'Good riddance': Premier League greats explain why 'basket case' United sacked 'stubborn' Amorim now

Ruben Amorim may not have been able to tap into the DNA of Manchester United's football, but greats of the club are hopeful his successor will be able to do exactly that.

Amorim was axed just 14 months into his tenure at United, having failed to lift the English giants back to the promised land, with the Red Devils stranded in sixth spot on the table.

His departure came less than 24 hours after United's 1-1 draw against Leeds and a passionate defence from Amorim surrounding his future at the club.

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The decision to sack Amorim at this point in time came as a surprise to many league greats, who predicted other club managers were under more pressure than him.

But it was clear to those United legends that Amorim was not the right fit for the club.

"It didn't seem to be the right fit and he was a bit stubborn about the way he wanted to play," former England striker Gary Lineker told the Rest Is Football podcast.

"The players didn't suit the way he plays and the club should have recognised that.

"I suspect they haven't supported him in the sense of bringing in the players he would have wanted in certain positions.

"Also, it's been bit of a basket case of a football club over the last few years."

Spurs great Jamie O'Hara said on Sky Sports: "Man United fans will be upset because it's another manager that's got the sack, so it's turning the page and starting again ... but good riddance, he isn't good enough to be the Man United manager.

"They stuck with him because they thought they'd give him a chance and they need to give managers time, but the stats don't lie.

"Man United have not been good enough since he's come in – he made the club worse. He came about with all this spiel about how he wanted to play and his philosophy and where he wanted to take the club, changing the culture.

"When you come in, you've got to prove you're a good enough manager – and he's proven he isn't."

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O'Hara then reflected on Amorim's speech against the board and declared he felt the 40-year-old may have wanted an easy way out of the club.

"I think he wanted the sack," he continued.

"As a manager, if you do want the sack and you've had enough of what you're doing and where you are, you go against the board. You know they are going to make a decision and they've done that straight away.

"I wonder if he's looked at the (Enzo) Maresca situation (at Chelsea), the Nuno (Santo at West Ham) situation and has thought 'You know what? I've had enough of this'."

The timing of Amorim's departure is favourable for whoever takes on the job of managing Manchester United as they will be able to operate in the transfer window.

However, a glaring issue for that individual will be the fact that United are tight on funds.

In the last transfer window, United spent $343.6m AUD to secure the talent of Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

Amorim had admitted to media that he was unsure what the transfer window would look like for United and had not had conversations about strengthening his squad.

It has also been reported that United will stick with Darren Fletcher as a caretaker of the team until the English summer so the club can find the right permanent manager.

There is no denying that the opportunity to lead the Red Devils would be appealing to many, even if the club is considered to be somewhat of a graveyard for managers.

Amorim is the 10th manager to depart United since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, joining the likes of David Moyes, Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal.

The former Sporting CP boss walks away with a win rate of less than 40 per cent, the worst of any manager since Ferguson's reign.

But the board has been warned by several club greats, including Gary Neville, to ensure that a specific criteria is met when it comes to interviewing potential new managers.

"The experiments have got to stop," Neville told Sky Sports.

"I've always been very proud of what this club is - adventurous, exciting football, playing young players and entertaining the crowd. They must take risks and have the courage to play attacking, aggressive football.

"United have got to a point where they need a manager who fits the DNA of the football club.

"Barcelona will never change for anybody. I don't believe United should change for anybody. They should play the way in which they play. These managers that have come in are fantastic ... but they've all come in with different ideas and styles of football.

"The club has to find a manager who has got experience and who's willing to play fast entertaining, attacking and aggressive football. It's as simple as that."

Former United goalkeeper and Australian star Mark Bosnich urged the board to not look for another Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I think the original mistake was to try and replicate Sir Alex Ferguson because you aren't going to get another one," Bosnich told BBC Radio 5.

"You have got to adapt to the situation that you find yourselves in right here and right now.

"This next appointment is a huge appointment. We've said that a lot over the last 10 years, but it couldn't be more true than now because this behind the scenes has to be cleared up."

Amorim is the second coach to be fired in the space of a week after Chelsea parted ways with Enzo Maresca last week. He, too, spoke out against the hierarchy before his dismissal was confirmed.

Manchester United will travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Thursday (AEDT).