Manchester United shortlist Glasner, Hürzeler and Iraola as contingency if Amorim is sacked

Manchester United have drawn up a contingency shortlist featuring Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Fabian Hürzeler (Brighton) and Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) should they part ways with Ruben Amorim, per social buzz citing Samuel Luckhurst. The trio bring distinct identities: Glasner’s structural 3-4-2-1, Hürzeler’s modern build-up and pressing, and Iraola’s vertical, high-octane approach. United’s hierarchy is said to be moving quickly to keep options hot, with Glasner viewed by many insiders as the cleanest tactical fit for a rapid reset. Momentum is building, and if a decision comes, United aim to strike fast to secure their preferred candidate.

Primary spark: Tweet by @UtdXclusive referencing @samuelluckhurst, claiming Oliver Glasner, Fabian Hürzeler and Andoni Iraola are under consideration to replace Ruben Amorim if Manchester United sack him.

Fan replies sampled from the same thread provide temperature checks across the community.

🚨 JUST IN: Oliver Glasner, Fabian Hurzeler and Andoni Iraola are among the coaches under consideration to replace Ruben Amorim if he is sacked by Manchester United. #MUFC [@samuelluckhurst]

@UtdXclusive

Impact Analysis

If Manchester United pivot away from Ruben Amorim, the rumored shortlist underscores a clear tactical direction: aggressive pressing, fast transitions, and structured build-up. Oliver Glasner, currently at Crystal Palace, has proven Premier League adaptability and excels with a 3-4-2-1 that stabilizes the back line while unleashing half-space creators. His set-piece detail and game-state management would immediately raise United’s floor.

Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton’s innovative head coach, represents the future-facing option. His work in optimizing rest-defense and orchestrating clean exits under pressure has kept Brighton progressive post-De Zerbi. He’d modernize United’s automatisms, youth pathways, and data-driven micro-tactics, but prying him from a stable project would demand significant compensation and assurances.

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth play with relentless verticality and coordinated pressing traps. United’s athletic profile could scale that model quickly, especially with wingers who can attack space. However, Iraola’s system requires synchronized distances and brave build-up; early bedding-in can be bumpy without specialist profiles at full-back and in the No. 6 role.

Commercially, a decisive appointment signals INEOS’ intent. Any move would involve compensation talks: Palace and Brighton are well-run and would negotiate hard; Bournemouth likewise. Still, each candidate offers an immediately legible game model—crucial for shortening the adaptation window and restoring competitive consistency.

Reaction

Fan sentiment is split and loud. One camp preaches patience, with users arguing there’s no reason to sack Amorim and urging United to finally stick with a long-term plan. Another segment demands action, insisting decisions be made ASAP to salvage momentum before fixtures tighten.

There’s enthusiasm for Fabian Hürzeler, with fans seeing him as the daring, modern choice who could future-proof the club’s identity. Others push Oliver Glasner as the pragmatic fix—Premier League-tested, tactically coherent, and less risky. Andoni Iraola has admirers too, particularly among those who crave energetic, front-foot football.

Detractors cite mid-table coaches outperforming United, pointing to Marco Silva and others as comparative benchmarks, a not-so-subtle swipe at Amorim’s current trajectory. Amid the noise, some praise the sourcing as balanced, while one tongue-in-cheek FPL quip lightens the mood. There’s also a recurring refrain about INEOS’ decision-making hit rate, with fans touting a ‘67% success’ claim as justification for decisive change. In short: urgency versus patience, with a lean toward a bold, system-first appointment.

Social reactions

They should be the only 3 options

FPL swashbuckler (@PFLswashbuckler)

Xavi Hernandez please

Somaa_lakaata (@RismaFebri19)

Didn’t Luckhurst report earlier today there was no shortlist of replacements for Amorim? 😳

Sam Brown 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@SamBrow74823937)

Prediction

Scenario 1: If United pull the trigger swiftly, Glasner emerges as the most attainable and immediate-impact pick. Expect rapid talks centered on compensation and staff structure. His 3-4-2-1 could be installed over an international break, leveraging squad athleticism and stabilizing the defense through compact spacing and clearer roles.

Scenario 2: If United prioritize a long-view rebuild, Hürzeler is the statement bet. The club would need to pay a premium and promise squad-alignment signings (press-resistant No. 6, inverted full-back, high-IQ half-space creators). The upside is a durable playing identity and the integration of academy talent through coherent principles.

Scenario 3: If negotiations stall, Iraola becomes the fast-track alternative. His model dovetails with a counter-pressing, vertical United, but would require targeted tweaks at full-back and in midfield to maintain structure under pressure.

Timing: Look for movement around natural calendar pauses. If Amorim stays, United keep the shortlist warm and add parallel due diligence. If he goes, expect a 72-hour sprint to an agreement with compensation frameworks pre-discussed to avoid drift.

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Conclusion

United have finally aligned on a profile: proactive, organized, and tactically assertive. That clarity alone is progress. Glasner offers the cleanest short-term lift with minimal translation costs; Hürzeler offers the bolder, higher-ceiling identity play; Iraola sits between—energetic, proven in the league, and adaptable.

Whatever the choice, hesitation is the enemy. The squad needs a non-negotiable game model and accountability on and off the ball. A swift, surgical process—locking compensation, staff roles, and recruitment priorities—would send the right message to the dressing room and the market. If United act, they must act with conviction: pick a coach whose principles won’t bend at the first wobble and empower him fully. Do that, and the pathway back to consistent Champions League caliber football becomes tangible, not theoretical.