Jason Wilcox views 48-year-old English tactician Eddie Howe as the top target to replace Michael Carrick as the new Manchester United head coach.
According to a report by The Guardian, Manchester United’s decision-makers have held crisis talks regarding Michael Carrick after the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday. Following that, Jason Wilcox has contacted Eddie Howe to consider the possibility of replacing Michael Carrick as the new Manchester United head coach.
Eddie Howe and his growth as a manager
Eddie Howe has blossomed into arguably the best English manager over the past decade. A centre-back during a largely unheralded career as a footballer, the Englishman spent most of his playing days with Bournemouth before entering the coaching sphere in 2008 by joining Bournemouth.
The 48-year-old then embarked on a short spell with Burnley before returning to Bournemouth. During this spell, he rose in prominence due to the Cherries’ heroics in the Premier League. Howe left Bournemouth in 2020 before taking his next job at Newcastle United in 2021 and immediately making a mark by guiding the team from the relegation zone to safety.
The English tactician made his mark at St. James’ Park, taking the club to the UEFA Champions League multiple times while winning the EFL Cup in the 2024/25 season. However, after an underwhelming 2025/26 campaign that ended in a bottom-half finish and growing tensions behind the scenes, Howe’s stint with Newcastle ended over the summer.
What next?
Reports in the summer suggested that Eddie Howe would take a break from management. However, links with many Premier League clubs have emerged in recent weeks, with Manchester United showing an interest due to the team’s struggles in the first few months of the 2026/27 season.
Manchester United’s interest in Howe makes sense. The Red Devils are in a spot of bother after winning only two of their first 12 games across all competitions this term. The team has looked vulnerable at the back while being listless going forward. The team hit rock bottom over the past week, in particular, losing 4-1 to Como in the UEFA Champions League before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. Both results have since put Michael Carrick under pressure.
Meanwhile, recent reports have claimed that Howe is eager to join a bigger club and ready to turn down mid-table teams like Crystal Palace, Everton, and Fulham. With Jason Wilcox contacting the Englishman, a move to Old Trafford may be on the cards. However, per The Guardian, apart from Howe, several other managers are also on the Premier League outfit’s wishlist, with Christopher Vivell sounding out Julian Nagelsmann for the job.