With Amorim under pressure ahead of United's clash with Burnley this weekend, Austin says his former Clarets manager should be a candidate if the Portuguese departs.
"If it's my decision, I am going after Zinedine Zidane," Austin told Sky Sports. "I'm trying to convince him to come to Manchester United. Shouldn't need doing, but at this moment in time, you do.
"Ultimately, though, there is a different set of managers that you have got to be looking at because of the situation that United are in. I would take Zidane, but is he the right man for the job at Manchester United speak at the moment and how we see them, probably not.
"My honest opinion is that you have to look at the jobs that Sean Dyche has done at Burnley, what he did at Everton. He stabilised the club, at least he is going to put structure in there. What Manchester United need right now is structure.
"That is something they do not have. I know that Manchester United fans would look at me and say 'oh, you said we need Sean Dyche', but no, you need structure.
"That's a man that will come in and make the team a lot better than what we are all seeing at the moment. Last night we didn't see a team. We see players just go out there and do what they want."