Michael Carrick is edging closer to being sacked as Manchester United manager after a dismal start to the season, and the club could turn to a pool of experienced free-agent coaches to replace him. After guiding United to third in last year's Premier League, Carrick was handed the reins permanently in the summer, but only £153million was spent on transfers, almost exclusively on midfielders.
United have been poor this season, suffering a 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League before hosting Bournemouth on Sunday. Carrick's side were dominated and lost 3-0, leaving them near the foot of the table. Chants of "sacked in the morning" rang out from the Cherries' away end, although fans inside Old Trafford applauded Carrick down the tunnel.
Eddie Howe and Antonio Conte lead the contenders
Ex-Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has emerged as a frontrunner for the role. He stepped down as Magpies manager in July after nearly five years at the helm and is currently on a break from coaching. During his time at St James' Park, Howe guided Newcastle to the Champions League and lifted the Carabao Cup in 2025. His previous spell with Bournemouth was equally historic, as he won the Championship with them in 2015, earning promotion to the Premier League.
Former Chelsea and Spurs manager Antonio Conte has addressed the possibility of taking over at United. He most recently managed Napoli and is a five-time Serie A-winning coach, but left Naples in June after winning the 2024/25 title. His stint at Stamford Bridge also saw him lift the Premier League and FA Cup. In a lengthy statement released earlier this month, the Italian claimed he is open to future projects but is not in any negotiations with United or any other club.
Other candidates on the market
Julian Nagelsmann stepped down from his role as Germany manager after their disappointing World Cup 2026 campaign and remains unattached. He previously managed Hoffenheim, where he became the youngest manager in Bundesliga history, before taking over at RB Leipzig, whom he helped reach the Champions League semi-finals. He then endured a stint at Bayern Munich.
Former United coach Kieran McKenna is familiar with what it takes to work at the club. McKenna managed United's Under-18s and worked under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with the first team. He then left to manage Ipswich Town, where he achieved back-to-back promotions to the Premier League. He has been on a planned sabbatical since leaving the Tractor Boys in June, but it has been claimed that a hefty compensation fee would stand in the way of any club wanting to hire him.
International bosses and a club legend
Gareth Southgate's name has been linked with United since he stepped down as England boss in July 2024. With Southgate at the helm, the Three Lions made a World Cup semi-final and consecutive Euros finals. His only stint in club management with Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2009 was forgettable, but he has previously stated that he would reconsider returning to a club if the project was the right fit.
Another former international coach without a job, Roberto Martinez, has always been highly thought of. The Spaniard enjoyed spells with Swansea City, Wigan - where he won the FA Cup - and Everton before guiding Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. His latest job came with Portugal, where he won the Nations League. His bond with stars like Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot could put him on the list, though he remains an unlikely option.
Finally, perhaps United bite the bullet and give club legend Solskjaer another try. Many fans grew fond of the Norwegian during his stint as boss from 2018 to 2021, and his name came up after Ruben Amorim's exit. He is on the market after being dismissed by Besiktas in August 2025.
