Michael Carrick is in talks with Manchester United over the caretaker head coach position at Old Trafford. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Wire)placeholder image
Michael Carrick is in talks with Manchester United over the caretaker head coach position at Old Trafford. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Man United have appointed Michael Carrick for the remainder of the season as interim manager.
Michael Carrick has been tasked with trying to get Man United back into Europe, as he has until June to make an impact on his former club. After Carrick’s interim period ends in June, the Red Devils will yet again be looking for their next permanent manager.
It is not understood which manager Man United are currently the most keen on. A new option has emerged, too, as Real Madrid have parted ways with their manager. Could he take over at Old Trafford?
Could Man United appoint Xabi Alonso?
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso left Real Madrid ‘by mutual consent’, despite them being just second in the league. It is understood that Alonso lost the support of the players, and Madrid has now appointed Alonso’s former teammate Alvaro Arbeloa instead.
That means Alonso is now available, and will likely be available in the summer too, so could Man United decide to go after the former Liverpool midfielder, and bring him as head coach to Old Trafford instead?
Former Liverpool and Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant thinks there is no chance that Alonso would join Man United, because of their rivalry with the Reds. He said on talkSPORT: “Absolutely not.
“He’s a cult hero at Liverpool, he’s one of the legends alongside Stevie G, and he knows the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool. I do not think, with the options that he would have, he would say ‘yeah, you know what, I’m going to go to Manchester United to ruin his legacy at that precious football club [Liverpool].”
In terms of potential Premier League moves for Alonso, Liverpool strikes as the most likely, especially if they go on another bad run of form under Arne Slot, or fail to secure Champions League football, but otherwise, he could look at a return to the Bundesliga.
Who is the current favourite to take over at United?
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is the second-favourite to take over at Old Trafford, as his contract at Palace is due to expire in the summer, and he has shown he can win trophies in Europe and in England. The biggest issue with Glasner is that he plays the same formation as Ruben Amorim.
Alonso is the third-favourite at odds of 10/1 as they have been slashed now that the Spaniard has left Real Madrid. After Alonso is England manager, Thomas Tuchel is also at odds of 10/1. He is expected to leave the post with the national team after the World Cup in the summer.
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