24 Favourites to Replace Michael Carrick

Manchester United appeared to have finally found the man capable of steering the ship when they appointed Michael Carrick on an interim basis back in January. Vast improvements were made off the back of Ruben Amorim’s tumultuous reign, with no manager winning more Premier League points than the retired midfielder from his appointment until the end of the campaign.

The feel-good factor was well and truly back at Old Trafford, and the United hierarchy had no choice but to appoint him on a long-term basis after securing a return to Champions League football against all odds. However, now that the honeymoon period is over, things have once again looked dire at the start of the 2026/27 term.

Was Carrick a one-hit wonder? His sophomore album has seen him lead the Red Devils to just one win from their first six Premier League matches of the new season. A low point saw his team lose 1-0 at home to Manchester City, who were down to 10 men after just 23 minutes.

Man Utd subsequently threw away a 2-0 half-time lead at home against Brighton, losing 3-2 in the Carabao Cup and suffering the ignominy of becoming the first United side in 50 years to lose a home match after leading by two goals at half-time.

The Red Devils managed to blow a 1-0 lead against Tottenham, who were down to 10 men, as Spurs levelled in the 92nd minute to rescue a deserved point at Old Trafford, before following that up by continuing a winless streak that now stands at seven league matches following a dramatic 4-4 draw to Aston Villa.

As a result, pressure is mounting on Carrick, and OddsChecker have revealed the 24 managers who could replace him if the hierarchy cut ties during the international break.

24-15

At odds of 80/1, it looks unlikely that United will advance on scepticism around the possibility of Everton manager David Moyes making a return to Old Trafford. The Scot was tipped by Sir Alex Ferguson to be the perfect fit upon his retirement in 2013, but ultimately struggled to keep the good times rolling. Ange Postecoglou and Lionel Scaloni have been given the same odds.

The United job has often been cited as the ‘most stressful job in football’, and Ralf Rangnick will know about that all too well from his own time as interim boss in the 2021/22 campaign. He surely won’t ever consider another bite of the cherry, given that he left the club back then having voiced a few concerns about the club’s hierarchy that made his life far too difficult, despite some successes. Yet, he has been given odds of 66/1, alongside Roberto Mancini, to try steadying a sinking ship again.

Daniel Farke has done a tremendous job at Leeds United. He’s won the Championship with them, survived relegation from the Premier League, and now looks to be moving up the table this term, but he would be a massive risk given he’s never managed a club of United’s size.

Luis Enrique has won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG, and he continues to mop up domestic silverware as though he could do it with his eyes closed. His current job isn’t exactly the most challenging, given the money he’s been given to spend in the transfer market alongside the super team he already has, and so proving he can do what no manager has ever done by turning United’s post-Fergie fortunes around could be a compelling prospect.

Next up, also with odds of 50/1, is Darren Fletcher, who is currently the head coach of the club’s under-18s side. His appointment would surely be a temporary stop-gap while the hierarchy searches for someone else, as the club can’t afford to keep relying on former players to get them back to where they belong.

14-8

Brendan Rodgers has longed for a return to English football and also has odds of 50/1 when it comes to taking charge of his former club Liverpool’s rivals. Young German tactician Sebastian Hoeness has the same odds, trailing the unemployed Roberto Martinez.

Another former player and manager linked with the post is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was keen on the interim role back in January but was beaten to the job by Carrick.

The Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is among the highest-paid managers in world football. It would be interesting to see how his defence-first mentality would sit with United fans, but as eleventh favourite, it doesn’t seem as though we will find out any time soon. Thomas Tuchel has slightly better odds, despite clearly being suited and booted to continue with England until at least the summer of 2028, while Cesc Fabregas’ leadership would bring a far more exciting brand of football to Old Trafford.

Gareth Southgate, at 20/1, could finally be given the keys after years of links. The England icon became renowned for how well he could put a team together and build a stronger culture with the Three Lions after years of toxicity. Club football is a whole different ball game, though, but he is at least a free agent.

7-1

For years now, Unai Emery has been among the best managers in the Premier League, consistently overachieving with Aston Villa. He did flop at Arsenal, but could be ready for another spell in charge of a traditional top six club. Many Man Utd fans have already backed him as their ideal Carrick replacement, though he’s one of many in this section to have reportedly turned the job down.

While Emery now seems poised to sign a new contract at Villa Park, both Fabian Hurzeler of Brighton, as well as Napoli boss Antonio Conte, have also dismissed any rumours that they could be making a move to Old Trafford.

In third is Julian Nagelsmann. The 39-year-old is currently unattached after leaving Germany following their poor 2026 World Cup campaign. He previously managed TSG Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga title in 2022 with the latter.

Mauricio Pochettingo’s odds have been significantly slashed since United’s draw at home to Villa, with the USA boss now second favourite to take on football’s most stressful job at odds of just 5/2.

The runaway favourite, at odds of just 15/8, though, is Eddie Howe. He recently stepped down from his role at Newcastle, and any advancement would surely be made easier by the assumption that the Englishman is ready for a quick return to football management.

All betting odds per OddsChecker – correct as of 09/11/2026.