Few managerial appointments in recent Premier League history have produced such an immediate and dramatic turnaround as Michael Carrick’s second stint at Manchester United.
The 44-year-old took the reins at Old Trafford in January, tasked with steadying a ship that was drifting fast under Ruben Amorim, and his impact has been nothing short of remarkable.
United now sit third in the table, well placed to return to Champions League football, and the debate over whether Carrick should be handed the role permanently is one of the most compelling questions in the English game.
If you’re following the Premier League winner odds, United won’t feature near the top, but the turnaround under Carrick has been significant enough to demand serious attention.
The case for keeping Carrick
The numbers alone make a compelling argument. Amorim won just eight of his 20 Premier League games in charge, leaving United in sixth and heading in the wrong direction after a single win in five.
Carrick has won seven of his first 10 league matches, including victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Aston Villa. The side have moved from sixth to third, and while they are not in the title race, six points clear of an out-of-form Liverpool is a comfortable cushion with the top four very much within reach.
The return to Champions League football would represent a significant achievement in itself. United played no European football this campaign after finishing 15th last season and losing the Europa League final to Spurs, and they were knocked out in the group stage the last time they featured in the competition in 2023-24. The revenue that comes with the continent’s premier club competition matters enormously, and the ability to attract top players on the back of it cannot be understated.
Carrick has also breathed new life into players who looked lost under the previous regime. Harry Maguire is the most striking example. The centre-back is back in the England fold for the first time since 2024, with suggestions he should start at the World Cup, and has committed his long-term future to United despite interest from elsewhere, even accepting a pay cut to stay.
Kobbie Mainoo is playing with confidence again and has returned to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. Bryan Mbeumo, speaking from a recent training camp, made clear just how much Carrick’s knowledge of the club has helped the players settle and perform. Amad Diallo has been among the most vocal in backing his manager, calling for the appointment to be made permanent.
One of the most telling decisions Carrick has made is reverting to a back four, a tactical shift that has freed several players who struggled in Amorim’s more rigid structure. Maguire himself acknowledged that the change rescued his England career. Bruno Fernandes, who has moved into a more advanced role, has also thrived, breaking David Beckham’s United record for assists in a Premier League season in the process.
The reasons for caution
For all the positivity, United’s hierarchy have been careful not to rush a decision, and there are good reasons why. Carrick has benefited from a lighter workload than he would ordinarily face. With no European football this season and United already eliminated from both domestic cups by the time he took over, his squad has had the luxury of focusing almost entirely on league football. Managing a congested fixture list across the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Champions League is a very different proposition, and it is one Carrick has not yet been tested on at the highest level.
His track record before this appointment also invites scrutiny. The bulk of his experience as a manager came at Middlesbrough in the Championship, where an electric start gave way to a gradual decline, and he was sacked in June 2025 after failing to secure promotion. A bright start at one club is not always proof of sustained success, as United have found to their cost with several of his predecessors.
For those looking for Premiership tips in the futures markets heading into next season, United’s trajectory under Carrick will be worth monitoring closely. If he is confirmed and the squad is strengthened properly, they have the foundations of something sustainable.
The competition for the role
Complicating matters further is the broader managerial landscape. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to step down from the United States job after the summer’s home World Cup, and he has made clear his desire to return to the Premier League.
With Roberto De Zerbi having taken over at Tottenham, there will be no reunion between Pochettino and his former club, which makes Manchester United a natural destination for a manager of his reputation and experience. Julian Nagelsmann is another name in the frame, though both he and Pochettino are unlikely to consider moves until after the tournament concludes in July.
United are reportedly close to whittling the decision down to a shortlist that includes Carrick alongside a small number of foreign candidates. The sense from within the club is that Carrick has outperformed the alternatives available in the Premier League, and that there is no obvious domestic option that represents a clear upgrade. Luis Enrique has also been mentioned, though his future at Paris Saint-Germain remains unclear.
The verdict
The honest assessment is that United face a genuine dilemma. Carrick has done everything asked of him and more, and the goodwill inside the dressing room is as strong as it has been at the club for years. The atmosphere at Old Trafford has shifted, the performances have improved, and key players have bought in completely.
But the job next season will be harder. A full calendar, a squad that still needs depth in key areas, and the elevated expectations that come with Champions League football all represent challenges Carrick has not yet faced. Appointing him before the World Cup also carries a degree of risk, given that Pochettino and Nagelsmann would both become available shortly after.
If United are to give Carrick the job, they must back him properly in the summer market. The squad needs a marquee midfielder to succeed the departing Casemiro, greater depth in wide areas, and reinforcement in defence. Done well, a permanent Carrick appointment feels like the lowest-risk option available. Done without proper investment, it risks repeating the cycle of under-supported managers that has defined the club for a decade.
The momentum is with him. Whether United have the patience and the ambition to build on it properly remains to be seen.
