five games in a row, probably hasn’t gotten his hopes up just yet, but Amorim has made some improvements in recent weeks, guiding his side to wins in two of their last three Premier League games.
On paper, the fixture list looks relatively kind until late October, with the Red Devils set to take on Brentford away this Saturday, before taking on Sunderland at Old Trafford the following week, giving Amorim a golden opportunity to buy himself some more time.
However, the United boss will be well-aware that things must start improving, given that he is currently regarded as one of the worst appointments since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
It has now been revealed the Man United hierarchy have started making plans for life after Amorim, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing that AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is the number one choice to replace the Portuguese coach.
Iraola, who is one of the most sought-after managers in Europe, is being closely monitored by the Red Devils, having transformed Bournemouth’s fortunes since replacing Gary O’Neil back in the summer of 2023.
INEOS are said to view the Spaniard as an elite coach, with the capabilities of managing a top club, and they have been impressed with the way in which he has implemented his system at the Vitality Stadium.
"Unbelievable" Iraola could be perfect Amorim replacement
Sky Sports’ Sue Smith waxed lyrical about the job the 43-year-old has done with the Cherries earlier this year, describing the work he’s done as “unbelievable”.
The Bournemouth boss, who likes to implement a 4-2-3-1 system, led his side to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, and he has made a flying start to the new campaign.
Despite losing a number of key players in the summer, such as Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Dango Ouattara, the Cherries have taken ten points from their opening five games, with arguably their most impressive victory coming away at Tottenham Hotspur.
Having now proven himself in the Premier League over a sustained period of time, Iraola could be the ideal replacement for Amorim, but it appears as though INEOS are willing to give the current manager a little while longer, after two wins in the last three league games.