Manchester United's Prime Managerial Target Delivers Shocking Response to Job Speculation
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner adopted a sharp, dismissive approach when addressing rumors about the open Manchester United managerial role—though he didn't completely eliminate himself from consideration.
Following Ruben Amorim's turbulent departure from Old Trafford, Glasner quickly became the frontrunner for the position. The appeal is clear. The Austrian tactician was brought in nearly three years ago when the Eagles were hovering dangerously close to relegation and has dramatically turned around their trajectory.
Under Glasner's leadership, Palace secured their first two pieces of silverware in the club's entire existence last season while utilizing a 3-4-2-1 system—a formation that Amorim never successfully established at Manchester United.
Glasner's chances of moving to the Red Devils are enhanced by the club's choice to install a temporary manager for the rest of the campaign before selecting a permanent replacement in the summer—when Glasner's Palace contract expires.
When confronted with mounting speculation during his initial media session since Amorim's dismissal, Glasner remained tight-lipped. "I'm prohibited from gambling, I don't monitor it. I also cannot provide inside knowledge," he informed reporters ahead of Palace's Wednesday evening fixture against Aston Villa.
"I am Crystal Palace's manager. It serves no purpose and wastes your time to pose additional questions about this matter."
Palace's inability to reach agreement on fresh terms with Glasner isn't due to any lack of enthusiasm from the club's leadership. Chairman Steve Parish recently stated: "I understand people desperately want him to remain and I desperately want him to remain."
Glasner took a more reflective stance on the subject. "You can execute a new agreement," he remarked. "Premier League managers did exactly this last season, yet they're no longer in position. We can capture trophies, but you're still not the manager there anymore. Contract duration is meaningless."
The relentless match schedule has been consistently mentioned as the primary reason behind stalled discussions between Glasner and the organization. As fixtures finally begin to ease in the upcoming weeks, the 51-year-old's destiny should become much more apparent.
"Everyone receives three days rest following Macclesfield and then we have four standard weeks [without midweek fixtures]," Glasner disclosed. "During these weeks we will strengthen our discussions and I anticipate reaching a final conclusion then."
Ruud van Nistelrooy Surfaces As 'Candidate' for Temporary Position
Before United pursue Glasner or any other long-term replacement, they must first locate reliable leadership to guide the struggling team through May. Despite all the chaos surrounding Amorim's exit, the Red Devils occupied sixth place in the Premier League standings when he was removed, missing the top five (and Champions League qualification) by goal difference only.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær has been extensively mentioned as the leading candidate for the position, potentially creating a nostalgic cycle where supporters fondly remember his initial caretaker stint which was itself the most sentimental period in Premier League memory. This is someone who wouldn't dare use Sir Alex Ferguson's parking space out of reverence.
Michael Carrick represents another strong possibility while Ruud van Nistelrooy's candidacy has also been suggested by BBC Sport and The Telegraph.
The former Netherlands forward previously served as United's interim manager during the transitional period between Erik ten Hag and Amorim in autumn 2024, managing four undefeated matches that produced three victories and 11 goals. Notably, half of Van Nistelrooy's games came against Leicester City, a team he would subsequently manage for the rest of the 2024–25 season. The Foxes were eventually relegated.