Fabrizio Romano reveals that Manchester United has begun the process of finding a permanent manager, with two top-level names confirmed as strong contenders.
On 14 January 2026, Fabrizio Romano, renowned transfer market journalist, disclosed that Manchester United has already started looking ahead for a new permanent manager, despite recently appointing Michael Carrick as interim manager until the season’s end.
The "Red Devils" decided to sack Rúben Amorim last week after disappointing results over 14 months. United finished 15th in last season’s Premier League, lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, and won only 3 of their last 11 games under the Portuguese coach.
After Amorim's dismissal, Darren Fletcher took temporary charge for two matches before the club announced Michael Carrick, a club legend and former midfielder, as interim head coach until the season concludes.
Romano revealed on his personal YouTube channel that although Carrick has the trust to steady the team for the rest of the season, Manchester United’s board, led by INEOS, is preparing to "begin the selection process" for a permanent manager for the 2026-27 season.
Romano confirmed that two names "guaranteed" to be considered are Thomas Tuchel, the England national team coach, and Roberto De Zerbi, head coach of Olympique Marseille.
Romano noted that Tuchel remains fully focused on leading England at the World Cup, while De Zerbi is delivering excellent performances with Marseille. Nevertheless, both continue to receive praise and positive evaluations from inside Manchester United.
The search for a new manager will be a long-term process, with more candidates expected to emerge, and no rushed decisions anticipated in the near future.
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