Michael Carrick: What does Manchester United's interim coach need to do to become full-time option?
Manchester United have more points than any other Premier League team since appointing Michael Carrick, who has won five out of his six games in charge; Carrick is in charge until the end of the season - but does he deserve a longer-term crack at the job?
Tuesday 24 February 2026 17:12, UK
Manchester United are in the same hole again. Do they twist or stick with what they've got?
Michael Carrick's appointment as interim coach saw him hired based on his plans for the remainder of the season. But did anyone imagine it would go this well?
Five wins from six - with a draw at West Ham the only blemish - makes Carrick the most popular man in the red half of Manchester. Their season is back on track and the future suddenly looks bright again.
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Speaking before the 1-0 win over Everton, Sky Sports' Gary Neville said: "If he gets United into the Champions League there will be a lot of fever around that he should be appointed."
After the match he was talking up third spot as a possibility, with him and Jamie Carragher both believing United are set for Europe's top competition next season.
So where would that leave Carrick?
The problem is United have been here before with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019. They gave him the full-time job after a successful caretaker period, but two-and-a-half years later he was out the door.
There was a similar 'stick or twist' feeling with Erik ten Hag last season. The Dutchman managed to stay beyond the 2024 summer - but it proved to be just a stay of execution. United will arguably want to avoid another period like those wasted ones.
Neville recognises that too. "I'm not against Michael being appointed, I love him to bits," he added. "But I think Manchester United should go for the best class of manager available.
"They've had young and inexperienced managers with the last two picks. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come in before as an ex-player and that didn't work in the end. So I feel removing as much risk as possible is the right option."
Who are the best options available?
Right now, United's form is pretty much perfect under Carrick. But if they are looking for a more experienced option, then there are only a few options out there.
According to Sky Sports data after Ruben Amorim was sacked, there are only eight managers with a better fit to the 'United DNA'. The only one without a job right now is Solskjaer, but United won't go there again after turning him down in favour of Carrick back in January.
But now, the situation has changed, data from Transfer Room says Unai Emery would be the best fit for the current United squad. It would be interesting to see if Sir Jim Ratcliffe could lure him out of Aston Villa.
Another good fit is Antonio Conte - but not only is he with Napoli, that argument has come and gone. The Italian was tipped to come in at United before Ten Hag's Old Trafford arrival, but Neville argued that it "wouldn't be the right fit".
Conte was described by Neville as a "hitman", someone who would do a job for one or two years then leave under a dark cloud.
Enzo Maresca is another highly rated option for United - but reports are strongly linking him to the Manchester City role if Pep Guardiola ends up leaving the Etihad Stadium.
Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini would be a left-field call - but it is it too risky, while Eddie Howe sits in a similar scenario to Emery - would the English coach be tempted to lead the next Manchester United era when he already has a good job at Newcastle.
Back to Sky's data, Roberto Martinez is another candidate and could be available this summer after Portugal's World Cup bid. But if Portugal reach the latter stages, the Spaniard may not be available until around four weeks before the season starts. Is that enough time to launch a new era?
The other options don't jump out either. Would Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness - fourth in the Bundesliga and firing the Europa League - be another risk like Amorim? Diego Simeone won't be brought out of Atletico Madrid, neither will Carlo Ancelotti out of Brazil.
Frank Lampard would be so risky that surely Carrick is a safer bet, Louis van Gaal has retired, while Marcelo Bielsa comes across as another Conte 'hitman' option.
The next 20 names on the list are where the realistic candidates lie. Those include Marco Silva, Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner - all out of contract in the summer and with experience of the Premier League.
Unai Emery is another interesting option, if he can be persuaded away from his Aston Villa project, while Xavi and Roberto de Zerbi are both currently out of work.
There is also the option of Gareth Southgate, especially with former England assistant coach Steve Holland already on the coaching staff. But, again, it's a risk - so are any of those options better than Carrick?
The case for Carrick…
There is, of course, no guarantee that Carrick would take the United job full-time if he was offered it. "I wondered whether Michael actually would say no," said Neville last month.
"He is that type of guy Michael, he's someone who would always work in the best interest of the football club. He may do that, or he might say: 'No, I feel comfortable enough and I've built such a good relationship with the players, his coaching staff' to not put his name in the hat."
But United's win at Everton rubber-stamped the notion that Carrick and United just fit in terms of DNA. Benjamin Sesko's winner was a throwback to the type of fast-breaking team seen in Sir Alex Ferguson's title-winning generations gone by.
"Amazing, quick, devastating counter-attacks," said Neville after the game. "That is what I see when I think of a classic Manchester United goal - and that [one at Everton] is as good as you'll see."
There were similar breakaways for Bryan Mbeumo's goal against Manchester City, Sesko's winner against Fulham had a counter-attacking vibe.
Sesko has also hit three late goals in the last four games, and 'Fergie time' returning only makes Carrick more appealing to those craving the times of old at United.
Sesko 'offers solutions in multiple ways'
Super-sub Sesko scored another goal off the bench against Everton on Monday Night Football, his third goal in four games.
Since Carrick came in as interim head coach, Sesko has predominantly featured as an impact sub. He scored the winners against Everton and Fulham, and a late equaliser against West Ham.
As a result, there has been a clamour to start the Slovenian striker, especially against teams where Man United are expected to dominate the ball and face deep lying defences.
However, it would be unfair to label Sesko as simply a target man, more effective against deep compact defences, as evidenced by his winner against Everton.
He was clocked at over 21mph in the build up to his goal, and a source in Sesko's camp claimed that "matches like this underline something much broader".
"His pace over distance, willingness to run beyond the last line, and composure in front of goal make him equally dangerous in open phases, especially when games stretch and spaces appear," a source told Sky Sports News.
"He consistently pins centre-backs, stretches defensive lines, and creates vertical threat that changes how opponents defend.
"Whether it's attacking crosses, playing on the shoulder, or finishing early in transition, he offers solutions in multiple ways."
Under Ruben Amorim, Sesko struggled to find his feet and it seemed at times his qualities weren't being used effectively, like against Leeds away in January, where he was used as a target man.
However, he has made great strides since the Portuguese manager left and Carrick said after the 1-0 win at Everton that Sesko has taken big steps in recent weeks.
His transformation is another feather in the cap of the new regime. So do Man Utd want something old, or something new? They've got something borrowed in Carrick - but will they renew?
