Ruben Amorim’s long-term successor at Manchester United needs to adopt a more effective approach with one executed idea that could begin to crack at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick is at the wheel for the remainder of the Red Devils’ 2025-26 Premier League campaign after Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim last month.
Should Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim earlier this season?
Could we really have been title contenders?
Amorim made his exit from Old Trafford after 14 months in charge of the Red Devils and United are on the hunt for a long-term replacement for the Portuguese coach.
Michael Carrick has been tipped as one potential candidate if the 44-year-old United legend manages to pull off a stunning interim run during his spell at Old Trafford.
No matter who Amorim’s eventual replacement as Man Utd manager turns out to be, there is already one area that they will need to take a closer look at in the summer.
Ruben Amorim’s ‘six-man leadership’ team at Man Utd might work for now, but it does have its issues for any manager
Ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League season, it was revealed that Ruben Amorim had compiled six Manchester United first-team players into one unified key role.
According to BBC Sport last August, Man Utd’s ‘leadership’ team included Tom Heaton, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui.
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Of course, the sixth member was none other than Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes, who would have the five aforementioned players supporting him.
While in theory the six-man team would bring more cohesion to the United dressing room, it is not always the best plan to have too many cooks in the kitchen.
In fact, both Harry Maguire and Tom Heaton could be short-term inclusions in the leadership ensemble if Man Utd don’t renew either of their contracts soon.
Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd managerial successor needs to pivot away from the former Red Devils boss’ leadership team
Amorim’s strategy has merit to it and could work in the short term, but the Red Devils’ best approach is to revert to appointing a permanent vice-captain.
Bruno Fernandes might have been criticised for his United captaincy – both right and wrong at times – but the Red Devils have unified under one central leader now.
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The constant chopping and changing of the other five members of Amorim’s leadership team would not create the same harmony as having one vice-captain.
When Fernandes is absent for whatever reason, then the Red Devils will know exactly who will step up due to their status as vice-captain at Old Trafford.
Whether it is Diogo Dalot or Lisandro Martinez as vice-captain, United’s current idea of having a leadership team to support Fernandes already has cracks emerging in it.
Amorim’s successor would be better off scrapping the idea that was implemented ahead of the season and taking a more streamlined approach with the key roles.
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