Former England striker Michael Owen has proposed that Manchester United hero Michael Carrick could be a 'good choice' to take temporary charge at Old Trafford, following the club's decision to dismiss Ruben Amorim.
Amorim's Turbulent Tenure Ends Abruptly
The Red Devils terminated Amorim's 14-month reign on Monday, January 5, 2026, sparking the search for the club's seventh permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement. The Portuguese coach's departure appeared imminent after a fiery rant directed at the board following United's 1-1 draw with Leeds, where he stressed his desire to be a 'manager' and not 'just a coach'.
Amorim had indicated he might leave when his contract expired at the end of the 2026/27 season, but the decision was ultimately made for him. Under-18s boss Darren Fletcher will oversee the team on an interim basis, starting with Wednesday's trip to Burnley.
Owen's Verdict on the Sacking and Succession
Analysing the situation for Premier League Productions, Owen stated he believed it was the right call for United to part ways with Amorim. 'I think eventually it was,' Owen said. 'Amorim has basically given Manchester United’s hierarchy all the tools to say, "Right, we’ve had enough!"'
He suggested recent on-pitch results alone might not have warranted a sacking, but off-pitch comments proved decisive. 'It’s certainly what has happened off the pitch... you’re now saying things that are detrimental to the club, we’ve had enough... move on,' Owen added.
Carrick Emerges as a Leading Contender
With high-profile names like Oliver Glasner and Gareth Southgate already linked, Owen highlighted a former teammate as a viable short-term solution. He pointed to Carrick's impressive work at Middlesbrough, where they currently sit second in the Championship, and his previous caretaker stint at United in 2021.
'Maybe a Michael Carrick could be in the equation, certainly could be until the end of the season. Who knows?' Owen remarked. 'Immediately, I would say somebody like Michael Carrick could be a good choice.'
Owen, who played with Carrick for three years at United, also listed other potential candidates, noting a lack of an obvious standout. He mentioned in-work Premier League managers like Marco Silva and Andoni Iraola, as well as out-of-work bosses Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino.
He also named Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna as another 'young, talented manager' United might consider. 'As I say, there’s not one manager that smacks me in the face to says that they’re the obvious candidate,' Owen concluded. 'I think there are pros and cons surrounding quite a few of them at the moment.'
