Man Utd could be looking for their next manager very soon as the pressure cranks up on incumbent Michael Carrick.
The beleaguered head coach is winless in his last eight Premier League matches, which the is club’s longest run without a victory in the top flight in 40 years. As a result, the Red Devils currently sit 18th in the table, their lowest-ever standing this far into a season.
The writing is on the wall for Carrick, who will reportedly learn his fate this week. A new man could be in the dugout for their next match against Liverpool at Anfield. Talk about a baptism of fire.
The major bookmakers consider Mauricio Pochettino the frontrunner for the post. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss is currently in charge of the United States men’s national team, though there is a clause in his contract that would allow him to join Man Utd for a £7.44 million compensation fee. The Argentine has long been interested in the Old Trafford job, though it feels like it might be a hire several years too late.
Eddie Howe is the second favourite to land the role after leaving Newcastle United in the summer. Though he is out of work at the moment, Man Utd would need to pay the Magpies compensation, reported to be around £3 million, after he left St. James’ Park by mutual consent.
Julian Nagelsmann’s name has been mentioned in reports in recent weeks, though his recent track record might be a turnoff for the United hierarchy. The 39-year-old was sacked by Bayern Munich in 2023 and he resigned as Germany head coach this past summer after Die Mannschaft were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup by Paraguay.
Antonio Conte, another former Chelsea and Spurs boss, is someone a lot of United would like to see hired, if nothing else but to berate the players from the sideline. The Italian, though, is anything but a long-term manager, having lasted no longer than two years at any club in the past decade.
Gareth Southgate has been repeatedly linked with Man Utd over the years, but will it ever happen? The ex-England manager seems happy to be living his life outside of football right now.
It also seems highly unlikely that Unai Emery will replace Carrick. Aston Villa are in a much healthier place than United and are close to tying the Spaniard down to a new deal.
Next Man Utd manager odds:
- Mauricio Pochettino – 1/2
- Eddie Howe – 3/1
- Julian Nagelsmann – 6/1
- Antonio Conte – 8/1
- Gareth Southgate – 20/1
- Unai Emery – 25/1
- Didier Deschamps – 25/1
- Kieran McKenna – 28/1
Odds subject to change.
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