Manchester United have resumed their search for a new manager following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and former target Xavi has already made it clear he is interested in moving to England.
Manchester United’s search for a new manager is underway again following the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim, with free agent Xavi once again emerging as an option. The Spaniard has not been with a club since leaving Barcelona in 2024 and had previously expressed interest in coaching in England.
United confirmed Amorim’s sacking on Monday, less than 24 hours after a frustrating 1-1 stalemate at Leeds. However, the decisive blow was his post-match comments in which he criticized some board members for not focusing on their responsibilities.
Xavi, 45, was linked with United chief executive Omar Berrada from his time at Camp Nou before leaving United in 2011. The pair are set to meet again on English soil, with Xavi expressing his desire to take up the role in the future.
“Of course? Where, I don’t know,” he revealed to The Athletic when asked about last year’s prospects. “There’s no need to rush, but I want a good project.
“It’s like, ‘It takes four years to create a project.’ I would love to work in the Premier League because I love the passion of the Premier League.
read more: Manchester United’s next manager odds: Who is likely to replace Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford?read more: Manchester United’s next manager live: Six-man shortlist and top target named to replace Ruben Amorim
“In Spain, there is too much emphasis on results. Or with the national team, that would be emphasized. When I dreamed of being a coach, I dreamed of playing in the World Cup or the European Championship.”
Even though United’s higher-ups were perhaps growing tired of Amorim’s stubbornness in sticking to their preferred tactics, they were committed to a long-term vision that fundamentally matched Xavi’s key criteria.
Amorim managed to reach the Europa League final last season, but failed to win any major silverware during his time at United. He also led to the club’s worst result in the Premier League, finishing 15th last season.
Some will argue that Amorim’s sacking was premature, and some of United’s rivals could have shown him the door sooner. There were also rumors of dissatisfaction among some board members, with director of scouting Christopher Vibel and director of football Jason Wilcox reportedly unhappy with his approach.
If Amorim’s successor decides to go back to a four-man defence, it is likely to take time to dismantle Amorim’s United side. In this respect, Xavi would be the perfect choice as he prefers a back four that can transition to a three-man defense if necessary.
Xavi had been linked with Erik ten Hag taking over the Old Trafford hot seat in October 2024. At the time, it was reported that Berrada would lead a four-member delegation to Barcelona and meet Xavi face-to-face to discuss the opportunity.
Just over a year later, United find themselves in a surprisingly similar situation, and Berrada could be looking to reignite those talks. If Xavi still has ambitions of being part of England’s first team and managing, he knows he already has someone interested.
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