Former Premier League striker Charlie Austin has given a left-field suggestion on who he believes should be considered as the next Manchester United manager as the pressure begins to pile on Ruben Amorim.
Amorim’s tenure hit a new low on Wednesday night as his Red Devils were dumped out of the Carabao Cup in the second round by League Two Grimsby Town via a penalty shootout.
United had fought their way back from two goals down in the final 15 minutes of the match to force penalty kicks, but big-money summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo both missed from the spot in the dramatic 12-11 shootout defeat.
It was the first time that United had ever been eliminated from a domestic cup tie by a fourth-tier side. This latest humiliation has certainly raised doubts over Amorim’s future at the club despite the new season being only three games old.
Amorim only has a 35.6 per cent win rate in all competitions since taking over at Old Trafford in November 2024, which is the lowest by a Manchester United manager in the Premier League era. This is one of just many statistics that shame what has been a shambolic nine months at the helm.
With the Portuguese coach’s long-term future at United seeming less likely by the day, former Burnley forward Austin has suggested that if the Red Devils can no longer attract top managers, there is a certain English coach they should consider.
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Ruben Amorim’s future at Man United has been thrust into doubt after their humiliating defeat at Grimsby Town on Wednesday night
‘If it’s my decision, I am going after Zinedine Zidane. I’m trying to convince him to come to Manchester United. Shouldn’t need doing, but at this moment in time, you do.
‘Ultimately, though, there is a different set of managers that you have got to be looking at because of the situation that United are in.
‘I would take Zidane, but is he the right man for the job at Manchester United [as we] speak at the moment and how we see them, probably not.
‘My honest opinion is that you have to look at the jobs that Sean Dyche has done at Burnley, what he did at Everton. He stabilised the club, at least he is going to put structure in there.
‘What Manchester United need right now is structure. That is something they do not have.’
Austin was Dyche’s main man at the start of his 10-year-long tenure at Burnley, in which the 54-year-old became known for his direct approach to the game.
And while he may not be the prettiest or biggest name on the managerial market at the moment, Austin believes his style of play is exactly what United require as they continue to stoop to new lows.
‘I know that Manchester United fans would look at me and say “oh, you said we need Sean Dyche”, but no, you need structure. That’s a man that will come in and make the team a lot better than what we are all seeing at the moment.
Sean Dyche previously stated that he would ‘win more games’ as United boss than Amorim and Charlie Austin believes Ineos should take a look at the former Everton boss
United are yet to win this season after three games with the Grimsby defeat a new low
‘Last night we didn’t see a team. We see players just go out there and do what they want.’
Speaking on the Stick To Football podcast in May, Dyche seemed to suggest that he would do a better job than Amorim at Old Trafford – referencing his tactics as a reason for why he would succeed.
‘He’s not going to change the way he plays,’ Dyche told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. ‘He [Ruben Amorim] better win some games – pretty quick.
‘I reckon if I went there and played my way, we’d win more games. Just 4-4-2 – give them basic rules of principles.
‘We’re all going, “Fair play” – but, he’s been there a while now, so you better start bringing some wins soon.’
Those wins are yet to come with United losing two of their opening three games of the new season, and drawing the other away at Fulham in the Premier League.
By claiming just one point in their opening two league games, it means that Amorim has now taken charge of more Premier League games than he has won points, claiming just 28 points from 29 games.
