With only one victory across their opening 10 Premier League matches, Manchester United faces its most damaging start to a top-flight season since 1986-87. The club sits 18th in the table, separated from bottom-placed Crystal Palace by a single point. According to BBC Sport, the club's board will convene in Monaco on Wednesday to determine the future of manager Michael Carrick as his 10-month tenure comes under intense scrutiny.
Should the 45-year-old former player depart, Manchester United would appoint its eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement 13 years ago—matching the total number of managerial changes made across the previous 68 years from Sir Matt Busby's 1945 appointment through Ferguson's tenure. Reuters reported that Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the leading candidate, with Julian Nagelsmann, Eddie Howe, Kieran McKenna and Antonio Conte also under consideration.
The club's executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox discussed Carrick's situation on Monday, though ESPN reported that club sources indicated no final decision has been made. Carrick continues to oversee training at Carrington while the club evaluates its options.
Who is Mauricio Pochettino?
The Argentine manager, 54, represents United's long-standing managerial target, with the club's interest dating back a decade. During his time at Tottenham, Pochettino assembled their strongest squad in a generation, though silverware eluded him—he lost both the Champions League and League Cup finals while posting second and third-place finishes in the league. His trophy cabinet includes a Ligue 1 title and French Cup from his Paris St-Germain spell, though his Chelsea tenure proved disappointing, ending with a League Cup final defeat to Liverpool in 2024.
Pochettino's Premier League record stands at 294 matches, 150 wins, a 51% win percentage and 1.77 points per game. Notably, he averaged 1.89 points per game during his Spurs tenure, the best ratio of any Tottenham manager to have overseen 25 or more Premier League matches.
Having guided the United States to the last 16 of the World Cup on home soil, Pochettino signed a new contract extending through the 2030 tournament. He works with an exciting group of young players, including Manchester City-bound 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan. However, Pochettino has consistently stated he has unfinished business in the Premier League. A reported buyout clause in his contract is worth $10 million (£7.44m), and the agreement reportedly contains clauses permitting his departure for specific high-profile positions.
What can Eddie Howe offer Manchester United?
Howe's record in English football requires little elaboration. The 48-year-old guided Bournemouth to the top flight for the first time in their history before cementing his place in Newcastle folklore by delivering their first major domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup. His League Cup final victory over Liverpool ranks among the greatest days in the club's recent history, and he secured two top-five finishes that returned Newcastle to the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Howe oversaw more Premier League wins (84) than any other Newcastle manager. His record shows 369 Premier League matches, 140 wins, a 37.9% win percentage and 1.36 points per game. Notably, Howe ranks among only three managers with five or more wins against Mikel Arteta across all competitions, alongside Pep Guardiola (11) and Jurgen Klopp (six).
The manager departed Newcastle in the summer following a disappointing 12th-place finish. Should he pursue the Old Trafford position, Newcastle would require only relatively modest compensation.
What about Julian Nagelsmann?
Still only 39, Nagelsmann earned his reputation through impressive work at Hoffenheim, where he became the youngest head coach in Bundesliga history at age 28, guiding the club from relegation struggles to the Champions League. He subsequently took RB Leipzig to a Champions League semi-final in 2020 before Bayern Munich appointed him. Despite winning the Bundesliga title in his first season, he reportedly fell out with key players and did not survive a full second campaign.
In 2023, Nagelsmann took charge of Germany during a transitional period. The side narrowly lost to eventual Euro 2024 winners Spain in the quarter-finals but stepped down in the summer after Die Mannschaft suffered a humiliating World Cup last-32 defeat to Paraguay on penalties. Only Hansi Flick (88.9%) boasts a superior Champions League win percentage by a Bayern Munich manager compared to Nagelsmann's 83.3%.
Though his reputation has taken a hit, the German remains regarded as one of Europe's finest coaches. Manchester United's director of recruitment Christopher Vivell knows him well from their time together at RB Leipzig.
Could Antonio Conte be the answer?
A serial winner whose managerial credentials are beyond question, Conte departed Napoli this summer just 12 months after delivering only the fourth top-flight title in their history. His trophy haul includes three Serie A titles at Juventus, additional Serie A success at Inter Milan, and spells at Chelsea and Tottenham. His Premier League record spans 132 matches, 83 wins, a 62.9% win percentage and 2.03 points per game. Chelsea won 30 of their 38 Premier League matches when claiming the title in Conte's first season in charge in 2016-17.
Yet the Italian's fiery temperament and history of conflict with clubs may count against him. His last English football stint ended under controversy when he departed Tottenham in 2023 following public criticism of the players and the club's culture.
Conte called Tottenham's players "selfish" when he left after 16 months in 2023. He also reportedly clashed with both players and the board during his Chelsea tenure.
What about Unai Emery?
The Spaniard's stock stands at an all-time high following his superb work since taking over at Aston Villa in October 2022. The 55-year-old has guided Villa into the European Cup/Champions League for the first time in 41 years and ended their 30-year wait for silverware with last season's Europa League triumph. His Premier League record at Villa shows 200 matches, 101 wins, a 50.5% win percentage and 1.75 points per game—the best win percentage (51%) and points per game ratio of any permanent Villa boss.
Despite losing key squad members over the summer, Emery's restructured side are finding their rhythm again. The likelihood of him departing for United appears even slimmer given recent reports that he is expected to sign a new contract. Emery's extensive managerial experience also includes spells at Arsenal and Paris St-Germain.
Could Michael Carrick remain in charge?
Still clinging to his position at Old Trafford, could United's hierarchy decide to retain faith in Carrick? His initial appointment as interim boss in January proved spectacularly successful—he recorded the most wins (12) and points (39) of any Premier League manager during the remainder of the 2025-26 season. However, the wheels have come off dramatically this term, with only three wins from 15 matches across all competitions.
Though his team has demonstrated fight with comebacks in recent games, beating Roma and salvaging a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, their overall statistics paint a damning picture. The club occupies the relegation zone, and their 18th-place position after 10 games represents their lowest standing at this stage of a season for 40 years. It is only the second occasion they have gone eight Premier League games without victory.
The 45-year-old won five Premier League titles and the Champions League as a United player, but his managerial credentials at the club have been severely tested. After the club chose to give Carrick and the players until the November international break to show improvement following a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on October 25, recent results have done little to ease the pressure.
What happens next?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Berrada and Wilcox are scheduled to meet in Monaco on Wednesday, 11 November, to discuss Carrick's future, with a decision potentially following on Thursday. United are expected to return to action against Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November, with a managerial change anticipated before that fixture. The club's hierarchy faces a critical decision that will shape the direction of the club for years to come, with each candidate offering distinct advantages and potential drawbacks as they consider who should lead Manchester United's recovery from their worst domestic start in four decades.
