Michael Carrick is in a strong position to become Manchester United’s next manager with the news that the Old Trafford side have ruled out four potential alternatives to the interim boss.
Carrick has steered United to the cusp of Champions League football during his interim period in charge of the Red Devils.
He is not the type of ‘alpha’ character that owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe might have envisioned taking the role on a permanent basis, yet a process of elimination that has seen four of his main contenders ruled out is starting to leave him as the outstanding candidate.
Carrick gets Man Utd job boost
Man Utd have “effectively ruled out” the prospect of appointing a manager who is involved in the World Cup, the Daily Mail reports.
Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann, who all of whom had been linked with the post, are therefore unlikely to be considered any further for the job.
United will already have started their pre-season campaign by the time the World Cup ends of 19 July, and the thinking at Old Trafford is that this is wholly unsuitable for the club’s preparations ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
In addition to this, Carrick’s position has been further strengthened by the news that Luis Enrique will sign a new three-year deal with PSG.
Who are the other options?
Carrick’s main rivals for the post come from elsewhere in the Premier League. The Mail reports that Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Eddie Howe could all be options for United.
However, United are reticent to appoint Crystal Palace boss Glasner due to his preference to playing a back three. The Red Devils have already been stung in this regards with Ruben Amorim, who doggedly stuck to his system to disastrous results.
Iraola, meanwhile, is thought to be a leading contender to take over at LaLiga side Athletic Club in Bilbao, while Howe is coming off a difficult season with Newcastle.
Verdict: Carrick will be Man Utd’s next permanent manager
With eight wins in his 12 matches in charge, Carrick seems to hold an unsurmountable lead when it comes to being Man Utd’s next manager.
Champions League football is within the club’s grasp once again, and depriving the former England midfielder the opportunity to build on his early work at Old Trafford would appear a mistake, particularly given the lack of outstanding candidates to replace him currently on the market.
If Carrick wants the Man Utd job – and by all accounts he does – it will surely be his.
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