A tactical mastermind has emerged as a candidate to manage Manchester United if Carrick is dismissed.
Nagelsmann surges ahead as a candidate to take over Manchester United if Carrick is fired.
Football 365, a well-known football news outlet, reported that German coach Julian Nagelsmann is among the candidates to become the new manager of Manchester United, the Premier League giant, should Michael Carrick be removed from his post.
Carrick has led Manchester United to a disappointing start in the 2026-27 Premier League season, with five matches played: two losses, one draw, and only one win. The team has also been eliminated from the Carabao Cup. It is widely believed that if he cannot improve the team's performance, he faces a high likelihood of being sacked as manager.
One of the names considered by Manchester United's board is 39-year-old Nagelsmann, who is currently unemployed.
Nagelsmann was once one of the hottest football coaches, excelling with Hoffenheim, then leading RB Leipzig to the 2020 UEFA Champions League semifinals. He earned a major opportunity managing Bayern Munich, guiding the club to one Bundesliga title, before taking charge of the German national team. However, he ultimately parted ways with Die Mannschaft after exiting in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Nagelsmann's playing style is exciting, focusing on coordination in midfield to maximize playmaker potential and maintain excellent ball possession. However, his challenge lies in managing players at big clubs, where it seems he struggles to control the dressing room.
It remains to be seen how much longer Michael Carrick will remain as Manchester United's manager. Whenever he is dismissed, Nagelsmann is expected to be a prominent name once again. Another potential candidate is Antonio Conte, former Chelsea and Juventus manager, who has also been linked to the United job periodically.