Guess Who? Man Utd’s next manager profiled by Sir Jim Ratcliffe

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a very clear idea about the type of personality that he wants in charge of his side next season – and that does not necessarily spell good news for Michael Carrick.

Carrick has coolly steered United into third position in the Premier League, with the Red Devils looking good to make a return to the Champions League next term.

With 57 goals scored, they have been one of the most exciting sides in England to watch, yet the turnaround instigated by the Englishman may not be enough to keep him in the job on a full-time basis.

Carrick, after all, is no Ruben Amorim.

While this appears to have left a huge majority of United fans thankful, that is not necessarily the case with Ineos supremo Ratcliffe, who will ultimately be the man calling the shots when a permanent manager to replace the Portuguese is finally selected.

Ratcliffe seeking an ‘alpha’ male

Ratcliffe wants a leader of men: he wants an ‘alpha’ figure to carry this group forward because that is the type of manager he respects.

Amorim fell into that category, for better or for worse. The Athletic note that Ratcliffe is ‘drawn to “alpha” characters’ and respected the former Sporting CP coach because he ‘fought fire with fire’.

It was this type of combative approach, though, that saw Man Utd retain a back three even when the prevailing logic was that a change was required. No matter for 'alpha' Amorim: it was his way or no way.

Man Utd DNA is not a factor

Carrick cuts a more malleable, pragmatic figure than his predecessor, but this has not convinced Ratcliffe, who appears happy to wait it out until the end of the season before making a call on the Englishman.

Man Utd DNA, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to count for anything in Ratcliffe’s eyes.

“The pressure is something I have lived with for a long time,” Carrick told Sky Sports.

“What's expected here, how to go about achieving things, the amount of support we have, and the scrutiny is something that becomes normal after a while.

“It does not feel as big as it probably looks from the outside for me personally.”

This cool, calm and collected approach does not seem to cut with the Man Utd owner, despite claims that his reputation is favourable with the players.

Who does Ratcliffe want?

Instead, The Athletic reports that he continues to study ‘alpha’ options, although these are diminishing by the week.

Luis Enrique is close to securing a new deal with PSG and Carlo Ancelotti is expected to extend his contract with Brazil. Thomas Tuchel has already committed himself to England while Julian Nagelsmann will not leave his post as Germany manager until the World Cup has concluded, which happens after Man Utd’s first pre-season friendly.

Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola are both considered to be potential candidates.

Carrick remains in the driving seat for now, but it appears that if Ratcliffe commits to the former midfielder as Man Utd’s next permanent manager, it will be with sizeable misgivings over his personality.

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