Howe and Nagelsmann top Manchester United shortlist if Carrick is sacked
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have emerged as leading candidates to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United head coach if he is dismissed following the club's poor start to the season, sources told BBC Sport on 26 October 2026.
Carrick's position at Old Trafford is reported to be under major threat and club officials are understood to be working on identifying potential successors; Howe and Nagelsmann both feature prominently on lists the club has explored and are said to be aware of United's interest. Sources have also indicated Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is admired at United but his existing contract would complicate any approach, while the potential appointments of out-of-work candidates would be simpler.
Howe resigned as Newcastle head coach in July and has been out of work since leaving the club in the summer. The 48-year-old helped Newcastle end a 56-year wait for a trophy by winning the League Cup in 2025, secured two Champions League qualifications during five years in charge, and is a former Bournemouth and Burnley manager; multiple sources told BBC Sport he would be open to joining United if Carrick were to lose his job.
Nagelsmann is also available after leaving his role as Germany head coach following a World Cup last-32 defeat on penalties to Paraguay last summer; he had also lost in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals to Spain. The 39-year-old built his reputation at Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before taking the Bayern Munich job in 2021, led them to the Bundesliga title in 2022 and was sacked the following season amid fluctuating form.
Antonio Conte is out of work and is understood to be interested in the Manchester United role; the 57-year-old has won Serie A titles with Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, led Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018, and helped Tottenham qualify for the Champions League during his spell there between November 2021 and March 2023. Aston Villa's Unai Emery, 54, has raised his profile by guiding Villa to the Europa League trophy last season and to Champions League qualification twice since his 2022 arrival, but his contract runs until 2029.
Brighton manager Hurzeler is reported to be well liked at Old Trafford but Brighton would have little interest in discussing his availability and a deal would be difficult financially for United; the 33-year-old took St Pauli into the Bundesliga in 2024 and is starting his third season at Brighton. Cesc Fabregas, 39, who won 110 caps for Spain, was credited with masterminding United's 4-1 defeat in Como on Wednesday night that pushed Carrick to the brink and is considered a leading young coach after guiding his Italian club from Serie B to the Champions League.
Should Carrick be dismissed, the 20-time English top-flight champions will be seeking their eighth permanent manager or head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013, and work towards identifying a successor is understood to be ongoing.
