- Alan Shearer gives his thoughts on the Manchester United manager predicament
- Claims they should not award Michael Carrick a long-term position
- Who is a favourite for the position?
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has offered his thoughts on Manchester United’s managerial situation, insisting the club should not hand Michael Carrick a long-term contract, but instead opt for a shorter deal.
Across just three months in charge, Carrick has revitalised not only the squad but the mood within the fanbase. A simply fantastic return of 12 games, eight wins, two draws, and two losses has Champions League qualification in sight.
Since Carrick’s arrival, only Manchester City have accumulated more points, and only Arsenal have outscored United’s return of 22 goals. With the Red Devils now firmly embedded in third place, there is a very real chance of returning to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 2023.
They sit 10 points clear of both Brentford and Chelsea, while maintaining an eight-point cushion over Brighton and a nine-point gap to Bournemouth—with United also holding a game in hand on both seaside clubs—meaning just five points from their final five matches would seal a return to Europe’s premier competition.
“I’d be for Giving Him the Job”
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer criticised the higher-ups for their lack of patience in recent years.
“I just think it’s been such a bad look for Man United when they’ve had to shell out so much on terms of directors of football paying for them, sacking them, paying for managers them, sacking them, giving them huge amounts to spend and then sacking staff who have been there for years. I think that’s such a poor look.”
He added:
Shearer added that, should United secure Champions League football, a measured approach would be most sensible.
“Under Michael (they) have definitely improved and it looks as if they’re going to qualify for Champions League… I guess if they do, I’d be for giving him the job. Not on a long term basis and they’ll make mistakes as they’ve done last time, but maybe even give him a one year deal with different incentives in it if he hits different targets.”
Since taking control on February 20, 2024, INEOS have overseen just over two years at the club, yet significant upheaval has already followed.
There was, of course, the dismissal of both Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag. INEOS backed Ten Hag in the summer of 2024 after he delivered the club’s 13th FA Cup, only to sack him nine games into the following campaign.
Carrick’s predecessor, Amorim, lasted just 14 months before tensions surfaced—particularly with Jason Wilcox—as he insisted: he “came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach. And that is clear.”
Former sporting director Dan Ashworth departed just five months after arriving in the summer of 2024, following internal disagreements with senior figures at the club.
Carrick’s To Lose?
Whilst Michael Carrick has performed admirably at United thus far, Shearer does raise a valid point.
Many United fans enjoyed the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era—myself included. Free-flowing, attacking football that felt both vibrant and genuinely enjoyable to watch.
You can make your case for why that project ultimately fell short, but regardless, the ending was painful.
The club simply cannot afford to repeat that cycle. A one-year deal may prove the most sensible route. It would hand Carrick two transfer windows and the opportunity to shape his own squad, whilst also ironing out the finer details of his managerial approach.
With the Englishman already envisioning himself in the full-time role next season, Carrick may yet land the job of his dreams.
