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Manchester United’s humiliating 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League has raised fresh questions about Michael Carrick’s tactics and his ability to restore the club’s competitiveness.
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Former France coach Didier Deschamps and Italian tactician Antonio Conte are among the potential replacements, with both managers bringing trophy-winning experience, tactical discipline and the ability to handle high-pressure environments.
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Eddie Howe’s success in transforming Newcastle United and Julian Nagelsmann’s innovative approach, high-intensity pressing and tactical flexibility could appeal to Manchester United as they consider their next managerial appointment.
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Former Liverpool boss Arne Slot is another candidate, having won the Premier League title in his first season at Anfield, although his subsequent struggles and departure could raise questions about his suitability for the Old Trafford job.
October 22, (THEWILL) – Following Manchester United‘s dismal 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday, Michael Carrick’s job is on the brink after the club’s poor start to the season.
The result has raised fresh questions about Carrick’s tactical approach and his ability to restore the team back to where it belongs, competing for major honours.
Several managers have been touted as potential replacements for Michael Carrick, let’s take a look at five top managers who could place him in the Old Trafford’s dugout.
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Didier Deschamps
Deschamps left the French national team after the 2026 FIFA World Cup after leading the team to two major trophies.
The French coach is one of the most experienced managers available in the coaching market, owing to his successful stint with the Les Blues.
He established himself as one of the most successful national-team coaches of his generation, leading France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title and the 2022 World Cup final.
Deschamps favours a pragmatic, defensive-first, and transition-based style of play, and his successes have been mainly with the national team.
He won the Ligue 1 title with Marseille before taking up the French National team job.
However, Deschamps’ man management style and ability to handle high-profile players and navigate the expectations associated with representing a major footballing institution puts him in a good stead for the role.
Deschamps has won a total of 10 trophies for the likes of Monaco, Juventus, Marseille and the French national team.
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Antonio Conte:
Antonio Conte is another coach who is available, and he is a serial winner who has won trophies every he has coached except from Tottenham.
The Italian will offer the experience, tactical discipline and winning mentality required to restore the club’s competitiveness.
He is one of Europe’s most accomplished managers, having won league titles with Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Napoli.
Conte revived Chelsea’s fortunes when he took over in 2016 after the club finished 10th the previous season.
He deployed deploying a 3-4-3 formation that transformed the team’s performances after a difficult start to the campaign.
At the end of the season, Chelsea won the Premier League title. He also won the FA Cup trophy in the following season.
Conte’s team are known for their defensive organisation, aggressive transitions and physical intensity. He also demands high levels of discipline and commitment from his players, qualities that could appeal to United as they seek to return to the top.
However, The present Manchester United board may have doubts about Antonio Conte’s combustible personality especially when he is not getting the players he wants to build a team.
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Eddie Howe:
The Englishman is another option an available for the Manchester United board following his transformational role at Newcastle United.
He built his career at Bournemouth before joining Newcastle United in 2021.
He led the Magpies to their first trophy in 70 years when they defeated Liverpool to win the League Cup in 2025.
Howe guided Newcastle back into the UEFA Champions League and led the club to Carabao Cup success in 2025, demonstrating his ability to build a team capable of challenging established Premier League sides.
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Howe’s style of play revolves around energetic pressing, quick transitions, attacking movement and collective organisation. He has also earned recognition for his work in developing players and improving the overall competitiveness of his squads.
The aforementioned will come as good news for Manchester United board when considering the replacement for Michael Carrick.
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Julian Nagelsmann:
The German manager is available after he stepped down as the coach of the German national team after the team crashed out in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
He started his career at Hoffenheim before moving to RB Leipzig.
He joined Bayern Munich in 2021, and he won the Bundesliga title in his first season and the DFB Pokal Cup in the following season.
Nagelsmann is known for his innovative tactical approach, high-intensity pressing and ability to adapt his system to different opponents. His teams often combine aggressive defensive pressure with quick transitions and positional flexibility in attack.
However, Nagelsmann clashed with some senior players at Bayern Munich before he was sacked, that side of him can make the Manchester United board sceptical of appointing him.
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Arne Slot:
The Dutch manager is currently available after he was sacked by Liverpool at the end of last season.
Slot enjoyed a successful stint at Feyenoord, leading the club to the Dutch League title in 2022, an the KNVB Cup the following year, while also guiding the team to the final of the UEFA Conference League, where they lost to Roma.
He won the Premier League title for Liverpool in his first season before things fell apart in his second season that led to his sacking.
His tactical approach centres on structured possession, intelligent pressing, coordinated movement and creating numerical advantages in attacking areas.
It is left to be seen whether Manchester United will go for a coach that has a bad ending in charge of their rivals.
However, Michael Carrick and his Manchester United players have the opportunity to bounce back from the Como defeat when they take on Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.
