Manchester United will make a decision on the club’s next permanent manager at the end of the season. Michael Carrick has moved into pole position to land the job full-time amid a superb ongoing spell as interim coach.
Carrick returned to Old Trafford in early January and replaced Ruben Amorim after the Portuguese coach was sacked. The Englishman remains unbeaten ahead of this Sunday’s encounter with Crystal Palace, boasting five wins in six games in charge.
Despite Carrick’s impressive reign thus far, INEOS intend to still weigh up other candidates for the position. They appear to have held talks about former Everton manager Roberto Martinez, which might concern a fair few fans.
Man United ‘discuss’ Martinez
Ben Jacobs has told The United Stand that club officials have discussed Martinez as a possible addition to their shortlist. He is expected to leave his role as Portugal national team manager after the World Cup this summer.
United will be appointing their seventh permanent head coach since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. It’s vital that the higher-ups get the decision spot-on amid the nosedive endured in the years since the iconic Scot called time on a 26-year, trophy-laden reign.
David Moyes became Ferguson’s successor in 2013, leaving Everton to take the reins at the Theatre of Dreams. He disappointed during his time in the dugout and was the first of six managerial sackings to have occurred post-Ferguson.
Martinez replaced Moyes at Everton and fared well early on, overseeing a club-record 72 points and a fifth-placed finish in the 2013-14 campaign. The wheels fell off for the Spaniard, and he was dismissed after two consecutive bottom-half finishes.
The 52-year-old turned to international football following his Goodison Park tenure, managing Belgium’s Golden Generation. He failed to achieve trophy success with the Belgians, and many felt he underachieved with a squad that included Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.
Portugal preparation
Martinez is currently in charge of Bruno Fernandes’ Portuguese national team. He will be overseeing their FIFA World Cup campaign this summer, and Selecao das Quinas are one of the favourites.
The Spaniard’s contract expires following that tournament, and it seems United have been alerted to his potential availability. The Reds seem to have him in mind as they explore other options alongside continuing with Carrick.
If he were to be appointed, he’s already worked with Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, and the pair have been key during his reign. They look certain to be on the plane to North America for the World Cup.
“Right now, we have a fantastic coach. He has been key in my development, and everyone in the squad shares that sentiment” – Diogo Dalot on Roberto Martinez
Fernandes, in particular, has been superb under Martinez, posting 15 goals and 13 assists in 32 caps. The 31-year-old was his standout performer in Portugal’s World Cup qualifying campaign.
Rule out Roberto
Even if Martinez manages to guide Portugal to its first-ever World Cup, he shouldn’t be under consideration. The former Wigan Athletic boss’s club football resume has already shown why he’d be a massive risk given the pressure of the Old Trafford hotseat.
Links to the Spanish tactician are a little bizarre, given he hasn’t been an overwhelming success during his managerial career. Deciding to part ways with Carrick and then appoint Martinez would be an extremely controversial move from INEOS.
Martinez has yet to test himself at a top European club, and that lack of experience is a real concern. There is a huge difference between elite-level international football and club football.
INEOS’ decision might come down to Carrick achieving Champions League qualification. Even if he failed to do so, he’d still be the superior candidate to take charge on a permanent basis.
