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Manchester United were humming last season under Michael Carrick, ending the campaign strongly with a third-place finish in the Premier League table to earn Champions League qualification.
The lack of fixture congestion helped the Red Devils significantly, but even so, they looked markedly improved under Carrick's leadership after the former United midfielder was installed as interim boss midway through the season in the aftermath of Ruben Amorim's departure.
However, there are rumblings of discontent just four matches into the 2026/27 Premier League season as things appear to already be going sour. United have collected just four points through their first four games, with just one win to go with two defeats and a draw, and their Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion was met with real anger by supporters inside Old Trafford.
At this stage, there is little indication that United are planning on yet another managerial change, but things could develop quickly if results do not improve. And, unlike when Carrick was hired on a permanent two-year deal, there are alternative candidates who are readily available right now and could potentially make an immediate impact, sparing the club the need to appoint another interim until the season ends.
The Sporting News looks at five possible replacements for Carrick should Man United decide they've had enough of the former midfielder and want someone who could inspire a turnaround straight away. Some are more realistic options than others...
MORE: Full schedule of matches after 2026/27 Carabao Cup fourth round draw
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe, the former Bournemouth and Newcastle United manager, has been fantastic at just about every single stop in his coaching career, and he seems to be the best fit for this role of those reasonably available.
After a long, profitable spell at Newcastle where the Magpies rose to new heights in the context of the modern game, things began to get stale for both Howe and the club, but it was largely considered a smashing success.
In this current managerial landscape where things chop and change at the drop of a hat, Howe is one boss who has enjoyed consistency throughout his career. Howe's last two managerial jobs saw him spend eight years at Bournemouth and five years at Newcastle, both of which feel like an eternity in today's environment.
His combination of pragmatism, tactical nuance, and innovative player evaluation would make this a great hire for United.
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate has been biding his time finding his next job after leaving England following Euro 2024.
Southgate has not spent much time at the club level, where the day-to-day grind is very different from international football, but he does have some experience, having spent three years at Middlesbrough before joining the England setup.
More importantly, Southgate has dealt with years of pressure at England, where he often fielded over-the-top criticism with grace and aplomb. In the end, it felt like Southgate's departure — which came on his own terms and was not forced — was the product of his own success, which is a natural cycle in the world of football management.
Now could be the perfect time for the 56-year-old to return to management, if he so desires to, at a big club with talented players but plenty of problems to solve. It's a union that has been mooted before.
Julian Nagelsmann
Former Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is available and could arguably be a strong hire for United, with plenty of experience at big clubs and national teams. Yet there would be trepidation about the arrival of a manager who has strong tactical knowledge but has also failed in certain big moments both on and off the field.
Having managed at RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, Nagelsmann is highly thought of but has not achieved the tangible success a coach of his calibre should. Germany's flop in the recent World Cup at the hands of Paraguay in the Round of 32 represents the latest black mark on his resume — a list which is growing as his top-level managerial career rolls along.
Unai Emery
Now in his fifth season at Aston Villa, Unai Emery has led the consistent mid-table Premier League club to new heights, having elevated their status to perennial contenders for European places, all while lifting last year's Europa League trophy to secure a Champions League spot.
However, after four Premier League matches to begin the 2026/27 season, Villa have scored just one goal and have just one lone point. It feels as if things might finally be going sour for the Spaniard at Villa Park, and while he is contracted to another club, unlike everyone else on this list, he is probably someone United would be able to tempt to move immediately.
If Emery decides it's time for a change of scenery, this could be a good opportunity. The biggest problem here is that Emery's tactical style is incredibly specific, and even though United have some players who could fit his system (Marcus Rashford, for example, played half a season under Emery at Aston Villa), it would likely take significant time for the squad to grasp his tactics, and potentially even multiple transfer windows to build the team he wants.
Pep Guardiola
Could you imagine the reaction here?
After a decade leading Manchester City to the greatest heights the club has ever seen, to the point where they are building him a statue, for Guardiola to pick up and move to their greatest cross-town rivals would be diabolical.
Nobody seems to know the Spaniard's next move, or how long he will enjoy a sabbatical before returning to management, but moving to Old Trafford feels an outrageous thing to suggest. Plus, United would probably be hesitant to hire a Man City legend even if he were somehow interested.
If you're United, though, and returning the club to its former stature is the ultimate goal, making this phone call has to be pretty enticing, doesn't it?
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