Man Utd is shaken as "Carrick" may go to manage a "Premier League rival team" if he is not appointed as the permanent coach.
On 14 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Team Talk, a well-known football media outlet, reported that Michael Carrick, the interim manager of Manchester United, has a chance of being poached by Tottenham, their Premier League rival, to become the new manager this summer.
Initially, Man Utd assigned Michael Carrick to manage the team until the end of this season after he took over from Rúben Amorim, who was sacked, and Darren Fletcher, who served briefly as caretaker. The club plans to find a permanent manager during the summer.
However, with excellent results leading Man Utd unbeaten in his first five games (four wins, one draw), especially victories over table-toppers Manchester City and Arsenal, there have been growing calls for the "Red Devils" management to offer Carrick the permanent manager contract.
Recently, Team Talk revealed that Michael Carrick has become a serious candidate that Tottenham is interested in for their new manager role. Notably, during his playing days, the Man Utd interim coach also played for the "Spurs" from 2004 to 2006.
Tottenham recently appointed Igor Tudor, former Juventus and Olympique Marseille coach, as interim manager until the end of the season. Their primary target remains Mauricio Pochettino, the former "Spurs" boss, who must wait until his contract with the United States national team expires after the 2026 World Cup.
Sources added that Tottenham renewed their interest in Michael Carrick after he was a candidate before the season began. Ultimately, they appointed Thomas Frank, who was sacked after less than eight months in charge, with the team falling to 16th place in the Premier League.
The reason Tottenham wants Michael Carrick, the report states, is "Not only for his unbeaten record but also for the structure, confidence, and clarity Carrick has instilled in a team that looked directionless just weeks ago."
"If in the end Man Utd decides to change managers, Carrick may not lack interest from Premier League clubs. The 44-year-old coach's reputation has risen significantly, and his calm and modern approach to team management is gaining popularity across the Premier League."
