With the 2025-26 Premier League season coming to an end, Manchester United are drawing closer to a decision on their new permanent manager.
High-profile names such as Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann, Andoni Iraola, including former Real Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane, have been linked with the Man United role.
Interim manager Michael Carrick had also found a way into the conversation despite his relatively low managerial profile due to his impressive and impactful short spell with the club.
Now, Carrick isn’t just a distant name in United’s watchlist, but a strong candidate to assume the reins at Old Trafford on a permanent basis.
According to Laurie Whitwell of TheAthletic, Manchester United football executives – Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox – have settled on Michael Carrick as the best option to become Man United’s new permanent manager.
The duo are reportedly ready to recommend the former player-turned-manager to the club’s hierarchy in this week’s executive meeting.
Carrick assumed the reins as United head coach midway through the season and has since turned around the club’s fortunes, leading them to a strong finish in the standings and qualification for Champions League football next season.
His short-term deal was due to expire at the end of the season, but the latest developments mean he will be lined up for new contract talks should the club’s executives approve Berrada and Willcox’s recommendation.
Michael Carrick’s scorecard as Man United interim manager
Michael Carrick was appointed Man United interim manager in January 2026, replacing former United boss Ruben Amorim amidst a turbulent campaign for the Red Devils.
Carrick met United in seventh-place in the standings and quickly turned things around for the club. His first test – a crunch Premier League tie against cross-city rivals and defending champions at Old Trafford – ended in a 2–0 victory for the home side.
And that was just the tip of the iceberg as he would lead the team to Emirates Stadium and ran out a with a shock 3–2 away victory in his second match.
This was followed by a 3–2 victory over Fulham in his third match, and then a 2–0 win against Tottenham in his fourth game in charge, before a 1–1 draw against West Ham United.
Notably, that unbeaten run, spanning five Premier League matches, turned United’s fortunes around in the English top flight, positioning the team firmly in the race for Champions League football next season.
So far, he hasn’t let down the club, winning 10 of his 15 matches in charge (D3, L2), and having the team nearly lock in the third spot in the standings with two games left in the season.
Interestingly, despite his instant impact as interim United manager, his candidacy for the permanent job has been questioned by critics like Roy Keane due to his not-so-rich managerial career.
Nevertheless, his scorecard has made him an indispensable name in United’s shortlist and now a frontrunner for the role.
All eyes will now be on whether he will build on his gains or preside over another difficult chapter in United’s post-ferguson era should he emerged as the new manager.
