Eddie Howe’s chances of getting the Man Utd job might have just gotten better with the latest news about Michael Carrick.
Eddie Howe might have boosted his chances of becoming the next Manchester United head coach if the club decides to replace Michael Carrick.
On Sunday at Old Trafford, United made an exciting comeback, twice overturning a two-goal deficit to draw 4-4 with Aston Villa, thanks to Patrick Dorgu’s last-minute goal in the 96th minute.
But despite the thrilling match, United is still stuck in the Premier League relegation zone, sitting 18th as they enter the international break. According to Laurie Whitwell from The Athletic, it seems Carrick will stay on for now, but new reports give more insight into the situation.
Jamie Jackson from The Guardian shared that after United’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth in October, the club decided to give Carrick at least three more games before the break. Another loss to Chelsea brought more pressure, but United bounced back with a 3-2 win against Roma in the Champions League and then the draw against Villa.
Jason Wilcox, United’s director of football, is said to be leading a review about Carrick’s future, consulting with chief executive Omar Berrada. Even though Wilcox might keep Carrick in charge, his top choice to replace Carrick is reportedly Eddie Howe.
However, not everyone agrees: the director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, is said to prefer Julian Nagelsmann instead.
Howe has been out of work since leaving Newcastle in the summer, after managing them for four and a half years. Before that, he managed Bournemouth in the Premier League. Nagelsmann recently resigned as Germany’s coach after their early exit from the 2026 World Cup.
Whether United’s late goals against Villa will mark a turning point for Carrick remains uncertain, but fans made their hopes clear at Old Trafford, wishing for Carrick to turn things around.
After the game, Carrick told Sky Sports he expects to keep working on improving the team. “We understand the situation. We haven’t won enough games,” he said. “But I expect to move forward, keep working on what we’ve been doing, keep showing the good parts of our game, fix some mistakes, and win matches.”
When asked about discussions with Wilcox on the team’s future or his own role, Carrick was confident. “I’m quite clear about what direction the club needs to go in. We just need to win games.”