Owen Hargreaves has dropped his prediction for how Manchester United fans would react if Michael Carrick were snubbed for the head coach role at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick has overseen eight Premier League matches since his stunning return to Old Trafford under the Ineos regime in January.
The 44-year-old Manchester United legend’s reign as interim head coach will last until the end of the 2025-26 Premier League season in the post-Ruben Amorim era.
Ruben Amorim was sacked as Man Utd manager in January after the 41-year-old Portuguese coach’s relationship with the Ineos team splintered at Old Trafford.
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Michael Carrick during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Tell us your reasons why Michael Carrick should be permanent head coach!
Michael Carrick celebrates after the Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2026 in Liverpool, England.
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Owen Hargreaves explains that Michael Carrick’s potential permanent Man Utd appointment is linked to the top five
Manchester United are now on the hunt for their seventh permanent Red Devils head coach in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era of the Premier League club.
Ruben Amorim’s Man Utd managerial spell lasted only 14 months after he left Sporting CP in 2024 and replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.
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Michael Carrick has been tipped as one of the potential candidates to land the United manager role permanently after a scintillating start as interim head coach.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Owen Hargreaves argued that there would be an “absolute uproar” if Carrick were snubbed for the role after leading United to a top-five finish.
“It has to be! If he gets into the top five, they can’t not [sic] give it to him and if they don’t, there’s going to be an absolute uproar,” he said, as per the Metro.
“Because from where they were to where they’ll finish in the Champions League places, then they’ll have money to spend to be one of the top teams.”
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Michael Carrick instructs his players during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James’ Park in 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Owen Hargreaves on the importance of the Premier League’s top five and Michael Carrick’s Man Utd future at Old Trafford
United climbed into the Premier League top four after Carrick engineered six wins from his opening eight matches as interim boss since his January appointment.
The Red Devils are third in the Premier League table and are level on points with fourth-place Aston Villa ahead of their encounter with Unai Emery’s men.
Hargreaves cannot see a place where former Man Utd and England teammate Carrick is not appointed permanently at Old Trafford if a top-five finish is achieved.
“You couldn’t not [sic] give it to him if he finishes in the top five,” he added.
“I don’t even see how that could be possible.”
United will welcome Aston Villa to Old Trafford on 15th March and their Premier League showdown is slated for a 2pm kick-off in the UK.
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