With options dwindling and United unlikely to go down the route of uncertainty, 44-year-old may land the job if he continues in his current trajectory
Michael Carrick has impressed as Manchester United’s interim coach so far, leading to questions about whether he deserves the permanent role, but other circumstances have also combined to now make him the favourite for the job.
According to news reports over the past week, Carrick’s rivals for the job have all signed, or are set to sign, contract extensions with the national teams they are in charge of.
Thomas Tuchel has signed an extension with England until 2028, while Carlo Ancelotti is expected to extend his stay at Brazil by four years, until 2030.
Tuchel said he was “proud” of the role. “I’m in love with the players and the Premier League and the country and how to push the national team – and how everyone in the country has its favourite team and pushes their team in club football and it shapes their players,” said the German.
“I’m still in love with that and I’m very proud to be in charge.”
Ancelotti said: “I believe I am going to renew my contract with Brazil for four more years. It’s a new challenge and I’m really impressed by it.”
Gary Neville previously said that United must go for an established manager in the summer, mentioning either Carlo Ancelotti or Thomas Tuchel, but surely with their contract extensions those two are now out of the running.
Another manager who would be desirable to most is Luis Enrique, an established winner who could yet prove himself the greatest manager in the world if he goes to a club like United and replicates the success he has had at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
But Enrique is also contracted to PSG until 2027, and although it is not clear yet whether he will sign an extension or not, the Spaniard has never left a club before his contract’s expiration and looks set to stay in Paris at least until the summer of 2027. That also rules him out as the next coach for United.
With options dwindling and United unlikely to go down the route of uncertainty in terms of appointing a permanent head coach in the summer, Carrick has become the favourite to land the job if he continues in his current trajectory till the end of the season.
Is Michael Carrick the right man to take the role of Manchester United’s head coach permanently? 👀#PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/xbm2p4VDDg
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) February 20, 2026
Rooney Backs Carrick as “Sensible” Choice for Permanent Role in the Summer
Club legend Wayne Rooney told the Overlap: “We’ve been there and tried different managers – [Jose] Mourinho, [Louis] van Gaal, [Erik] ten Hag and [Ruben] Amorim – and for me Carrick makes sense.
“Not because we’ve played together and we’re friends, but because he is a real calming influence. Having someone there who knows the club and cares for the club makes a big difference. Michael is managing the whole squad and managing them well.
“The players who are starting, they’re fine, you don’t have to manage them, but the other lads – we’ve seen the impact on [Matheus] Cunha, [Benjamin] Sesko, [Harry] Maguire, [Lisandro] Martinez. He’s having an impact on the whole squad and football club.
“Sometimes we’re quick to overlook what’s right there in front of you and say we’ve got this manager from Turkey or from Spain, who is going to come in and do this, when they have no interest in the football club.
“At least [appointing Carrick] will give the foundations for the club to keep building, when in two or three years’ time the infrastructure will be back at the club.”
