Michael Carrick’s replacement has been a hot topic at Manchester United in the last couple of months, as several managers have been linked to be his possible replacement ahead of next season.
Michael Carrick was appointed to replace Ruben Amorim as the Red Devils interim manager on the January 13, 2026, after a series of inconsistent performances.
As the interim head coach, Carrick has turned the tide around in his short reign at Old Trafford. In 15 games under his management, Manchester United have won 10, drawn three, and lost two games across all competitions.
The club has also secured qualification for next term’s UEFA Champions League competition for the first time since the 2023/24 season, and they are on the verge of securing a third-place finish in the Premier League. These improvements have increased Michael Carrick’s chances of securing a permanent role ahead of next season.
However, questions surrounding Michael Carrick’s tactical experience, ability to deliver, and manage the players in multiple competitions remain a doubt in his chances of becoming the permanent head coach.
On the flip side, a lot of tactically proven managers have been linked with a move to Old Trafford. This article will examine three potential managers who could replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United next season.
Michael Carrick’s Replacement: The Systematically Brilliant Oliver Glasner
One tactician who offers a healthy balance between attack and defence is Oliver Glasner, the current manager of Crystal Palace.
Best known for his 3-4-2-1 and 3-4-3 tactical setup, the Austrian utilises a low-block system which transitions into an intensive attacking system in quick succession.
Under his system, the wingbacks are the main driving force as they switch to a deep defensive setup without the ball and offer attacking options when the team is attacking.
Even though his system isn’t created to dominate possession, they leverage counterattacks in the attacking channels to hurt the opposition.
Over the years, Manchester United have proven to be a team that’s lethal in counterattacks, thereby implying that Oliver Glasner could be a perfect fit at Old Trafford.
However, a defensive setup similar to that of the Austrian has not been successful under managers like Jose Mourinho and Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford in recent years. Oliver Glasner’s contract at Crystal Palace expires at the end of the 2025/26 season, making him a candidate for the Old Trafford job.
Michael Carrick’s Replacement: The Highly Experienced Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann has proven to be a manager whose system is based on controlling most of the ball possession on the pitch.
His pattern also relies on rotational positional shifts between players on the pitch. While his system is reliant on overlapping, Nagelsmann deploys high pressing to get the opponents out of shape.
Having previously managed teams like RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, the German is well known for his 4-2-3-1 setup, a system that allows the players to dominate the game, create chances, and score goals easily.
However, Nagelsmann’s system struggles to deliver goals against a deep-block defensive setup, which is one area where his system might struggle in a league like the Premier League.
Another dilemma is that it might be difficult for him to join Manchester United, considering that he’s the current manager of the German national team.
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Michael Carrick’s Replacement: The Tactically Sound Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola’s pattern is an attack-based setup designed to outplay an opponent and control proceedings from the start of the game.
Known for his high-line and man-marking setup, Iraola uses his overlapping players and precision in positional attack to destabilise the opponent’s backline.
However, his system isn’t designed for his team to control a vast majority of the ball possession, and weaknesses set in when a team matches the intensity from his players on the pitch.
Andoni Iraola’s pattern also struggles when teams break into the first press, which is the bedrock of his pattern. In a team such as Manchester United, his system could be exposed if the right set of players are not signed.
Meanwhile, he remains one of the odds-on favourites to become the Red Devils manager as his contract with Bournemouth expires in June 2026.
According to a report by Goal, Andoni Iraola is one of the key candidates to replace Michael Carrick if the Englishman fails to secure a permanent role at Old Trafford.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sportimage
Recording Date: 09.05.2026
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