Man United’s biggest winners and losers after Ruben Amorim is sacked

Manchester United are set to announce Michael Carrick as caretaker manager until the end of the season after the shock decision to sack Ruben Amorim last week.

Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher took charge of the senior side in Amorim’s absence, leading United to a draw with Burnley in the Premier League and a defeat in the FA Cup third round against Brighton & Hove Albion.

There were even suggestions the Scot was under consideration to take the role permanently, but these unimpressive results ruled him out of the running.

Initially, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the frontrunner for the role, with sporting director Jason Wilcox preferring the Norwegian to Carrick.

However, a “strong interview” from the 44-year-old coach, who previously managed Middlesbrough for nearly three years, led United’s hierarchy to pivot towards him.

Sir Alex Ferguson is even understood to have given his approval to Carrick taking the helm at Old Trafford over Solskjaer.

The former midfielder will be officially announced tomorrow , with the small matter of the Manchester Derby this weekend to contend with as his first hurdle in the job.

Carrick is expected to implement a fluid 4-2-3-1 system, a shift away from the 3-4-2-1 his predecessor was inexorably wed to and the sword upon which he ultimately fell. However, the transition of powers goes far beyond the formation on the pitch.

The dismissal of the Portuguese coach wipes the slate clean for a host of players, both inside and outside of Old Trafford. It also brings jeopardy to some who were closely allied with him, with their role in the team – and their future at the club – now under serious doubt.

The Peoples Person has analysed the workforce, including those on temporary leave, at United to assess which employees are the biggest winners and, conversely, the biggest losers from the boss’s sacking.

Let’s dive in – starting with those who will have been celebrating the P45 notice last week.

Kobbie Mainoo

Leny Yoro

Bruno Fernandes

Marcus Rashford

Casemiro

Diogo Dalot

Mason Mount

Bruno Fernandes

There are strong arguments for even more players being affected, positively or negatively, by INEOS’s decision to bring an end to Amorim’s tumultuous tenure. Matheus Cunha is one, while the pair of right wingers – Amad and Bryan Mbeumo – are likely to now play in a system with only one right winger.

But, undoubtedly, the biggest loser in the debacle which has engulfed Old Trafford over the past week is Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

INEOS have been nothing short of a disaster since the British billionaire became United’s co-owner in 2024, with a long list of inexplicable decisions, on and off the pitch, that have worsened the state of the club, not improved it. A fish rots from the head – and a foul stench is emanating from the Theatre of Dreams at the moment.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social