United’s hunt for a new coach takes dramatic twist with “genius” tactician now leading the race – report

Michael Carrick is in line to become Manchester United’s permanent head coach as the club faces a series of rejections from its primary targets, according to a new report. INEOS running out of options In the wake of Ruben Amorim’s bombshell departure last month, Carrick was handed the reins as caretaker until the end of the season to steady a sinking ship. The decision was designed to afford INEOS time to conduct a thorough vetting process before appointing a long-term successor to the Portuguese coach this summer. The pool of candidates was expected to grow by this point, with the end of club campaigns and the World Cup in North America, meaning options like Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti might become available – two leading contenders for INEOS. Roberto De Zerbi, formerly of Olympique Marseille and Brighton, and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner were also identified as frontrunners for the job, given their success in England. United’s hierarchy are intent on hiring a coach with the personality to handle the magnitude of the Mancunian club and with Premier League experience, having now been twice burned by imports from smaller European leagues. The major exception to this model was Paris Saint-Germain tactician Luis Enrique, widely considered the best manager in world football after his superb work in the French capital. However, the 55-year-old Spaniard is expected to sign a new contract at the Parc des Princes, despite rumours linking him with a bombshell exit. Similarly, Tuchel and Ancelotti are both set to extend their deals with their respective national teams, England and Brazil, beyond the World Cup this summer. Meanwhile, De Zerbi’s sudden availability after leaving Marseille has put him directly in Tottenham Hotspur’s crosshairs, as they sacked Thomas Frank last week and appointed Igor Tudor as interim coach for the remainder of their flailing campaign. The 46-year-old Italian is understood to be open to a switch to north London, believing Tottenham Hotspur is the “most logical step” for his career. There are also concerns his fiery temperament may be too reminiscent of the issues which plagued Amorim’s tumultuous tenure as well. This issue with personality also applies to Glasner, with the Austrian manager having gone on the warpath with his bosses at Selhurst Park, leading to an uncomfortable stand-off that INEOS will be all too familiar with. As such, four of United’s primary targets look set to commit to jobs elsewhere this summer, while the Old Trafford hot seat is considered too hot a seat for the fifth to handle. This has led Carrick to quietly climb the ranks in INEOS’s mind after his superb start. Carrick the favourite The i Paper reveals Carrick is “now favourite for Man Utd job” with the former England international now standing “as good a chance as any candidate” to get the job permanently. The Red Devils are currently unbeaten after the first five games under Carrick, picking up four wins and one draw. This has included back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Arsenal, putting United firmly in contention for Champions League qualification. However, it is not simply the results which have impressed; it is the understated manner in which the 44-year-old has gone about his business, serving as a stark contrast to his prickly Portuguese predecessor. Carrick immediately implemented a 4-2-3-1 shape, restoring Kobbie Mainoo to central midfield alongside Casemiro, and pushing Bruno Fernandes forward into his rightful No.10 position. These changes have been as simple as they are effective, with both the defence and midfield looking far more comfortable in this familiar setting. But the transformation of Patrick Dorgu as a rampaging left-winger, or the novel decision to redeploy Bryan Mbeumo as a false nine, are less obvious decisions which have been just as impactful. They speak to a tactically astute mind with an incisive eye, though this should hardly be surprising for one of the Premier League’s most successful holding midfielders. Final Thoughts It would be a bold decision to appoint a former Red Devil as interim coach and then hand him the job permanently after an upturn in form, for obvious reasons. However, if INEOS are unable to settle on a standout candidate to lead the next phase of their revolution at the Theatre of Dreams, due to a paucity of options, it may make sense to prolong Carrick’s spell on a short-term basis. A one-year extension for the 2026/27 campaign would give United more time to wait until the right head coach appears, while also offering Carrick the chance to further his claim to the role. Rome was not built in a day; being patient in deciding who is handed the keys to the city to will never be an unwise move, even if it may be frustrating for fans to see an emperor with only Middlesbrough on his CV at the helm. Michael Carrick: Managerial Career Stats TeamFromToGames PlayedGames WonGames DrawnGames LostWin % Manchester United (caretaker)21 November 20212 December 2021321066.67 Middlesbrough24 October 20224 June 202513663244946.32 Manchester United13 January 2026Present541080.00 Career total——14469264947.92 Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.