Gary Neville has chosen his three potential Manchester United successors to Michael Carrick as he gives his verdict regarding whether the Englishman can succeed long-term.
Manchester United ended Ruben Amorim’s 14-month tenure as their head coach following an explosive rant after his side drew 1-1 away to Leeds United.
This led to Darren Fletcher taking charge of United’s tie against Burnley, as well as their FA Cup bout against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Reds opted for a caretaker manager as opposed to a permanent appointment, which has seen former United midfielder Michael Carrick rejoin the club until the end of the season.
Carrick’s first test as head coach will be a home tie against United’s bitter rivals, Manchester City, where three points could take the Reds as high as fourth in the Premier League.
Neville on Carrick appointment
Following the appointment of Carrick, Gary Neville has given his say as to whether his former teammate will be a suitable long-term option.
When speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, via Sky Sports, Neville said, “I hope Michael does really well.
“We could be sat here at the end of the season with the fans up, with the team fifth in the table and back in the Champions League spots, and we could all be getting swayed with it.
“But there cannot be any consideration that Michael takes the job beyond the end of this season, for the sake of Michael and the club, even if he wins every single game.”
Neville’s three-man shortlist
After stating that the Reds can’t consider Carrick a long-term option, the former United captain then went on to give his three-man shortlist.
When discussing options, Neville said, “Who can handle the media? Who can sort the dressing room out? Who can handle the owners? Who plays a style of football that fans will at least enjoy watching? Who has Champions League experience? Who has big‑game experience?
“The three that stand out are [Thomas] Tuchel, [Carlo] Ancelotti and [Mauricio] Pochettino. They could all be available after the World Cup. Eddie Howe – who has won a trophy, finished in the top four, and managed a big club in Newcastle – is another.
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“To make United an attractive club for players, Tuchel and Ancelotti bring a seriousness to matters. If you appoint a younger manager, United will miss out on players.
“United are going to miss out on a lot of players anyway, but someone like Ancelotti would encourage players to come. They need that right now, because I’m not sure players are queuing up to join unless there is someone to believe in.”
With only the league left to play for, it will be important that Carrick helps to bring some sort of European football back to Old Trafford, especially if they want to attract a high-profile manager.
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