Carrick in danger? 'Standout candidate' is gunning for the Man Utd job

Tom Weber

• 4 Mar 2026 08:30 CST
• 3 min read

News

Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has put his name forward for the Manchester United job, according to a report.

The Red Devils are enjoying a remarkable resurgence under interim head coach Michael Carrick. A far cry from the erratic Ruben Amorim, the 44-year-old former midfielder has steadied the ship and brought optimism back to Old Trafford.

Carrick has won six of his seven games in charge and put his name firmly in contention for the permanent head coach role. This was exclusively confirmed by David Ornstein on The Transfers Podcast already a few weeks ago.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano similarly stated this week: "Now, internally, there is a feeling that Carrick could really have a chance to become the next permanent manager. It is not decided, but the opportunity is there, and he is surprising everyone at the club."

TEAMtalk now corroborates that Carrick's immediate impact has made him the "outstanding candidate" for the job. However, Man Utd are trying to cover all bases and will refrain from making a hasty decision.

Nagelsmann wants Man Utd job

Carrick, who has already admitted that he would love to stay on board, is not the only one keen on leading Man Utd into a new era. The report claims that Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has also thrown his hat in the ring via intermediaries.

The 38-year-old is gunning for the job despite signing a new contract with the DFB until 2028 last year. He is described by the outlet as a "standout candidate," alongside Borussia Dortmund head coach Niko Kovac, who is also under consideration.

However, two crucial details suggest that Nagelsmann will not get the job. For one, he will not leave his role at Germany before the World Cup, meaning that Man Utd could have to wait until mid-July for their new manager, potentially derailing pre-season preparations.

Additionally, Man Utd are emphasing Premier League experience in their coaching search. Nagelsmann, though linked with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in recent years, has to date only worked in Germany.

Accordingly, an appointment of Nagelsmann looks doubtful. It is more likely that Carrick will get the gig permanently, or Man Utd look to bring in someone else who has recently worked in the Premier League, such as Enzo Maresca.

With Liverpool having lost to Wolves on Tuesday, Carrick will have the chance to entrench Man Utd further in the top four by beating struggling Newcastle tonight. Securing Champions League football would make him a shoo-in to become the Red Devils' next permanent head coach.

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