Charlie Grace

Wed 1 October 2025 13:00, UK

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is under increasing scrutiny at Manchester United after their 3-1 loss away at Brentford.

Man United are preparing to sack Ruben Amorim, according to various reports, should results not improve ahead of the international break.

A shortlist has been drawn up by Man United with replacements for Amorim should the Portuguese head coach get sacked.

Sir Gareth Southgate has been linked to Man United extensively, with names like Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola also discussed.

Man United court Michael Carrick in role similar to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Man United’s inevitable search for a manager could take them across the Premier League or further afield, but some reports suggest the main target could be closer to home.

The Sun are reporting that former Man United midfielder and ex-assistant coach Michael Carrick is being courted as a potential interim boss.

Carrick was the assistant under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who also began his reign as head coach at the club on an interim basis, with the former midfielder taking over briefly as caretaker when the Norwegian was sacked.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, United have had five interim head coaches, four having previously represented the club in a playing shirt.

Carrick may not come with the obvious credentials or experience, but the former Tottenham star could be what the club needs, even on a short-term basis once again.

Michael Carrick was integral in Man United’s best period since Sir Alex Ferguson

Carrick was one of Solskjaer’s assistants, alongside Ipswich’s head coach Kieran McKenna, and both have impressed with Championship managerial spells.

Solkskjaer had the third-best win percentage of any permanent manager at the club since Ferguson retired, with 54%, and was responsible for some of United’s best periods since the legendary Scotsman stepped down.

Man United’s toppling of PSG in the 2018 Champions League was a particular high point, while a second-place finish and a Europa League final appearance in 2020-21 is as successful as United have come in the Premier League since Ferguson stepped down in 2013.

Carrick was a crucial element of that coaching team and would be able to bring his experience from that spell to the dugout if he were to be trusted with the position by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Not only will Carrick be able to call on experience, but also knowledge of the squad, with Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire all still present from that period.

Carrick would likely utilise all four as crucial cogs in the 4-2-3-1 shape that brought the 44-year-old success in his early days at Middlesbrough.

Solskjaer didn’t dig United out of as big a hole as Carrick would have to, but having been at the club during its crisis period, the former midfielder would have no doubts about what he’s getting himself into and also possesses experience with getting them out of such holes.

Michael Carrick can fix Man United’s key weakness under Ruben Amorim

During Amorim’s 11 months in charge, the same issues regarding the balance of his team have continued to surface.

Questions have consistently been asked about the midfield of Amorim’s system, which regularly gets overloaded by opponents.

Carrick would instantly change that, bringing an extra body into the centre of the park and making United more robust.

During his analysis of Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Villarreal, Carrick spoke about Thomas Frank’s midfield options with admiration, and as a former midfielder himself, the ex-England international would bring added expertise to cure United’s biggest symptom of failure.

Kobbie Mainoo would likely return to the midfield pivot and play a role similar to Pape Matar Sarr, controlling possession, while Bruno Fernandes would be pushed higher to his more recognised number 10 position.

The profiles that Carrick liked so much in Tottenham’s midfield won’t translate directly to United’s midfield, but there are similarities that he could work with at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick can bring back key element he and Wayne Rooney thought was missing at Man United

In an interview with Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney opened up about his experiences leaving Man United alongside Carrick.

Rooney said both he and Carrick noticed a lack of leadership in the dressing room they were leaving behind, something the potential boss could influence going forward.

Carrick would have leaders available to him with Matthijs de Ligt – Ajax’s youngest ever captain – and Maguire, both big presences in the side.

While United often look disorganised tactically, they also look bereft of a true leader on the pitch, with questions often asked about Fernandes’ leadership qualities.

There won’t be many quick fixes as Man United’s now-12-year rebuild hits another stumbling block, but there’s no doubt Carrick would bring some enticing credentials to the role should Ratcliffe entrust him with the position.