Jamie Carragher has named England manager Thomas Tuchel on a four-man managerial shortlist that Manchester United must choose from to replace Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils are on the lookout for a permanent replacement but have placed Michael Carrick in charge until the end of the season.

Carrick enjoyed a remarkable start to his return to Old Trafford as caretaker manager, overseeing an impressive 2-0 win over Manchester City in the Manchester Derby last Saturday. There is already talk about the former Middlesbrough boss being offered the job permanently.

Carragher doesn’t think Carrick should be in the running to take over the club long-term despite his win over City. He believes there are four experienced coaches whom Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS should consider this summer.

Jamie Carragher’s Top Four Man Utd Candidates

Amorim’s reign ended in early January, after a tumultuous 14 months in which United finished 15th in the Premier League table. The Portuguese’s sacking came after he indirectly put the board on blast, feeling as though they were interfering too much.

Whomever the club decides is the man for the job must be a “special” leader with the right “energy” and “drive”, according to Carragher. Sky Sports handed him a pool of 18 options to choose from, including caretaker boss Carrick, and he narrowed this down to four.

Thomas Tuchel

The first name on Carragher’s list was Tuchel, who takes England to the FIFA World Cup this summer after an unbeaten qualifying campaign. The Three Lions are one of the favourites to win the tournament, and this was his only task when appointed.

Carragher explained why Tuchel was an ideal choice because of his experience managing in the Premier League with Chelsea:

“He’s been in the Premier League before. He’s obviously a top manager. The thing I like about him is I still think he’s got that energy and drive and spikiness about him. He’s gone into the England squad, and he’s ruffled feathers with some of the biggest players there. Now I’m not saying that has to happen in every job he’s in, but there’s something about him.”

Tuchel’s contract expires after the World Cup, which means United could have a golden opportunity to move for the Champions League-winning coach. He spoke to INEOS previously and Carragher feels he has the fight that United managers need:

“He just feels like he would go to war for your club, and he’d be fighting against the other clubs, and he’d have something about him.”

One issue United might face when appointing Tuchel is how much control he is given. This was thought to be an issue that led to his Chelsea exit under Todd Boehly’s ownership and there are similarities between the two clubs’ structures.

Luis Enrique

Another European Champion whom Carragher reckons could be a hit at Old Trafford is Luis Enrique, who led Paris Saint-Germain to long-awaited Champions League glory last season. The Spaniard has been a huge success at every club he’s managed, including Barcelona, where he took Lionel Messi and the Catalans to a treble in his debut campaign at Camp Nou.

Carragher gave a glowing endorsement: “You would absolutely have him all day. Now we see him as the best manager in Europe. He didn’t have a good time at Celta Vigo, he didn’t have a good time at Roma, but Barcelona still appointed him.”

Enrique is under contract with PSG until the summer of 2027 and recently refuted claims that he is looking to leave the Parc des Princes this summer. But he has yet to test himself in the Premier League, and battling it out with the likes of Mikel Arteta could be persuasive.

Eddie Howe

The way in which Eddie Howe has transformed Newcastle United since arriving at St James’ Park over four years ago makes him a contender. He took a struggling Magpies side out of a relegation scrap and eventually led them to Champions League football.

Carragher championed Howe and suggested he can deal with the spotlight of the Old Trafford hotseat:

“I’m a huge fan of Eddie Howe. The type of football when Newcastle are at their best is high energy going forward, but the real thing I like is that you have to be able to handle the pressures of Manchester United.”

Howe has put his faith in Newcastle’s youth during his reign on Tyneside, and last season won the club its first League Cup in 70 years. Carragher thinks his trust in the academy could be beneficial:

“When you’re in Newcastle and you live in that city, it’s constant and he handles it brilliantly. Where I think he could also help is that Manchester United have a problem with young players – a lot of them don’t go on to fulfil their potential – but I think Eddie Howe is a great coach.”

