Roy Keane is wrong, 48-yr-old should not be next Man United manager

Former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is reportedly among the options being discussed to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United.

The 48-year-old is available after stepping down from St James' Park in the summer following several high-profile departures from his squad.

The Englishman has previously been tipped for the Old Trafford dugout but may never have a better opportunity to take the job.

Carrick was only appointed permanently in the summer but already appears on the verge of the sack, having failed to oversee a win in any of Man United's last seven games across all competitions.

The Red Devils have won just one Premier League game this season so far and look to be divided behind the scenes, with the former midfielder set to bear the brunt.

The likes of Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann and Fabian Hurzeler are also under consideration, though Carrick is expected to be given the chance to lead his team against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Roy Keane publicly backed Eddie Howe for Man United

Howe was appointed by Newcastle in 2021. The club were under new ownership and needed a manager capable of uniting a team quickly and producing results.

He did exactly that. The Magpies flew well out of danger of relegation and would finish in the top four in the following campaign.

In 2025, Howe would lead his team to the Carabao Cup, ending a 70-year wait for a major trophy in Newcastle.

There is no denying that the 48-year-old's team struggled massively in his final season at the club, but Matthias Jaissle's early problems suggest that the issues went beyond the manager.

Speaking in January 2025 after Ruben Amorim was sacked, Roy Keane named Howe as his next Man United manager. "I'd go with Eddie Howe. I like him. I like what he's done," he told Sky Sports.

"He's managed a lot of games. When his teams are at it, they'll play good football. He has his critics, but I like what he's done at Newcastle.

"He's managed seven or 800 games. He's still a young man. I love his calmness. Maybe Man Utd need a little bit of that. We've seen with our previous [appointments], we like people with emotions, but he's got that calmness.

"The job he's done at Newcastle, Champions League and winning a cup, I'd be happy to see him go in there."

Why Howe is not the right man for Man United

It feels as if Man United have experimented with every type of manager since Sir Alex Ferguson decided to call it time on his career.

David Moyes and Louis van Gaal brought huge experience, while Jose Mourinho brought fire and experience of winning everything the game has to offer.

Erik ten Hag was the tactical genius who had masterminded Ajax's dream Champions League run - Amorim was the young, brilliant talent.

Carrick is the quiet, unassuming manager willing to serve as a figurehead for the board. All have, for now, failed.

Howe would be much of the same, but Man United need something fresh and disruptive. Until those above the manager accept that they must relinquish control, nothing at Old Trafford will change.

As much as Howe is a talented manager, the Red Devils would only be signing up for a repeat of the same story.