Michael Carrick’s job as Manchester United manager is increasingly under threat following last night’s 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League, leaving the Red Devils seven games without a win. His cause was also not helped by criticism from captain Bruno Fernandes in his post match interview.

Should the seemingly inevitable happen and the former midfielder loses his job, his replacement would be the eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 and the third appointment by INEOS since their minority takeover.

Here we look at five managers who could potentially be next in the door to take on what increasingly looks like the impossible job of turning around the fortunes of the 20-time English champions.

Antonio Conte – Unattached

A manager who has proven he has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of a Premier League giant quickly, having won the title in his first season at Chelsea in 2016-17 after the Blues had finished 12th the season before. He has also since won the Serie A title with Napoli.

He has also made no secret of wanting the job. Only last week the Daily Mirror were reporting that Conte had made it known to United officials that he is interested in the position if they chose to part company with Carrick.

However, his famously fiery personality, as shown during an infamous press conference at Tottenham, could put off the United hierarchy from putting him into what seems like an already fractured dressing room

Eddie Howe – Unattached

Currently out of work having left Newcastle United on the eve of the season so would be able to take the job straight away. He worked miracles at Bournemouth, taking the Cherries from the foot of League Two to the Premier League, before winning Newcastle’s first major trophy since 1969 after they won the Carabao Cup.

Howe took over at St James’ Park with the club 19th in the table, a month after the Saudi takeover, but managed to turn the Magpies’ fortunes around as they finished 11th that season. United would be hoping for a similar instant impact.

He also saw the club return to the Champions League and gain a famous win over Paris Saint-Germain, but his stock did fall last season after the club finished 12th in the Premier League and were humbled 7-2 by Barcelona.

Fabian Hurzeler – Brighton & Hove Albion

German Hurzeler became the youngest manager in Premier League history when he took over at Brighton & Hove Albion at the age of just 31 in June 2024, and his stock has only risen since with the Seagulls flying high.

Last season, a second successive eighth-placed finish saw Albion qualify for the Conference League, and they got their league phase campaign off to the perfect start with a 4-0 win over Kaunas.

They are currently third in the Premier League and are the top scorers in the division, while Hurzeler won Premier League Manager of the Month for September 2026. It would be no surprise if other clubs were looking at him.

Julian Nagelsmann – Unattached

Another manager who has been previously talked about as a potential United manager, and is also currently out of work having left his role as Germany manager following their shock Round of 32 exit at the World Cup in the summer.

He led both Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig into the Champions League, reaching the 2019-20 semi-finals with the latter before moving to Bayern Munich. Here, he won the Bundesliga in his first season.

He seemed to be reviving his nation’s fortunes when leading them to the Quarter Finals of UEFA Euro 2024 on home soil before reaching the Nations League Finals, but then came that shoot out defeat by Paraguay in the USA.

Cesc Fabregas – Como

Could Carrick’s replacement have been sitting in the opposing dugout last night? The Spaniard is certainly experiencing a growing reputation as a manager after initially coaching Como’s youth teams upon his arrival in 2023.

He took over the first team in July 2024 and finished 10th in his first season, the club’s best finish in 37 years. A fourth-placed finish last season secured Champions League football for the first time in their history.

His attacking style of play has also won plenty of admirers and could also appeal to INEOS. He knows the Premier League after successful playing stints at Arsenal and Chelsea and has shown he can build something at a club during his time in Italy.