Manchester United’s 2025-26 campaign feels like a dream nobody saw coming. After a humiliating 15th-place finish last term, the club axed Ruben Amorim in January 2026 following a similarly bleak start to this season. Michael Carrick stepped back into Old Trafford on 13 January as interim head coach, and just four days later, he steered the side to a 2-0 win over Manchester City. It was United’s first home derby victory since January 2023. For a club that spent years stumbling between managerial crises, the timing of his arrival seemed almost too perfect.
Will Michael Carrick continue as the manager of Manchester United next season?
Since that January spark, the debate over Carrick’s long-term future has gained massive traction. Under his watch, United have clawed back 23 points from a possible 30, surging from seventh into the top three and putting Champions League qualification back on the table. Wayne Rooney told BBC Radio 5 Live that Carrick 100 per cent deserves the job full-time, noting the squad finally has a calm leader who understands the club’s DNA.
Roy Keane, true to form, wasn’t convinced, arguing that United still require a manager with a more decorated CV. Gary Neville, who was openly sceptical of Carrick just weeks ago, admitted he was stunned, claiming United will definitely finish third and that Carrick is now the frontrunner.
Behind the scenes, the United hierarchy isn’t rushing into a decision. Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, Andoni Iraola, and Oliver Glasner remain linked to the post, and at least one senior official reportedly still has doubts about Carrick, even if that remains a minority view.
Scorzo’s Take
Manchester United would be making a massive blunder if they let boardroom politics distract them from the reality on the pitch. Carrick has fixed the basics. He pushed Bruno Fernandes back into an attacking role, re-integrated Kobbie Mainoo, and used the kind of common sense that several elite predecessors lacked. If the club overlook him to chase a big name after the World Cup, they risk killing the one thing they’ve missed for a decade, and that’s genuine momentum.
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If they do look elsewhere, the most logical alternative isn’t Luis Enrique, whose time at PSG proved he is better suited to maintaining ready-made squads, but rather Andoni Iraola. Having turned Bournemouth into a disciplined, high-energy outfit, Iraola excels at developing younger players. He would inherit a squad that is finally moving in the right direction, a scenario that would suit his coaching style far better than the high-profile alternatives. Manchester United’s issue has rarely been a lack of ambition, but it’s been hiring for the wrong reasons at the wrong time.
