Manchester United are heading towards another managerial change, with caretaker Michael Carrick expected to lose the job as the club languish in the Premier League relegation zone after more than a quarter of the season. Unlike in 2022 and 2024, the market for potential replacements appears thinner, and the leading contender has emerged from nowhere for a role he has already nearly landed twice before.
Carrick's Position Under Threat
United appointed Carrick in January on what was supposed to be a temporary basis, but his performances earned him a longer contract. However, his shortcomings are now set to cost him the position, with the club in crisis and sitting in the relegation zone.
Part of the reason for handing Carrick a lifeline two weeks ago was that the club's decision-makers were unconvinced by the pool of potential replacements.
A Changing Market for Replacements
Four years ago, the process was a long one focused only on Erik ten Hag or Mauricio Pochettino, with Ten Hag getting the job after a successful spell at Ajax. In 2024, United quickly targeted Ruben Amorim, the young European coach, which felt like an obvious decision with plenty of upside.
Now, the list of candidates carries as many pitfalls as positives, and the leading contender has come from nowhere to be in the frame for a job he has already come close to landing twice previously.
The Candidates and Their Pros and Cons
Mauricio Pochettino was in the frame for the United job in 2019 after Jose Mourinho was sacked, only for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to secure the role. He has always had an interest in managing United, has Premier League experience, has worked in elite environments, and has a clear, distinguishable style of play. However, his stock has fallen since his Tottenham days, and spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea were not resounding successes. He has been out of club management for two-and-a-half years.
Eddie Howe has plenty of Premier League experience and is available to start quickly after leaving Newcastle United in the summer. He twice got the Magpies into the Champions League and delivered success at Bournemouth, with a high-intensity style of play. But his time at Newcastle ended badly, and Newcastle regressed in both seasons they were in the Champions League.
Julian Nagelsmann has worked with a very high standard of players, is a modern coach from the German school of pressing, and would bring a real identity to the team. His spell at Bayern Munich means he has experience at a club where the spotlight is always bright. However, he was not particularly popular at Bayern, and his habit of skateboarding around the training ground raised eyebrows. He also failed as Germany boss during this summer's World Cup.
Antonio Conte has the strongest CV and is a serial winner, having won league titles with Juventus, Chelsea, Inter, and Napoli. He is available after leaving Napoli at the end of last season. But his combustible personality has seen him fall out with bosses at plenty of clubs, and his time at Tottenham ended in acrimony.
Unai Emery has built a reputation as a manager capable of building a club up through methodical planning and clever tactical tweaks, and he has been very successful at Aston Villa. However, his two spells at the elite level, at PSG and Arsenal, did not go well, and he may lack the force of personality to drag United to where they need to go.
The decision on who takes over will likely shape United's immediate future, with the club needing to arrest their slide and climb the Premier League table.
