Manchester United look set to part ways with manager Michael Carrick after a poor start to the season, with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly favouring Eddie Howe as his replacement. Howe's appointment could hinge on one condition: bringing his own coaching staff to Old Trafford.
Carrick's Future in Doubt
Carrick's time at the helm appears to be ending after a dismal run that has left United hovering above the relegation zone. A 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth extended the club's winless streak to eight games.
Ratcliffe and his firm INEOS, who oversee football operations, have already sacked Erik ten Hag and hired and fired Ruben Amorim since February 2024. The period has been marked by cost-cutting, ticket price increases and poor results. Carrick had appeared to buck that trend with a third-place finish last season and a return to the Champions League, but form has since declined.
Howe Emerges as Preferred Choice
Ratcliffe is reportedly backing Howe for the role, despite Howe's stated intention to "take a break" from football after leaving Newcastle in the summer. According to The i Paper, United's part-owner wants an English manager, having previously attempted to bring Gareth Southgate to the club.
There is reportedly a split among United's board, with director of football Jason Wilcox favouring Howe and head of recruitment Christopher Vivell keen on Julian Nagelsmann. Ratcliffe appears inclined to support Wilcox, though some supporters have questioned Wilcox's future following criticism from Lisandro Martinez over summer recruitment.
Coaching Staff Condition
Howe's availability as a free agent makes him an appealing option, as no compensation would be required. His record at Newcastle includes the club's first major silverware in seven decades. However, he may insist on bringing his own backroom team, having previously rejected opportunities over this issue.
In 2021, Howe was linked with the Celtic post but the move fell through over his demand to appoint his own staff. "I felt that if I was to come into a pressured job like [Celtic], I needed to go in with a sense of stability," he told The Athletic in 2022. "I could have recruited new staff, but then you're working each other out and there's a transition process where it probably takes three, four, five months. That's five months too late. I needed my staff with me and we couldn't get them together."
Howe's ex-Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall, who previously worked with him at Bournemouth, is among the established members of his backroom team, along with Graeme Jones, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone. Whether United will agree to those terms remains to be seen as the club weighs its options.
