With Manchester United again seeking a new manager, Sam Allardyce suggests only one candidate is suitable for the role, following six unsuccessful permanent appointments.
Ruben Amorim’s time at Manchester United came to an unexpected halt earlier this week.
Ineos made the decision to sack Amorim on Monday following a fiery press conference. Darren Fletcher has stepped in as the interim manager while the club searches for someone to guide them through the rest of the season.
The search for a permanent manager is expected to begin at the end of the campaign.
Pundits have started weighing in on who should take over, with Paul Scholes throwing his support behind Thomas Tuchel and Roy Keane backing Eddie Howe, pointing to his composed demeanour as a key factor.
But among all those options, one name stands out to Allardyce.
Sam Allardyce backs Carlo Ancelotti as the only fit for the Manchester United job
There are not many managers in the game with a CV that matches up to Carlo Ancelotti’s.
If United are looking for instant impact, there might not be a safer bet than him – and Big Sam feels the same way.
Allardyce shared his thoughts on the No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast this week, saying he believes Ancelotti is the right choice to step in now.
“For me, there’s only one man who can do it, I think. He’s the manager of Brazil,” he said.
“Ancelotti, were you before him at Everton?” Allardyce was then asked.
“I was before him. He came after me. I met him several times, and I knew how good he was like but I didn’t know how good he was as a human being.
“Obviously, Dunc [Duncan Ferguson] worked with him. Big Dunc was, and Big Dunc told me about how great he was, and I knew how great he was as a manager, but he can spread magic on Manchester United because of his man management skills, not his coaching.
“I think he’d come and jump at the chance of Man United. I think he likes this country.”
If Ancelotti leads Brazil to a World Cup win in 2026, many would argue he is the greatest manager of all-time – and helping United return to prominence would only add to that legacy.
Ancelotti’s long-standing interest in the United role has come to light
Ancelotti would walk into the job with Sir Alex Ferguson’s approval, given the strong professional respect between them.
It has also been revealed that Ancelotti has had his eye on the United position for quite some time. Duncan Castles discussed this on The Transfers Podcast, explaining that it dates back to his days at Chelsea.
“Carlo Ancelotti, I think, is interesting because I heard a long time ago, in fact when he was Chelsea coach, from someone close to him, that he has always coveted the Manchester United job and wanted an opportunity to do that before he retired,” Castles said.
“I mean, this was at a time when Manchester United was a better functioning football club. But let’s say he still has that interest.”
Castles also mentioned that while United might consider Ancelotti, it would likely be after the World Cup. That timing could be an issue for Ineos if they are looking to move quickly.
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