Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to “stop experimenting” and appoint a manager who “fits the club’s DNA” after Ruben Amorim was sacked on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Former midfielder Darren Fletcher has taken charge until a caretaker is appointed, with the club only planning to name a permanent manager in the summer.

And former England and United full-back Neville believes the next managerial appointment at Old Trafford must reflect the traditions of the club.

“The experiments have got to stop,” he told Sky Sports.

“I’ve always been very proud of what this club is – adventurous, exciting football, playing young players and entertaining the crowd. They must take risks and have the courage to play attacking, aggressive football.

“United have got to a point where they need a manager who fits the DNA of the football club.

Barcelona will never change for anybody. I don’t believe United should change for anybody. The club has to find a manager who has got experience and who’s willing to play fast, entertaining, attacking and aggressive football.”

Amorim arrived at United with a clear tactical vision, favouring the 3-4-3 formation that had brought him success at Sporting, but United struggled to adapt.

“I thought they’d adapt better to the back three than they did,” Neville said. “I’m really stunned that they’ve continued to play so poorly in that system.”

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, former England striker Gary Lineker said: “I think it was almost as though [Amorim] provoked it.

“It didn’t seem to be the right fit, and he was a bit stubborn about the way he wanted to play. The players didn’t suit the way he plays, and the club should have recognised that.”

Carragher on Man United

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes succeeding Amorim at United would be “an attractive job” for “any manager”.

“It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world and always will be,” he told Sky Sports.

“Imagine being the guy who gets it right. And someone, sooner or later, will get it right at United. The club is too big to consistently fail.”

But Neville believes it would be “clever” for the club to wait until the summer to name a permanent manager.

“I don’t think the manager pool is full right now in terms of great talents,” he said.

“Look at Chelsea bringing in Liam Rosenior. That is not what Chelsea are used to or should expect, and that’s not being disrespectful to Rosenior.

“I am not sure where United would go, but I think it’s clever to wait till the summer, when maybe there will be more coaches available from other clubs and the World Cup situation.”

Rene Meulensteen, who spent six years as United’s first-team coach, urged the club to hire a replacement who knows how to win in the Premier League.

“They don’t want to make another mistake and very quickly go for someone that they’re sort of trying to fill the void with,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“They need somebody with a pedigree. Someone who understands the Premier League, who’s been successful in the Premier League.

“Someone with a strong personality, with charisma. Someone with good vision about how to take United forward.”