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Manchester United have officially named Michael Carrick as their permanent head coach after a successful interim period. However, reports now suggest that before making the final decision, the Red Devils explored as many as six other managerial options, including Brazil’s current boss Carlo Ancelotti.

International ambitions that didn’t materialise

Carrick initially stepped into the role at Old Trafford on a temporary basis following Ruben Amorim’s departure in January. His subsequent permanent two-year appointment came after guiding United to a superb third-place finish. Nevertheless, the club hierarchy initially considered a wide range of candidates from the global stage before settling on Carrick.

According to The Athletic, England manager Thomas Tuchel was among the key names targeted by the INEOS-led ownership group. The German coach was reportedly assessed during the winter but decided to stay committed to the Three Lions by extending his contract. Similarly, Julian Nagelsmann was approached, though his focus on leading Germany into the World Cup meant discussions couldn’t progress further.

Ancelotti and the Brazil situation

One of the most high-profile names on United’s list was former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian tactician, who has achieved success at every level of club football, was highly admired by the United board as they sought a world-class replacement for Amorim.

However, United’s hopes of securing Ancelotti were dashed when he chose to remain in charge of the Brazilian national team. The 66-year-old extended his contract with the Selecao to lead them into the upcoming World Cup, forcing United to shift their attention elsewhere in their managerial search.

Premier League options and the Emery hurdle

The club also assessed managers within the Premier League, including Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Aston Villa’s Unai Emery. While Iraola’s impressive work on the south coast earned him plaudits, the United leadership ultimately deemed the leap from Bournemouth to Old Trafford too substantial a gamble.

Emery, on the other hand, presented a different challenge. To secure his services, United would have had to pay a hefty £20 million compensation fee to Aston Villa. Additionally, concerns were raised internally about whether Emery could thrive in an environment where he wouldn’t possess the same level of control that he currently enjoys at Villa Park.

Carrick earns the club’s trust

Even though Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique was also on the radar, his focus on chasing back-to-back Champions League trophies made him unavailable. Ultimately, Manchester United decided to back Carrick, despite scepticism from some club legends such as Roy Keane and Gary Neville, who had argued against giving the former midfielder the job on a permanent basis regardless of his interim results. Carrick, however, silenced the critics by leading United to a top-three Premier League finish and securing Champions League qualification.

“From the moment I arrived here 20 years ago, I felt the magic of Manchester United. To carry the responsibility of leading this special football club fills me with immense pride,” Carrick said upon confirmation of his appointment. “Over the past five months, this group of players have shown they can meet the standards of resilience, unity and determination that define this club.”