Gary Neville has been strong in his stance against Michael Carrick getting the permanent Manchester United job in the summer.
When it was first announced that Michael Carrick would return as the interim head coach at Manchester United, Gary Neville was quick to rule out a permanent appointment.
Neville said United must not hire Carrick and instead urged Ineos to hire the best manager available on the market.
“There cannot be any consideration that Michael takes the job beyond this season,” Neville said back in January.
The United legend still has three names ahead of Carrick in his pecking order despite winning seven of his first nine games in charge.
Michael Carrick, Manager of Manchester United, looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on March 15, 2026
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Gary Neville names his top three manager candidates for Man Utd
Despite Carrick hinting at manager talks with Ineos, Neville is holding out for another appointment, and he has three names in mind.
Speaking on Off the Ball, Neville said: “I was very clear before Michael got offered the job. At the time it was Ruud, Michael or Ole. All three of them I love to bits – I’ve got an incredible amount of time for all three of them.
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“When Michael got it, I was quite clear that Manchester United should still go and get the very best that they can in the world to take the club on in the next few years.
“I’m still of that opinion. However, it gets harder by the week when Michael, to be fair, is delivering the performances and results that he is.
“The reason I say that they should still pursue the best manager in the world is that the last four managers at United: Ole, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag, and Ruben Amorim have been what I would say potentially great managers rather than great managers.
“They’ve not been at that top level. None of them managed super clubs with the scrutiny at the level of United.
“I felt that a few months ago, and I don’t think we should come off track because of eight, nine, ten results. Ultimately, there should be a Luis Enrique, Carlo Ancelotti or Thomas Tuchel. People who’ve lived at that highest level with the highest level of pressure and scrutiny who will attract the best players in the world to the club.
“Now, what I would say is the more that Michael does and the more the team play, it’s getting more difficult to sort of keep that opinion. But for now, I would still keep that.
“If Manchester United can get an Enrique, an Ancelotti, and a Tuchel, then they should appoint that manager.
“If they can’t and they’re going a layer below that, I think then that Michael comes into play and maybe could get the job.
Should Luis Enrique be Manchester United’s top manager target in 2026?
Luis Enrique has been a success everywhere he has been…
Luis Enrique's managerial record.
Credit: Getty Images.
Luis Enrique is Gary Neville’s ‘outstanding’ Man Utd candidate
Clearly Neville would like one of Ancelotti, Tuchel or Luis Enrique to take the hot seat at Old Trafford, and it seems the latter is his top pick.
Enrique is used to being a head coach rather than a manager, which makes him a perfect fit for Ineos. Additionally, Enrique’s style of play would appeal to fans at Old Trafford.
In the same podcast as above, Neville added: “I think Enrique is one that, ultimately, has achieved unbelievable things at PSG, and obviously at Barcelona.
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“He’s not done England yet. Does he want to do what Pep’s done? Which is take on a different sort of country and win leagues. So he would be an outstanding candidate.”
Cristiano Ronaldo wanted Enrique at United back in 2022, and now it seems Neville wants the Spaniard to succeed Amorim as the permanent appointment. Luring him away from the PSG project could prove difficult, though.
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