The coveted Manchester United position could soon appear on LinkedIn once again.

Michael Carrick’s team has managed only a single Premier League victory this season, placing them in 13th position—marking their worst start to a league campaign in four decades.

Cesc Fabregas’ Como inflicted a harsh 4-1 defeat on a drenched United in Italy, following their recent loss to Atletico Madrid when they played a man down.

Lisandro Martinez went on a fervent tirade after the Atletico loss, criticizing the club’s hierarchy for insufficient summer signings.

The Argentine defender voiced his disappointment with director of football Jason Wilcox—though he later retracted his comments, asserting that the team is united.

Just when the situation appeared to reach a new low, captain Bruno Fernandes publicly criticized Carrick.

The 2026 PFA Player of the Year criticized the decision not to employ a man-to-man pressing strategy, stating that “sometimes you must be braver under pressure, taking risks to press high and make them uncomfortable.”

However, Carrick remained unfazed, assuming full responsibility for the team’s performance while subtly chastising his players.

The 45-year-old stated: “Regardless of the tactics employed, if you don’t run—forward or backward—you’re not going to win.”

In the midst of this turmoil, speculation regarding Carrick’s future is rife, although SunSport understands he will continue as manager at least for the upcoming match against Bournemouth.

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Potential successors are starting to surface if United decides to make a change, and SunSport has compiled a shortlist of candidates for the position…

Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte, currently without a club, would certainly inject a winning mentality into the North West, as he has done elsewhere.

With a history of winning with Chelsea, Napoli, Juventus, and Inter, the Italian was keen on the United role in 2021.

However, United opted for a different path, allowing him to join Spurs, where he secured Champions League football.

Before long, however, he expressed frustration with the club’s spending, famously saying that money “cannot buy the winning mentality.”

His arrival could bring both excitement and a fresh approach, as he has a proven track record of winning that aligns with United’s aspirations.

Fabian Hurzeler

Fabian Hurzeler is the rising star in the managerial market, as Brighton continues to thrive in domestic and European competitions.

Given Brighton’s history of allowing departures for the right price, he might be an attractive prospect for United.

Chelsea previously paid £20 million for Graham Potter in 2022, but many speculate that Hurzeler could command a record fee for a manager.

The Red Devils already find themselves £1 billion in debt, so a hefty price tag could dissuade them from pursuing the newly married coach.

Concerns about Hurzeler’s experience linger, raising doubts about whether he could thrive at a club of United’s stature.

Julian Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann, the former Bayern Munich and Germany coach, has also been mentioned as a potential replacement.

The 39-year-old stepped down from his national team role following Germany’s shock exit from the World Cup at the hands of Paraguay.

Nagelsmann has been outside of club management for three years, making a return to what has been a managerial graveyard since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement a daunting prospect.

Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Carrick at Old Trafford, with SunSport reporting he is ready to return to management.

Now out of work after resigning from his coach position at Newcastle in July, he is also being considered for the England role.

United’s trend of hiring British managers could work in his favor, bolstered by his success in bringing Newcastle its first silverware in 70 years.

Cesc Fabregas

Cesc Fabregas’ Como handed United a harsh defeat that sparked an electrifying response from Fernandes on Wednesday.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder has elevated his Serie A team from the second tier to the Champions League in under three years.

Manchester United once sought to recruit him during his playing career, which suggests they might consider him for the managerial role now.

He was even questioned about the possibility of coaching United before his team’s victory over them.

Kieran McKenna

Kieran McKenna, aged 40, departed Ipswich this summer after leading the team to three promotions during his tenure.

He successfully guided them back to the top tier at the first attempt.

A return to Old Trafford would mark a reunion for the Northern Irishman, who initially joined United’s setup as U18s coach in 2016.

He was then promoted to the first-team coaching staff as an assistant to Jose Mourinho for the short-lived 2018/19 season.

However, McKenna may be deemed too similar to Carrick to create the change needed at this juncture.

Unai Emery

Unai Emery has significantly strengthened Aston Villa since guiding them to lift the Europa League last season.

While acquiring the Spaniard from the West Midlands is likely to be a daunting task, he remains a potential candidate.

Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino led the USA to unexpected success at the 2026 World Cup, despite some ongoing controversy.

The former Spurs manager was previously viewed as a potential successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United back in 2021.

His Premier League experience, combined with an impressive record of developing talents like Harry Kane and Dele Alli at Spurs, Luke Shaw at Southampton, and Cole Palmer at Chelsea, makes him a compelling option.