Manchester United continue their search to hire a new permanent manager for next season.
The Red Devils finally put an end to Ruben Amorim’s tenure in January after 14 months at the helm, during which he struggled to pile up consistent positive results on the bench during his time in charge. The club eventually replaced him with iconic midfielder Michael Carrick on an interim basis for the rest of the season.
Carrick has done a formidable job so far, taking the team to the brink of Champions League qualification, but INEOS is still considering all its options for who will be the man on the bench next season. It has now emerged via a report from ESPN that the club’s management has put together a five-man list of candidates for the role.
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Manchester United have a five-man list of their next manager
While Carrick has been linked with the position on a permanent basis following his good form, it has now emerged that there are five leading candidates for the role at Old Trafford this summer, and he is not among them, despite having impressed the club’s management since his arrival.
Here is an overview of the five names that are reportedly leading the way in the battle for the job.
1. Julian Nagelsmann
The current manager of Germany’s national team, Nagelsmann is considered one of the very best managers in the world, despite being only 38 years old.
Having previously won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and risen to prominence with RB Leipzig, Nagelsmann led the national team to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, and is expected to lead a successful World Cup this summer. His contract runs until 2028, but there is a possibility that he could leave after this tournament.
His exciting style of football will undoubtedly entice fans to join, but after being out of the club environment for several years and never managing a team in the Premier League, it would definitely be a gamble. – The German federation’s burning desire to hire Jürgen Klopp may be what forces Nagelsmann out even without a new job to go to.
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2. Unai Emery
Unai Emery is considered by many to be one of the top managers in the Premier League at the moment, after the job he has done with Aston Villa, and he is now being assessed by the management at Old Trafford.
The Spaniard has struggled in big jobs in the past with Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, but he has shown in the past that he is capable of getting the maximum out of his players and achieving great things.
One problem could be the fact that he demands full control of football at any club he is in, including transfers, which may not be in line with INEOS’ plans and structure, but they are definitely keeping an eye on his situation.
3. Oliver Glasner
The Austrian has done a brilliant job at Crystal Palace in recent years, winning their first major trophy in history when lifting the FA Cup last season, and he is now ready to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Having Premier League experience and being a free agent are likely to be big factors in Glasner being considered for the role, while also playing a similar formation to Ruben Amorim, with wing-backs rather than wingers.
This season he has been “seen through” a bit, and his pragmatic style is unlikely to excite fans, but he has done a good job in the top division and may have deserved an opportunity to try his hand at one of the biggest jobs in world football.
4. Andoni Iraola
Iraola is one of the most sought-after managers before the summer, with his current contract expiring at Bournemouth at the end of the season, and no new deal has been found yet.
Several clubs are interested, including Man Utd, who are eager to hire someone who plays attacking football, and Iraola has impressed with the way he has handled the fact that a number of key players were sold by the club over the last 12 months.
United will undoubtedly face competition for his signature, but Iraola could be the next young manager to enter the elite and they will want to be beneficiaries of that should that happen.
5. Roberto De Zerbi
De Zerbi has previously been linked with the position at Old Trafford, after he left Brighton, before the club opted to keep Erik Ten Hag. He has since gone to Marseille and impressed with his attacking style again, although he retired earlier this season after some real problems on and off the pitch.
A big personality, it would be a gamble for the club to bring him in, but his tactical shrewdness and forward-thinking style will undoubtedly make many fans put him at the top of their shortlist too.
Jamie Carragher makes Emery his favourite
While Man Utd have yet to make a final decision on who they will go for as their first choice, Sky Sports pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has revealed in his latest column for The Telegraph that he feels Emery should be the number one candidate.
“The fact that Emery is not under serious consideration says a lot about modern football,” he wrote.
“After all the goals, he would be the perfect coach to revive United. In my opinion, only Pep Guardiola ranks higher of those who currently manage teams in England.
“Here is a manager who wins trophies, has a clear football vision, a great reputation for revitalising clubs that need a little revolution to reach the Champions League, and who demands respect while leading with authority. Add to that the fact that he has now proven himself in the Premier League, and there is a shortage of such coaches.”
Zinedine Zidane, who has been relevant for as long as he takes the trouble to learn English, is said to have announced that he will take the job as national team manager for France after the World Cup. – It should be 99.99% certain that the French football legend who has shown he is a brilliant manager in his two periods for Real Madrid will be appointed as early as June starting in August.
