Michael Carrick’s return to the Manchester United dugout has begun in eye-catching fashion.
Michael Carrick’s return to the Manchester United dugout has begun in eye-catching fashion.
Three matches have brought three victories, against teams led by Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, and Marco Silva. United are now within touching distance of the Premier League’s top four, a position that would secure Champions League qualification and seemed unrealistic only weeks ago.
Those results have inevitably sparked debate about whether Carrick should be confirmed in the role on a long-term basis. For now, however, most voices around the club are urging patience.
Since Ruben Amorim’s dismissal on 5 January, senior figures at Old Trafford have insisted they will follow a structured recruitment plan and evaluate every suitable option. Conversations with people familiar with the process suggest that stance remains unchanged, and there are several reasons why an announcement may not come quickly.
United has been down this road before, and the memory still carries weight inside the club.
When Jose Mourinho was removed in December 2018, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was installed on an interim basis until the campaign’s conclusion. His brief was simple: lift morale and steady the ship.
The impact was dramatic. United won Solskjaer’s first eight fixtures, including league success at Tottenham and an FA Cup victory at Arsenal. Across his opening 17 matches, the only setback came against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League, a tie later turned around in memorable fashion at Parc des Princes.
That surge led to Solskjaer being handed a three-year deal with nine games still to play. By then, however, concerns about player fatigue were already circulating, given the physical demands placed on the squad.
The closing stretch proved difficult. United managed just two wins from their final dozen outings, losing eight times. Many later argued that the early appointment proved costly and that a summer review may have produced a different outcome.
Although football operations are now overseen by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, that episode serves as a reminder of the risks attached to swift decisions driven by short-term momentum.
Another factor encouraging caution is the availability of other coaches later in the year.
Several Premier League managers could enter the equation, including Oliver Glasner, who has confirmed his impending departure from Crystal Palace, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham boss Marco Silva.
Glasner’s situation illustrates how quickly narratives can change. After lifting the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, he delivered Palace’s first major trophy by beating Manchester City in last season’s FA Cup final, followed by a Community Shield win over Liverpool.
This campaign has been far less smooth. A rotated side in Palace’s final Conference League group match resulted in a home draw with KuPS, forcing the club into a play-off against Zrinjski. That fixture marked the beginning of a 12-game winless run.
During that sequence, Palace suffered eight defeats, including a shock FA Cup exit to National League North side Macclesfield. They currently sit 15th in the league, nine points clear of third-bottom West Ham, and Glasner’s position remains uncertain.
Beyond domestic football, several high-profile international coaches have long been associated with United. England’s Thomas Tuchel held discussions with the club before and after the 2024 FA Cup final, while Mauricio Pochettino, now leading the United States, has also been repeatedly linked. Carlo Ancelotti of Brazil and Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann are further names admired at Old Trafford.
Appointing a national team coach in the build-up to a major tournament, however, presents clear complications. History offers warnings, from Bobby Robson facing criticism in 1990 after agreeing to a club role before the World Cup to Julen Lopetegui losing his Spain job just days before the 2018 finals once Real Madrid confirmed his appointment.
A source experienced in senior managerial recruitment explained that formal agreements ahead of a World Cup are widely viewed as unwise. Any leak could prove destabilising, damage reputations, and create unnecessary distractions.
There is also the question of timing. Should United privately settle on an external candidate in spring, what happens if Carrick continues to deliver outstanding results? Tournament outcomes can also reshape perceptions, for better or worse. From that perspective, allowing the situation to develop carries obvious appeal.
One argument against delay is the need for clarity within the squad and the transfer market.
Harry Maguire’s contract expires this summer, while United are monitoring midfield targets such as Elliott Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Carlos Baleba. It would be understandable for current and prospective players to seek reassurance about who will be in charge.
Previous experience shows how damaging ambiguity can be. Ralf Rangnick’s interim spell in 2021-22 ended in disarray, with only five victories from the final 19 fixtures and a surprise FA Cup defeat at home to Middlesbrough.
Carrick, though, does not believe the present environment mirrors that period. He has publicly stated that the group remain focused and professional, despite being fully aware of the broader context.
United are determined to make the correct choice, even as modern football offers managers increasingly limited time to prove themselves. Should Carrick step aside at season’s end, his 17 matches in charge would not even rank among the eight shortest tenures in Premier League history and would still exceed Ange Postecoglou’s five-game, 39-day spell at Nottingham Forest earlier this season.
For now, patience appears to be the guiding principle.
