Manchester United have made their worst league start since 1986, and pressure is mounting on manager Michael Carrick. They exited the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle last month and sit closer to the Premier League relegation zone than the top four after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Leeds United. That result extended United's winless run in all competitions to six games, ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League trip to Serie A's Como. Carrick described the Leeds result as a "fresh start" for his team, but results have continued to disappoint.
United have dismissed a manager in each of the last two seasons, with Erik ten Hag fired in October 2024 and Ruben Amorim in January 2026. Carrick, who guided United to Champions League qualification as interim manager last season, is struggling to prove he is the man for the job. Among the managers on United's radar is Eddie Howe, who stepped down as Newcastle United manager in August after almost five years in charge. Howe saved Newcastle from relegation, guided them to Champions League qualification twice, and ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the Carabao Cup in 2025.
Howe is a proven Premier League manager, tactically astute and available immediately. However, the 48-year-old's "Steady Eddie" persona may be exactly what United don't need right now, as the club also needs a personality to lead a side that has lost direction. Another candidate is Antonio Conte, who has won Serie A titles with Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, plus the 2016-17 Premier League title with Chelsea. He is also available after leaving Napoli in the summer.
Conte has a record of making an instant impact, but many would argue his confrontational style with players and those in the boardroom outweighs his positives.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing