Neville and Keane push United toward elite managerial appointment after Carrick

Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane have both weighed in on the club’s next managerial appointment, making it clear that Michael Carrick should not be considered a long-term solution — regardless of results.

Carrick was appointed head coach until the end of the season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim last week, bringing an end to a turbulent 14-month spell marked by inconsistent performances and growing tension behind the scenes.

After Darren Fletcher briefly took charge, Carrick stepped in ahead of a crucial run of fixtures, starting with Saturday’s derby against Manchester City.

Speaking on Stick to Football, Neville was adamant that United must avoid being swayed by short-term success.

“I hope he does really well,” Neville said. “But there cannot be any consideration that Michael takes the job beyond this season, for Michael and for the club.

“If he wins every game, we could be sat here saying he’s done unbelievably well, the fans are up, they’re in the Champions League places. It could happen. But you can’t let that sway you.”

Neville stressed that United should be planning for an elite-level appointment, namechecking experienced managers already proven at the highest level.

“I honestly feel like you have to look at others at the end of the season when you’ve got Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti,” he said.

“I’ve said Ancelotti because of his age, his experience, his composure, and his understanding of the Premier League.”

United’s decision to appoint Carrick on a short-term basis was designed to allow director of football Jason Wilcox to oversee a comprehensive recruitment process rather than rush into another appointment.

According to the Press Association, co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer and Avram Glazer were all present at Carrington this week after relocating a scheduled executive committee meeting to Manchester to provide stability during the transition.

While Neville focused on structure and planning, Keane pushed United to think even bigger.

The former captain suggested Diego Simeone and Luis Enrique as potential candidates, bristling when Neville questioned the realism of such targets.

“But isn’t that bizarre?” Keane responded. “We’re talking about options and you’re ruling people out.

“United should be thinking, ‘let’s try and get the best of the best’.”

Keane also addressed concerns about pressure and external noise at Old Trafford, arguing that elite players and coaches must embrace expectation rather than fear it.

“I could give you a list of players who played for Man United over the last 20 or 30 years,” he said. “Technically, you might think they weren’t top players, but they dealt with the expectation.

“They rolled their sleeves up, played hundreds of games for Man United, because they could handle it.”

Carrick now faces a defining short-term mission: stabilise performances and push for Champions League qualification in a tightly packed table. United currently sit just a few points off the top four, making the remainder of the season pivotal.

Whatever happens, the message from two of the club’s most influential former figures is clear — Carrick’s role is a bridge, not a destination.

Carrick’s focus will be results, not speculation, as United face a defining run of fixtures. Behind the scenes, however, the club’s next permanent manager is already being shaped by a clear directive: aim higher.

Should Manchester United take a bold swing for a global elite coach — or prioritise Premier League experience above all else?