Man United Shouldn't Appoint Carrick Full Time - Here's Why

Not The Man For The Job

Another game week, another win for Michael Carrick's Manchester United side, who are now four games unbeaten in the Premier League.

United looks like an entirely different side under Carrick - one that has started to show fight and a willingness to perform under the interim boss.

Players like Kobbie Mainoo are proving why they should have featured far more regularly under Rúben Amorim. The team looks cohesive and is deserving of their place in the top four.

But it is very easy to get carried away in these situations and start suggesting that the recent form means Carrick should be handed a permanent role at the club. He has done brilliantly so far, but there is a lot more that comes with a permanent role at United.

It sounds like the right move on paper, yet it is one that could repeat history.

MANCHESTER UNITED GET THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN! 🔥

The Red Devils have beaten three of the Big Six since Michael Carrick took charge 😳 pic.twitter.com/UoT6aFJqc3

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 7, 2026

The History Is There

Recent history across the Premier League shows why making a player who was a club hero into a manager is often risky business.

Whilst it is important that a manager resonates with the whole club and its fanbase, it can get quite tricky when results don't start going your way. Carrick isn't only liked by United because he was a good player for them, but he is also a very likeable character with a calm demeanour. If the fans started to turn on Carrick, it would be his reputation that would be ruined.

Think of Frank Lampard's managerial stint at Chelsea, for example. Despite his legendary status at Stamford Bridge, his spell as a manager was bleak, and he failed to deliver any real consistency. It wasn't terrible by any standards, but it still resulted in him getting the sack. He then returned as interim boss in 2023, which resulted in him winning one out of 11 games in charge.

Lampard's spell proved that relying on emotional connections rather than managerial pedigree in football is never a good idea.

United have seen it first-hand with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and it started out similar to Carrick so far. The positive results showed, and it looked like Ole at the wheel was the start of United's return to the top. However, structural issues began to emerge behind closed doors, and Ole's tactical system became easy to play against. United fans came calling for his head, and that was that.

Not Ready YET

United fans shouldn't want another two-year spell with a manager who remains in the job just because of their emotional connection with the club. Yes, Carrick's understanding of the club's culture shouldn't be questioned,, and the results are brilliant so far, though it is so easy to get carried away.

His time at Middlesbrough was far from superb for a potential manager at United, but he did guide them to a play-off finish in 2023, which they eventually lost to Coventry City in the semi-finals. His next two seasons were 8th- and 10th-place finishes, which again, is far from superb but still a decent record.

Unfortunately for Carrick, his time at the club was a high-stakes role, in which Boro were expected to make consistent promotion pushes and return to the Premier League. Carrick was never able to bring that success to the club, and it ultimately cost him his job. It will be a similar circumstance at United, where Carrick's early success means the club and fans will expect a run for the top four and even potentially the title.

If Carrick gained more experience at another Premier League club or another outfit in a top-five league, then it could be a different story. It just seems so rash to make a decision like this with Carrick's experience.

Carrick's history and résumé don't suit the United role whatsoever, and any other manager with the same experience would be told no in a heartbeat. What United need are managers with bigger names, titles won and expectations that can be exceeded.

"If Manchester United want to win titles they've got to get a bigger name than Carrick" 🏆

James Olley believes that Michael Carrick is not the long-term solution for Manchester United 👀 pic.twitter.com/2XTowJ4HJa

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 8, 2026

Are There Stronger Candidates?

In Carrick's defence, there aren't a plethora of top-quality managers on the market at this point in time, so Carrick could do the job on a short-term basis.

However, a manager who has not only won trophies but has also cemented himself as a brilliant Premier League-level manager is Oliver Glasner. He would make a seamless fit at United, as he has the experience and tactical know-how to do so. His spell with Palace concludes at the end of the season. He is most definitely someone United should try and go after.

Some other names that have popped up are Gareth Southgate; however, that probably wouldn't go down well with many United fans despite the work he put in with England.

Zinedine Zidane has been out of management for a while now, and he had great success with Real Madrid. He might not have managed any other club; however, he has won plenty of silverware and is a manager that is ambitious.