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Pochettino, Howe, Emery… or Carrick? Man Utd’s managerial options
Manchester United’s poor Premier League start has put head coach Michael Carrick’s future under scrutiny, with the club’s directors due to meet in Monaco on Wednesday. United have won one of their first 10 league matches and sit 18th, prompting discussion of possible replacements and raising the prospect of another change in a long-running succession of managers.
The article considers candidates including Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe, alongside Unai Emery, while also asking whether Carrick could remain in charge. Pochettino has a new contract with the United States through 2030, though reported clauses may allow him to leave for certain major jobs; Nagelsmann has experience at Bayern Munich and with Germany, and Howe has recorded 84 Premier League wins as Newcastle manager. A departure would make Carrick the latest in a series of seven permanent managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
In short
- United have won one of their first 10 league matches.
- Directors will discuss Carrick’s future on Wednesday.
- Pochettino, Nagelsmann and Howe are among potential successors.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A change could be justified if the directors conclude that United’s poor results reflect problems Carrick cannot correct quickly enough. A successor with a strong record, such as one of the candidates discussed, might bring clearer direction and improve the club’s prospects, while the meeting offers a chance to assess options before the season slips further.
The case against
Keeping Carrick could give the club a chance to avoid repeating a cycle of short-lived appointments that has followed Ferguson’s retirement. A managerial change brings uncertainty and may not address deeper issues; allowing Carrick time, if the directors believe he has a credible plan, could offer more continuity and a fairer test of his leadership.