Manchester United's Managerial Maze: Five Potential Replacements for Michael Carrick Emerge

The pressure is mounting on beleaguered Manchester United manager Michael Carrick following a tumultuous week. On Wednesday, Carrick witnessed his team suffer a significant 4-1 defeat in the Uefa Champions League against Italian side Como. Following this, club captain Bruno Fernandes publicly attributed the loss to the coach's tactics. Four days later, Fernandes was dropped and remained an unused substitute as United succumbed to a 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth, leaving the Red Devils precariously in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone.

Manchester United's current league standing marks their lowest points tally at this stage of a campaign since Ron Atkinson's team in 1986/87, with only eight points from eight Premier League games. Furthermore, their current eight-game winless streak is the club's longest since the tenure of Louis van Gaal in 2015. Despite this, Carrick appears to retain the support of the United fans, who have vocally backed him, viewing him as a symptom of broader club issues rather than the sole cause. However, his position seems untenable, and it would be a significant surprise if he remains in charge for next Saturday's fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Below, we explore potential candidates to succeed him.

Eddie Howe (Unattached)

Eddie Howe is currently a free agent, having departed his role as Newcastle United manager this summer after nearly five years. He enjoyed a highly successful period on Tyneside, transforming the club from relegation candidates to top-four contenders with a high-intensity, physical style of football, aided by the financial backing of Newcastle's Saudi Arabian owners. Under Howe's leadership, Newcastle twice qualified for the Champions League and secured their first domestic trophy in 70 years by defeating Liverpool in the League Cup final. His final season, however, proved challenging, with Newcastle finishing 12th after losing key striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool. The 48-year-old previously guided Bournemouth from the fourth tier to the Premier League, maintaining their top-flight status for five consecutive seasons across two spells.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe celebrates after winning the League Cup in 2025. EPA

Antonio Conte (Unattached)

Antonio Conte is a renowned trophy-winning coach, having achieved success with Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Napoli. He left Napoli in May, having secured the Serie A title the previous year. After managing clubs like Arezzo, Bari, and Atalanta, Conte took the helm at Juventus, where he had a distinguished playing career. He led Juve to three consecutive Serie A titles from 2011 to 2014 before managing the Italian national team for two years. His move to England in 2016 saw him win the Premier League with Chelsea in his debut season and the FA Cup in his second. He later secured another Scudetto with Inter Milan and, upon returning to England with Tottenham Hotspur, guided them back into the Champions League. The 57-year-old would undoubtedly bring a winning mentality to Manchester United, but his combustible nature and willingness to publicly address grievances with club management are also notable characteristics.

Antonio Conte won the Serie A title in his last job at Napoli. Getty Images

Julian Nagelsmann (Unattached)

Julian Nagelsmann is another coach currently out of work, having stepped down as Germany manager following their unexpected exit from the World Cup in the last-32. Nagelsmann made history as the youngest manager in Bundesliga history when he took charge of Hoffenheim at the age of 28. He guided the club from potential relegation to Champions League qualification during his three-and-a-half-year tenure. He then led RB Leipzig to third and second-place finishes in the Bundesliga and reached the Champions League semi-finals and last-16. Bayern Munich subsequently appointed him, reportedly paying €25 million to release him from his Leipzig contract in 2021. His two seasons at Bayern saw them win the Bundesliga and two German Super Cups, though he also experienced friction with players, including goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The 39-year-old previously worked with Manchester United's current head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, at RB Leipzig, making him a strong contender.

Julian Nagelsmann after winning the Bundesliga title at Bayern Munich. Getty Images

Unai Emery (Aston Villa)

Unai Emery has established himself as one of Europe's premier coaches, boasting five Europa League titles with Sevilla, Villarreal, and Aston Villa, alongside domestic doubles at Paris Saint-Germain. He is the only manager to have won the Europa League three consecutive times, achieving this feat between 2013 and 2016 with Sevilla. His tenure at PSG saw domestic dominance but fell short of the Champions League success desired by the club's owners. After an unsuccessful period at Arsenal, he secured another Europa League title with Villarreal before returning to England in October 2022. There, he transformed Aston Villa from a team battling relegation to a seventh-place finish and qualification for the Europa Conference League within seven months. He has since led Villa back into the Champions League and secured the club's first trophy in 30 years by winning the Europa League last season. Emery possesses the stature required for the United job, but securing his services would involve a substantial compensation fee. Furthermore, it remains uncertain whether he would opt to leave the relative stability of Aston Villa for the challenges at Old Trafford.

Cesc Fabregas (Como)

Cesc Fabregas may have played a role in Michael Carrick's potential departure, having managed Como in their recent Champions League drubbing. His first senior managerial role saw him guide Como to their first-ever Champions League qualification by finishing fourth in Serie A last season. This current campaign has seen Como perform well in Europe, winning two of their three games, and they currently sit fifth in Serie A after just one loss in eight matches. While Fabregas is building an exciting team at Como, where he is also a minority shareholder, he likely lacks the extensive managerial experience needed to address the current situation at Old Trafford.

Cesc Fabregas has guided Como into the Champions League for the first time in their history. Getty Images