There’s trepidation among many regarding the prospect of Michael Carrick being handed the reins permanently at Manchester United, regardless of what the Englishman does between now and the end of the season.
Supporters and pundits alike routinely point to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s promotion from his interim role as something to be avoided, as if the Norwegian’s tenure was an all-around disaster.
In fact, the lack of silverware aside, Solskjaer remains the best post-Sir Alex Ferguson manager, having overseen gradual progression with third and second-placed finishes in his two full seasons in charge, prior to the circus that followed Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock homecoming.
Solskjaer was no failure, while Carrick is a different man and manager regardless. Either way, INEOS should certainly not have ruled the Englishman out of the running, at least not until the campaign is over.
If Champions League qualification is achieved, the current head coach will surely be in the mix to continue in the post, although he’s evidently not the frontrunner right now.
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Tuesday’s draw away at West Ham United represented a small setback, but it is remarkable to consider the change in fortunes since Ruben Amorim’s dismissal in January.
If this current momentum under Carrick is maintained, INEOS do then risk going back to square one somewhat if they go down a different route this summer, with United unable to afford another short-term, explosive tenure like that of Amorim.
One man who had seemingly been primed for the role was England boss Thomas Tuchel, having interviewed for the position back in the summer of 2024, although he has now extended his contract with the Three Lions beyond this summer’s World Cup, remaining in the dugout until 2028.
With the German seemingly off the table, reports in Spain have speculated that the current top target to be named Amorim’s permanent successor is Roberto De Zerbi, with the Italian deemed to be the ‘clear favourite’ right now.
The one-time Brighton and Hove Albion boss is on the market again after leaving Ligue 1 side Marseille this week, with that French chapter coming to a close with a humbling 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
As per the report, the 46-year-old is keen to get back in the saddle swiftly, with Old Trafford viewed as his ‘most likely destination’ for 2026/27.
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There might be a sense that Tuchel’s extension with England will come as a blow for United, with the experienced coach boasting a wealth of experience at the elite level, having notably led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021.
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He’s managed Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in a glittering managerial career so far, winning league titles in both Germany and France.
That said, at a time when United are in need of stability, Tuchel would surely have represented another short-term fix, having not lasted more than two years in any of his last four club posts.
Such short-termism – which typically came amid an acrimonious exit from his employers – has been replicated by De Zerbi in recent times, with the free agent’s longest tenure coming at Sassuolo between 2018 and 2021.
Like Tuchel, the enigmatic coach isn’t afraid to air his grievances toward a club hierarchy, having ultimately departed Brighton over a difference of opinion with owner Tony Bloom regarding the club’s recruitment policy.
|
De Zerbi’s career record |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Club |
Games |
PPG |
|
Marseille |
69 |
1.81 |
|
Brighton |
89 |
1.51 |
|
Shakhtar |
30 |
2.17 |
|
Sassuolo |
120 |
1.38 |
|
Benevento |
20 |
0.72 |
|
Palermo |
13 |
0.38 |
|
Foggia |
90 |
1.86 |
|
Darfo Boaria |
22 |
0.91 |
Supporters may wish for an individual like Tuchel or De Zerbi to stand up to the INEOS regime back at Old Trafford, amid the perceived interference of the likes of Jason Wilcox, although that butting of heads was ultimately Amorim’s undoing, ensuring the Portuguese coach lasted just 14 months.
De Zerbi – like Tuchel – is regarded as “one of the best coaches in the world“, in the view of his Marseille group, but he mirrors Amorim in possessing a passion and brutal honesty that typically leads to everything going up in smoke.
Time and again during his time in France, the one-time Shakhtar Donetsk boss was in the headlines, notably refusing to train his players following a defeat to Reims last season.
United, having enjoyed the quiet calm of Carrick in recent weeks, could do without another ticking time bomb of a manager, with a long-term plan needing to be put in place – something neither Tuchel nor De Zerbi would likely provide.
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