Manchester United have started their search for a permanent manager for next season, with Michael Carrick starting his interim spell with four straight wins
09:19, 09 Feb 2026Updated 09:22, 09 Feb 2026
Gary Neville has had his say on Manchester United’s manager search(Image: The Gary Neville Podcast)
Gary Neville has claimed that Manchester United have informed him they’ve already begun the search for a permanent manager ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
United brought in Michael Carrick on a temporary basis last month following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal. The former United midfielder has made a flawless beginning with four victories from four matches, defeating Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham. Carrick’s deal expires at the conclusion of the current season, with United anticipated to appoint a permanent manager for the following campaign.
Yet, conjecture has already emerged connecting the 44-year-old with the role on a long-term basis following his outstanding beginning. Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique is amongst the frontrunners to join the club, with Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel all associated with the position.
Manchester United have been in imperious form since Michael Carrick was appointed as interim manager(Image: James Gill/Danehouse)
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According to Neville, the recruitment process for the new manager has already commenced. Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast on Sunday following the weekend’s Premier League fixtures, the former defender disclosed details about the decision-making procedure.
“I asked the club ‘what is the official position of the football club in terms of what you’re saying publicly to everybody else?’ They said ‘we’ve actually begun our process now of starting to look for another manager,’” he stated.
“What they’ve said is they’re not going to be bounced into, irrespective of wins or draws or losses on the pitch in this next couple of months, making an appointment. They’re going to wait towards the end of the season… if Michael Carrick says ‘I want to put my name in the hat’, Carrick would go into a process.”
Carrick has steered clear of any discussion regarding his long-term prospects at Old Trafford, though ahead of the victory against Tottenham, he offered his first suggestion that he’d remain if given the chance. “Nothing’s changed, to be honest,” he said.
Michael Carrick was asked about getting the job on a full-time basis(Image: Getty Images)
“I’m fully aware of the role I’m doing here and the responsibility I’ve got. We want to be successful, and I want the club to be successful beyond the end of the season – if that’s me, if that’ somebody else.
“At this stage, I can’t control that and we’ll see what happens, but it’s certainly about trying to improve the team and making Manchester United stronger. Results over a short period of time don’t change that.
“If they have changed there is something wrong. It can’t be so knee-jerk whether it’s really good or whether there’s a few issues we need to solve.”