Manchester United are set to begin negotiations with Michael Carrick to remain their head coach after the end of the season.
Formal negotiations are expected to begin before United’s final game at Brighton on May 24th.
United bosses have not completely ruled out the possibility of someone else taking charge next season and have contacted other candidates, but club bosses have decided that Carrick is the first person they want to talk to.
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The former Manchester United midfielder had been the front-runner for the role for some time, with his bosses impressed not only by his popularity within the squad, his dealings with the media, his essential understanding of the football club’s tradition and size, but also importantly by the results he achieved on the pitch.
He has won 10 and drawn three in his 15 games in charge, guaranteeing him qualification for next season’s Champions League and the potential for a £100m increase in revenue as a result.
So while Carrick has done everything asked of him and more, it was always difficult to see how United could hand the job to someone else in those circumstances.
Despite this, United are determined to have a rigorous recruitment process rather than a coronation, and although there is ongoing dialogue between Carrick and his bosses, formal negotiations over the terms of the contract have yet to begin.
However, it is understood that this will happen within the next few days, and it is believed there will be no major difficulty in the two sides reaching an agreement on the legal details.
Neff analyzes why Carrick is in ‘pole position’ at work
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Gary Neville spoke about Carrick’s future after the 3-2 win over Liverpool:
“He has put himself in pole position with his achievements so far and things have come to light that should give Manchester United fans reassurance that they are in safe hands.
“Manchester United need stability. We haven’t had stability in the last few years and he will bring stability in the sense that everyone has faith in him.
“The fans like him, the players obviously like him and the owners will believe in him too. Next year he will play 55-60 games in the Champions League, but he will definitely not play in the first round of the cup. Then everything will require a different level of management and scrutiny. It is much more difficult. Does he have the experience? Does he have the work-rate to rely on?”
“Some people say, ‘Why don’t we give him a one-year deal and then give him another year to stabilize things?’ I don’t think you can argue with that.
“But if we could get a world-class manager who won titles, Manchester United would probably pursue that avenue because the last five managers haven’t had any experience at a super club. Michael would be one of those managers who doesn’t get enough of that.”
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Players have publicly supported Carrick’s job offer.
A number of Manchester United players have publicly supported Carrick’s permanent appointment.
Amad Diallo said earlier this month that everyone in the dressing room would be happy to see Carrick remain as head coach next season.
“Honestly, it’s not the players who will decide who stays here next season, but what I can say is that everyone is happy to have him as manager,” the United winger told Sky Sports. “Everyone is with him.
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Amad Diallo says players want Carrick to stay at Manchester United
“He’s a manager who builds good relationships with all the players, so we’re really happy to have him as manager and we’d be happy to have him as manager again next season.”
The Ivory Coast player added: “Even when you are in a difficult situation, he is there to talk to you and help you.”
“Probably the biggest change is that the team has become more influential. We are really together, just like in the dressing room.
“Every mistake doesn’t matter. Your mistake is my mistake. So we’re a team that doesn’t care if you make a mistake and can do it again. So we want to move forward and win as a team.”
“It’s changed the team, and I think a lot of that is due to Michael Carrick and his staff. And let’s not forget Trav (coach Travis Binion) and the rest of the staff.”
“They’re really important to the team and they bring that kind of energy to the team, which is very important.”
Manager Coby Mainu, one of Carrick’s most prominent players, claimed after United’s 3-2 win over Liverpool that his players would “die” for him.
Casemiro, who is leaving the club along with Matheus Cunha, also supports his appointment.
“Carrick has earned the chance to manage Manchester United.”
Negotiations between Carrick and Manchester United are expected to begin within the next few days.
Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports News:
Michael Carrick has been the frontrunner for the job for some time.
They have been hugely impressed by his work but, crucially, it is the results on the pitch that have convinced the Old Trafford bosses to start talks.
He has achieved everything asked of him and more in his short time in the United dugout.
But I don’t think Carrick deserves the job, he’s earned it with his previous work.
Manchester United are talking to representatives of other candidates and expect the names to be Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique, but these candidates are a bit lost.
With Tuchel signing a new contract with England, Ancelotti on the same deal with Brazil and Luis Enrique expected to remain at PSG, United’s options were narrowing and Carrick was adamant about the job, showing he was the right man for the job.
These two things combined to get us to where we are today.
We expect negotiations to begin within the next few days and an announcement before the end of the season. It is inevitable that Carrick will become Manchester United’s next permanent manager.
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Sky Sports’ Will Vitibili:
Which direction INEOS goes in will be a big decision. On one side is club legend Carrick, who has been the driving force behind Manchester United’s resurgence since January.
Not only did United win big games under Carrick and the fans enjoyed great moments, there was a nostalgic, sometimes Fergie-like feel to it all. If United fans could choose who they would thrive under, it would be Carrick. He is a ‘Manchester United man’ but United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has tried to do that before. Fans mostly got a good feeling under the Norwegian, but tangible success did not last.
The question is whether he has the best chance of returning to success at Old Trafford. The signings of Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique are being discussed, while Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola could be signed this summer.
Are the emotions attached to Carrick’s logic blind? United will be competing in the Champions League and their form suggests they can challenge the top two sides.
A permanent job at Old Trafford will come with more pressure, scrutiny and expectations. Carrick has done a great job so far, but there is a distinction to be made between someone who knows what buttons to push in the short term and who is best suited to lead United to sustained success.
When fans want to feel nostalgic, Carrick may be the most ‘Manchester United man’ for the job, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the best for the job.
Your opinion: Contrasting opinions about Carrick…
Carrick has turned Manchester United’s fortunes around this season
Dale: Why not give it to Carrick?The players are all behind the manager. Bringing other people will cause chaos in the locker room.
Stefan L: Big mistake. Other than the first two games, the soccer was terrible. I’ll bet money to get into the bottom half by Christmas.
Sam D: Good decision. United need to continue to build on what Carrick has done and signing another player could only undermine that. Return him to the summer window.
Ryan: Carrick did great, but there’s no reason he should get the job when there are better candidates. The performance at Sunderland should have set off alarm bells. And with his dismissal, they will be looking for yet another interim manager by mid-January.
Keith p: I love Carrick. He has made us all proud, but is he really ready to play in the Champions League? Why not give it his all for Luis Enrique?
Ant: It may not be an exciting choice, but it’s the right one. But the pundits have to say that United will likely finish below eighth place this season. Carrick did a great job to finish in the top four.
JoshOpray: His management of men is similar to Fergie. The whole dressing room loves him and will play for him no matter what. That’s a big factor in football that can’t be ignored. Why not give him a chance!
Bob L: I hope it’s not a repeat of what happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjær. After a good season as interim manager, he struggled the next season as permanent manager and was eventually fired.
