Manchester United are searching for their next manager after Ruben Amorim’s fiery exit, and presenter Richard Keys feels they are waiting to appoint a candidate Paul Scholes has already backed
Current England head coach Thomas Tuchel is already being tipped to rescue Manchester United from their woes after the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place(Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Presenter Richard Keys is adamant Manchester United will wait until summer to appoint a permanent successor to Ruben Amorim as their top target is Thomas Tuchel. The current England has also already been named by club legend Paul Scholes as his first choice for the role.
United quickly fired Amorim on Monday morning following an outburst about the club and his position following his side’s draw with Leeds United the day before. An immediate succession plan involved putting former midfielder Darren Fletcher in caretaker charge before a decision is made on an interim coach to see out the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
As things stand that looks set to be between two more former United Premier League winners – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick.
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But whoever is picked as interim coach will not be kept on permanently no matter their achievements between now and May, theorises Keys, who explained to beIN SPORTS how United have already come to a decision over their next manager.
“I believe the one they really want is Tuchel and they’ll wait. Maybe Tuchel walks away from a World Cup win with England in the summer, and then they’ll look like they’re very smart. Tuchel, or whoever goes in there has got to say, ‘Look, enough! Enough!'”
The pundit was challenged by ex-United striker Dwight Yorke. He questioned the statement by asking whether United would still want Tuchel to come if he isn’t successful with England at the showpiece tournament.
Keys responded: “That’s not my problem. They do!”
England head coach Thomas Tuchel celebrating with his goalkeeping coach, Henrique Hilario, when the Three Lions beat Albania at Wembley Stadium in FIFA World Cup qualifying(Image: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images))
The latest step in Tuchel’s 18-year managerial career has been to take over the England national team in January 2025. He has since managed a near-perfect record with nine wins out of 10 matches played, including eight World Cup qualifying wins with 22 goals scored and zero conceded.
The Three Lions are entered into the 2026 major tournament with group stage fixtures drawn. They will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Previously the German has won several club-level major honours in charge of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
This is what has prompted United legend Scholes to name Tuchel as his ideal candidate for the Old Trafford job this week. On The Good, The Bad And The Football podcast, the former midfielder stated: “Number one for me, which I’d do in the summer, is Thomas Tuchel all day long.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes made his stance clear(Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
“I think Tuchel is one of the very best out there. His contract with England is only until the summer. I think he can be a bit temperamental and he can be difficult to handle, but he’s done it at big clubs.
“He’s turned England around as well… England do look a lot better under him. His football is very possession based, and a little Man City. That’s my only reservation.”
