Manchester United: Gary Neville Urges Club to Stick to Traditional Style

Former Manchester United player Gary Neville has urged the club to appoint a manager who aligns with the traditional United playing style.

By Chris Posiano

January 6, 2026 at 1:27 AM

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Manchester United's former player Gary Neville has called on the club to appoint a manager who embodies the traditional United playing style, following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim after just 14 months in charge. Neville, now a Sky Sports pundit, has urged the club's hierarchy to return to the core values that made Manchester United a powerhouse in English football.

Neville believes that since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, Manchester United has struggled to maintain a consistent playing style. "The experiments have got to stop," Neville said. "Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, David Moyes, and Erik ten Hag all brought different philosophies to the club. Ruben Amorim was no different, but his style didn't fit the United way."

The Portuguese manager's tenure was marked by his use of a back-three system, which Neville criticized as not aligning with United's traditional principles. "Man Utd must take risks and be courageous in playing attacking football," Neville said, referencing a video featuring United legend Bobby Charlton discussing the club's identity.

Neville is optimistic about United's chances of qualifying for the Champions League this season but acknowledged the challenges of having an interim manager, like Darren Fletcher, at the helm. "Manchester United have experienced both success and disaster with interim managers in the past," he said.

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher echoed Neville's sentiments, stating that a competent Premier League manager should be able to guide United to European qualification. "There's enough talent in that squad to have a real push for European positions," Carragher said, noting the tight nature of the Premier League and the struggles of traditional powerhouses like Liverpool and Chelsea.

Neville concluded by stressing the importance of appointing a manager who understands and embraces the United way. "Ajax, Barcelona - they don't change their identity for anyone. Manchester United shouldn't either."