On the evening of 27/8, after a 2-2 draw in regulation time, Man Utd lost 11-12 to Grimsby Town in a penalty shootout. The defeat to the League Two side, the fourth tier of English football, proved to be the final straw after a 1-0 loss to Arsenal and a 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League. Fans are urging the board to sack manager Ruben Amorim.

Amorim looks dejected as Man Utd lose to Grimsby Town in the second round of the League Cup on the evening of 27/8. Photo: Reuters

Amorim looks dejected as Man Utd lose to Grimsby Town in the second round of the League Cup on the evening of 27/8. Photo: Reuters

According to British bookmakers, Southgate is the frontrunner for the job, with odds of 5/1. The English manager previously managed Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009, the England U21 team from 2013 to 2016, and the England national team from 2016 to 2024. He achieved notable success, leading England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the Euro finals in 2021 and 2024. In the summer of 2024, there were rumors that Man Utd's leadership considered Southgate as a replacement for Erik Ten Hag.

Michael Carrick, a former midfielder who played for Man Utd from 2006 to 2018, is also a top contender with odds of 5/1. Carrick served as an assistant to Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford. In November 2021, he became caretaker manager after Solskjaer's departure, winning two and drawing one game, including a 3-2 victory against Arsenal. After leaving Man Utd, Carrick managed Middlesbrough from 2022 to June 2025.

Crystal Palace’s current manager, Oliver Glasner, is also highly regarded as a potential replacement for Amorim, with odds of 8/1. Over the past three months, the Austrian manager has impressed, leading Crystal Palace to victories over Man City in the FA Cup and Liverpool in the Community Shield.

Mauricio Pochettino, the current manager of the US national team, also shares the second spot with odds of 8/1. The Argentine manager led Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019 and has also managed PSG and Chelsea.

The list of potential replacements for Amorim at Man Utd is as follows:

5/1 odds: Gareth Southgate and Michael Carrick (both currently unemployed)

8/1 odds: Oliver Glasner (currently managing Crystal Palace) and Mauricio Pochettino (US national team)

10/1 odds: Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town)

12/1 odds: Marco Silva (Fulham), Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Zinedine Zidane (currently unemployed), Xavi (currently unemployed)

16/1 odds: Simone Inzaghi (Al Hilal), Roberto De Zerbi (Marseille), Diego Simeone (Atletico), Antonio Conte (Napoli), Nuno Santo (Nottingham Forest), Brendan Rodgers (Celtic)

Compiled by Thanh Quy