Michael Carrick is auditioning for the Manchester United job but a number of other potential candidates look set to be available this summer
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox watching Manchester United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox watching Manchester United(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season, Manchester United will have a big decision to make. Michael Carrick is currently in interim charge but a new permanent manager will be appointed come the summer.
United's last permanent appointment, Ruben Amorim, came along only after compensation was provided to Sporting CP. The club may decide to take a different approach this time, with a number of unattached bosses potentially in the frame.
Results between now and the end of the season could be a factor when it comes to the calibre of manager who might choose to come to Old Trafford. That said, Amorim didn't need the promise of Champions League football to take the job in 2024 and nor did predecessor Erik ten Hag.
So, who might United turn to next? Here, Mirror Football looks at some of the men who wouldn't cost millions in compensation to bring to Old Trafford.
Oliver Glasner
Not only is Austrian boss Glasner going to be available in the summer but he already has the blessing of a former United boss. Ralf Rangnick was poised to take over as United's sporting director in 2022 only for the plans to be scrapped, though he's clearly a fan of Glasner.
"For me, Oliver Glasner is currently one of the most exciting coaches - not only in Germany, but in all of Europe," Rangnick told LAOLA1 in March 2023. "An absolute top coach."
Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace in 2026
Oliver Glasner will leave Crystal Palace in the summer(Image: Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Glasner will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season, just 12 months after leading the team to the FA Cup. According to reports in January, he was not United's first choice, though one of the front-runners - England boss Thomas Tuchel - has since signed a new contract to seemingly rule himself out of contention.
Roberto De Zerbi
De Zerbi is another man whose future took a turn after United dismissed Amorim in early January. The Italian boss quit as Marseille manager in February after the team crashed out of Europe and lost 5-0 away to rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
The former Brighton boss is believed to have been one of the leading candidates for the United job during January. He impressed during his time at Brighton, leading the team into Europe for the first time after a sixth-place finish in the Premier League.
He has left clubs under a bit of a cloud, though, leaving Brighton abruptly amid reports of frustration at the club's transfer policy. The manner of his Marseille exit may give the higher-ups even more to think about.
Michael Carrick
Unlike the other men on this list, Carrick is able to make his argument with results on the pitch. Things have started fantastically, too, with four wins and a draw from his first five games.
Carrick certainly wants the job permanently, describing it as "the ultimate role". It certainly seems unlikely he would favour another job elsewhere over the United hotseat.
There have been suggestions some at United might favour a more experienced boss at the helm. If Carrick keeps winning matches, though, he could prove hard to ignore.
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate at the Euro 2024 final
Gareth Southgate has been out of work since leaving his post as England manager(Image: Hesham Elsherif/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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There was a time when United were seriously keen on Southgate taking the reins. The former England boss had a strong relationship with Dan Ashworth, who was keen on a reunion, though talk has cooled since the former chief was sacked in December 2024.
Southgate hasn't managed at all since leaving his England post after Euro 2024. You have to go back a great deal longer for his last foray into club management, meaning he would be something of an unknown quantity at Premier League level despite his international experience.
One thing which could work in his favour, though, is the way he was regarded to have transformed the culture within the England squad. A move to Manchester United remains unlikely but there is an argument to be made.
Xavi
Former Barcelona boss Xavi has been out of the game since leaving Barcelona at the end of the 2023/24 season. The ex-midfielder has been linked with Premier League jobs - most notably with United and Tottenham - but has so far kept his powder dry.
"I'd love to work in the Premier League because I love the passion there. In Spain, it's too much about the result," the 46-year-old said in 2025.
United are not believed to have made any contact with Xavi during the process which saw Carrick given the reins on an interim basis. He has experience of a pressure-cooker environment at Barcelona, though, and this could make him a tempting candidate in a way others are not.
Xabi Alonso
Given his past with United's fierce rivals Liverpool, Xabi Alonso may well end up being a non-starter when it comes to United. He is currently available, though, with his Real Madrid tenure coming to a premature end.
Alonso took over at the Bernabeu over the summer after catching the eye at Bayer Leverkusen. He led the German club to a long-awaited Bundesliga title in 2024, going the entire league season unbeaten.
The Spaniard's pedigree is plain to see and he has the qualities United would surely be looking for in a manager. However, the major stumbling block surrounds his former employers.
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