Carragher isn’t the only Premier League legend who has tipped Howe as a possible solution for United. The club’s former captain, Roy Keane, reckons the English tactician’s ‘calm’ demeanour would be ideal for the Red Devils.

Julian Nagelsmann

One of the most intriguing names to potentially become United’s next permanent manager is Julian Nagelsmann, who is currently in charge of the Germany national team. He was controversially sacked by top-of-the-league Bayern Munich in early 2023, despite having won the Bundesliga title the previous season.

Nagelsmann is often listed among candidates for top jobs in England but has yet to be handed an opportunity in the Premier League. Carragher feels the young German coach’s resume makes him a credible option:

“I don’t know everything about him but I do look at a coach with a big reputation, with a lot to prove in some ways.”

If United were to move for Nagelsmann, it would be a decision likely backed by their director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell. The pair worked together during his reign at RB Leipzig, establishing the German side as one of the Bundesliga’s major players.

Jamie Carragher’s Chop List

Carrick’s stunning start to his second interim spell at Old Trafford has excited fans following the Manchester Derby win. But Carragher has doubts about his experience, having only held one permanent managerial job during his short coaching career:

“I’m crossing out Michael Carrick. I go back to this question – do I believe this guy can win the league? I have to believe he can. I don’t believe Man Utd will win the league with Carrick, or Chelsea will with Liam Rosenior. I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but you have to be special. I might be proven wrong.”

Carragher also ruled out former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and their legendary former midfielder Xabi Alonso who was recently sacked by Real Madrid:

“Jurgen Klopp will not be managing Manchester United. That is out. Xabi Alonso – he cannot do that. He can’t, his affiliation with Liverpool. That can’t happen.”

A Carlo Ancelotti Premier League return has been speculated as has a possible France-linked Zinedine Zidane appointment. But Carragher downplayed both as well as former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca:

“Carlo Ancelotti, for me, wouldn’t have the energy or drive to get Man Utd back. Zinedine Zidane is a younger version of [Carlo] Ancelotti, but maybe I am wrong. Enzo Maresca is a no, but he is a really good coach.”

Xavi has gone on record to say how he’d love to manage in England and that United was his favourite English club. He has a La Liga title to his name from his Barcelona tenure but that isn’t enough for Carragher:

“Xavi is one, at Barcelona, he won the league but enough experience for Manchester United? He only has a couple of years of experience as a manager.”

Two candidates who will be managing at this year’s World Cup, Roberto Martinez and Mauricio Pochettino, have Premier League experience. They don’t convince Carragher:

“Roberto Martinez, if he does a brilliant job at Portugal, there is no doubt that Roberto is ready. The one thing he has not done in his career is manage an elite football club. He’d have to do something really special. Mauricio Pochettino is the same as Ancelotti. Chelsea went with Enzo Maresca as they wanted a young and energetic coach.”

United wouldn’t have to pay compensation for Oliver Glasner who has confirmed he is leaving Crystal Palace at the end of the season. The FA Cup-winning coach’s back-three system puts Carragher off as does Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola’s lack of a big club on his CV:

“Oliver Glasner, straight away, I’d say no because of the system. Andoni Iraola has done a brilliant job and is linked with top jobs but Bournemouth to Man Utd is a big jump.”

Carragher also ruled out Fulham’s Marco Silva while suggesting Marseille’s Roberto De Zerbi would, much like Amorim, be at odds with the higher-ups at Old Trafford:

“This is the same for Marco Silva. I think the next step for them would be Tottenham. It feels more Tottenham-like for them. Roberto De Zerbi is a brilliant coach but he is liable to go to war with the owners within six weeks.

If it’s longevity that United are after then Diego Simeone would be a top choice but Carragher has concerns that he doesn’t fit ‘the United DNA’ due to his playing philosophy:

“Diego Simeone is an interesting one. I was speaking to Gary Neville about United’s DNA. It is interesting that Roy [Keane] and Gary have both mentioned Simeone at different points. That goes away from what a club’s DNA is because he is a defensive coach. You can’t ask a manager to change.”