Manchester United find themselves in a tricky situation. Having appointed Michael Carrick as head coach until the end of the season to buy some time, his impressive run of three consecutive victories and a positive shift in atmosphere at Old Trafford is beginning to complicate the club’s plans for the future.
The club is in a crucial phase where they must determine their top candidate for a permanent head coach. However, Carrick’s unexpected success with a 100% winning streak is narrowing that decision-making window sooner than anticipated, forcing the United hierarchy to confront an important choice ahead of schedule.
Ideally, United would prefer to wait until the season concludes to evaluate their options based on their league standing—whether they finish in the top four, top six, or outside those positions. Yet, this approach is unrealistic. If United genuinely aspire to reclaim their status at the top of the game, they need to have a new coach secured within the next four to six weeks. This makes Carrick a challenge for the club, albeit a pleasant one.
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Currently, there seem to be no negative aspects of United’s situation following Carrick’s appointment last month, which came after Ruben Amorim was dismissed after a tumultuous 14 months. Carrick has led United to important victories against Manchester City, Arsenal, and Fulham, positioning the club strongly for a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League. However, such rapid success complicates United’s search for a long-term successor to Amorim.
Carrick was tasked with stabilizing the team and guiding them towards European qualification while allowing CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox to identify the ideal candidate for the permanent position this summer. They need to decide on the characteristics of the new coach—whether to go with a younger head coach or a more seasoned manager—and conduct negotiations with their preferred choice, as well as their agents and possibly current clubs.
Time is of the essence, and if Carrick’s winning streak continues, the demand for him to be named the permanent manager will intensify. The club’s leaders will have to weigh whether to stick with a working strategy—even with an untested coach—or to take the calculated route of pursuing high-profile managers like Thomas Tuchel or Carlo Ancelotti.
Both Tuchel, the England manager, and Ancelotti, the Brazil coach, have contracts that run until the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup. Additionally, Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the United States, is also under contract. Oliver Glasner, manager of Crystal Palace, will be a free agent this summer after confirming that he will not be extending his contract. However, United must engage with any potential coaches before the summer transfer window, as they could easily be snatched up by other clubs.
At the same time, whoever is ultimately appointed as United’s head coach will want insight into the club’s recruitment agenda and how much influence they will have regarding the signings and departures of players. These discussions cannot wait until after the World Cup in July.
The situation regarding Harry Maguire serves as a case in point for the upcoming coach’s influence. The 32-year-old defender is out of contract at season’s end, and while one manager may prefer to keep him due to his experience, another may opt to release him in favor of nurturing younger talents like Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven. Maguire, too, may wish to know who the manager will be before deciding whether to accept a contract offer.
The same applies to Kobbie Mainoo. Once sidelined by Amorim, the 20-year-old midfielder looked likely to depart United in January but has since become a key player under Carrick, starting all three matches.
While the recruitment team has a view on players like Maguire and Mainoo, they have already decided that midfielder Casemiro will depart when his contract ends this summer. Yet, a head coach of United’s calibre must have a say in shaping their squad, especially as potential signings will want clarity on who will be leading the team. Will it be a coach favoring a 3-4-3 setup like Amorim, a 4-3-3 enthusiast like Ancelotti, or a more adaptable coach like Tuchel? Or will it be Carrick at the helm?
According to ESPN sources, United is eyeing transfer targets like Nottingham Forest‘s Elliot Anderson, Brighton & Hove Albion‘s Carlos Baleba, and Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace as they look to revamp their midfield. However, it’s hard to see any of these players opting for United without a clear idea of who their coach will be and what tactical system will be employed.
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A decade ago this week, Manchester City announced Pep Guardiola would take over as manager in the summer of 2016. This decision provided clarity for incoming signings and facilitated important pre-arrival decisions.
In contrast, Liverpool opted for a different strategy when replacing Jürgen Klopp with Arne Slot two years back, officially announcing the Feyenoord coach’s arrival in mid-May. While Slot’s inaugural season was successful, his late appointment resulted in Liverpool missing out on their top transfer target, Martín Zubimendi, who eventually signed with Arsenal, limiting them to a singular low-profile signing in Federico Chiesa.
United cannot afford a similarly unproductive summer transfer window. Even with Carrick’s recent resurgence, the club has a lot to resolve off the pitch and requires clarity to progress. A significant decision is necessary quickly; they should either confirm Carrick as the permanent manager or make it clear that he will not be.
Delaying their decision will only serve to hinder United’s future prospects.