The favourites to replace Carrick at Man U as Ferguson curse continues
Updated . First published at
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have emerged as the front-runners to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United after a day of crisis talks left the manager’s job hanging in the balance.
The feeling around Old Trafford among British media as of Tuesday (AEDT) was that Carrick is likely to be sacked after a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth left United in 16th place in the Premier League and just one point above the relegation zone.
Michael Carrick consoles Bruno Fernandes. AP Photo/Kin Cheung
Former Newcastle United manager Howe and ex-Germany coach Nagelsmann are considered the most likely replacements.
But it is United’s ownership and wider management - not club legend Carrick - that is bearing the brunt of the anger from fans.
The Red Devils have not won the Premier League since 2012-13, Sir Alex Ferguson’s last season before retirement.
The iconic Ferguson won an astonishing 38 major trophies during his 26-year tenure at United.
The club has churned through nine permanent managers and 11 in total since Ferguson departed.
“What Man United have lost is their culture. And winning clubs have a culture,” ex-Socceroos captain Craig Foster said on Stan Sport’s Added Time.
“Sacking him is not going to change the club. The club is a mess. It’s just another coach gone.”
Carrick was handed a fresh two-year contract in May after he piloted United to third in the league last season.
But things have fallen apart spectacularly recently and Carrick benched Bruno Fernandes against Bournemouth after the captain criticised his tactics.
“It becomes a merry-go-round,” ex-Socceroos star Tommy Oar said on Added Time.
“You can chop and change the manager as much as you like, and they’ve tried proven winners, the likes of José Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, they’ve tried up-and-coming managers.
“Obviously, the problems are much more deep-rooted than that in terms of culturally at the club. Whether that’s from the players, from the board, from all these types of things. Who’s making the key decisions?
“I think the overwhelming narrative and the feeling is that he (Carrick) wasn’t supported enough after such a good campaign last year to get them back in the Champions League.
“So there’s so much frustration on so many angles and when you have not enough success over a decade, it becomes a slippery slope.
“And all of a sudden, you don’t have the money to get yourself out of the problems again that you used to have, but you still have this inflated sense of expectation that you always have at Manchester United and that’s not a good combination.”
Oar had plenty of sympathy for the 45-year-old Carrick’s plight.
“He cares deeply about this club. And you can see there were basically tears in his eyes as he walked off the pitch,” he said.
“And it looked like he was waving goodbye to the fans. Whether that is what transpires or not, we have to wait and see. But I think Michael Carrick feels let down, not from the fans, but from the players. I’m not sure there’s a path forward for him.”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe celebrates a win. CameraSport via Getty Images
Bookmakers have installed Howe as the favourite to replace Carrick.
The Telegraph reported that United would have to pay Newcastle about $5.7 million as compensation to hire the 48-year-old Englishman.
“Howe’s best sides at Newcastle were physical, aggressive and athletic, but he would not be inheriting a group like that at Old Trafford,” the newspaper noted.
“And would he have the personality to galvanise the squad and a fan base that is at war with the ownership? Howe is calm and level-headed like Carrick, but managing United requires a certain X-factor. It takes a certain character to handle the expectations of a super-club with the starker realities of the current situation.”
Nagelsmann coached Bayern Munich in 2021-23 before taking the Germany job.
The 39-year-old lost his post after Germany were stunned by Paraguay in the round-of-32 at this year’s World Cup.
“Nagelsmann has never managed in the Premier League before and his time at Bayern and Germany might raise some red flags,” The Telegraph cautioned.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann reacts after the side's loss to Slovakia. Getty
“There have been reports of clashes and fallouts with senior players and plenty are still wondering whether he is the real deal or still living off the reputation earned at RB Leipzig.”
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