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Manchester United find themselves on the hunt for a new manager once more.
Michael Carrick, who had a brief stint as interim boss back in 2021, appears to be the next casualty at Old Trafford, despite being widely celebrated as the club's savior during the back half of last season.
Those at the top felt confident enough to hand Carrick the permanent role, and he put pen to paper on a two-year deal ahead of Man Utd's commanding 3–0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion on the season's final day. For Red Devils fans, it felt like the dawn of a new era.
The club has slipped back into a painfully familiar pattern, with a dismal start to 2026–27 following a summer that left Carrick severely under-resourced. The outgoing manager is not entirely without fault, but whoever steps in to sort out the situation will face the same obstacles that have brought so many managers to their knees at the Theatre of Dreams over the last decade or so.
Despite their struggles, Man Utd still possess the prestige and magnetism to draw top managerial talent to the Old Trafford dugout, and a host of prominent names have been linked with the vacancy.
5. Unai Emery
Unai Emery's Aston Villa appeared poised to send Michael Carrick off in the most painful fashion imaginable, only for the Villans to inexplicably squander leads of 2–0 and 4–2.
The Man Utd hierarchy view Emery as one of their prime targets, but prising the Spaniard away from the West Midlands would be an enormous undertaking. Prior to Villa's trip to Manchester over the weekend, reports surfaced about Emery's intention to remain at Villa Park.
The Villa manager indicated that discussions have taken place about building a "stronger" project at the club, with a contract extension said to be on the horizon.
Emery, who hasn't had another crack at the elite level since departing Arsenal in 2019, has performed miracles at Villa, transforming a drifting Premier League side into one of the top outfits in the division.
The appeal is clear, but Emery doesn't seem to have any appetite for a change of scenery in the near future.
4. Antonio Conte
If Manchester United want an assurance of instant results regardless of the squad available, Antonio Conte is their man.
Conte boasts an outstanding record in both England and Italy, briefly transforming the Premier League landscape at Chelsea in 2016–17 and claiming Scudetti with Juventus, Inter Milan, and Napoli.
Tottenham Hotspur also produced some thrilling football in the early stages of his north London reign, with the Italian steering the Lilywhites back into the Champions League before things unraveled in 2022–23 amid mounting pressure.
He's combative and relentlessly demanding, but Conte's ability to win is unmatched. He's inevitable.
It would be the single best appointment Man Utd could make in the short term, yet one Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS will almost certainly shy away from—even if he is available after departing Napoli in the summer... on surprisingly cordial terms.
3. Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann was long a darling of the tactical enthusiast crowd. Football analysts raved about his work at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, where he guided the club to the Champions League semifinals.
However, the spotlight hasn't been as forgiving to the German, who has a tendency to rub people the wrong way. His stints at Bayern Munich and with the German national team had their moments, but ultimately fell short of expectations.
Over the summer, Nagelsmann oversaw one of Germany's most forgettable World Cup campaigns, with the side crashing out to Paraguay on penalties in the round of 32.
His reputation has taken a knock, though many still hold him in high regard. He would at least give Man Utd a clear tactical identity and would need to sharpen the squad's physical conditioning to execute his demanding, high-intensity style.
Even so, there's a lingering feeling that the concept of Nagelsmann outshines the reality. The German might be better served staying out of the spotlight a little longer before making his return to the top level.
2. Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe isn't the flashy, headline-grabbing appointment likely to send pulses racing, but that doesn't make him the wrong fit for Manchester United.
Legitimate questions exist around Howe's ability to scale up and handle the extraordinary level of scrutiny that comes with the role. Furthermore, his success at Bournemouth and Newcastle has been built on strong institutional alignment at both clubs—he'd be stepping into a very different environment at Old Trafford.
There would be considerable hurdles for Howe to clear, yet the quietly determined Englishman could be exactly the steadying influence this chaotic situation demands.
Howe is unlikely to spark a revolution at the Theatre of Dreams. He is, however, a shrewd tactician who consistently makes his sides difficult to break down. He has thrived in this physically demanding Premier League era and has earned the right to take the next step.
He may not deliver overnight results, but Man Utd would benefit greatly from Howe's composure and well-defined tactical philosophy in the long run.
1. Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino has quickly emerged as the frontrunner to replace Carrick.
Man Utd have had their eye on the Argentine for well over a decade, dating back to his time at Spurs. They've had numerous chances to make a move for Poch, but were either turned away by the Lilywhites or made the mistake of looking elsewhere.
The 54-year-old appeared to commit to another cycle with the USMNT by signing a contract extension in August, having been linked with a return to north London ahead of the World Cup. He has long entertained the idea of another Premier League chapter after steering Chelsea through the 2023–24 campaign, and reports indicate he would be willing to walk away from his current role for the Man Utd position.
The contract he signed with the USMNT means it would cost the Red Devils upwards of $10 million to release him, but it seems that's a price Man Utd are prepared to pay to land their target.
Pochettino may be arriving at the Theatre of Dreams later than ideal, and it's fair to say he hasn't constructed a truly great side on English soil since 2017.
Nevertheless, the Argentine is a manager who brings out the best in his players and elevates potential. He backs youth and will instill an approach that Man Utd supporters can genuinely get behind.