Jamie Carragher says Unai Emery must be Manchester United’s top target for next manager

Manchester United are yet to name their next permanent manager, with Michael Carrick set to take charge on an interim basis, with Jamie Carragher reportedly recommending Aston Villa’s Unai Emery.

Jamie Carragher believes Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is the “perfect” candidate to revive Manchester United. Michael Carrick will remain in charge until the end of the season as the Red Devils continue their search for a new permanent manager.

Mr Carrick’s encouraging record of 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss indicates he is qualified for the job, although other candidates are still being considered. Emery, 54, boasts extensive experience in the Premier League with both Villa and Arsenal and is one of the players being rumored for.

The Spaniard’s success in European competitions, winning the Europa League four times with two different clubs, has helped him become one of the continent’s most respected managers. Emery, who is under contract at Villa Park until 2029, faces Carrick on Sunday, but ahead of that encounter Carragher approached the former Villarreal and Sevilla manager about joining United.

“Unai Emery should head to Old Trafford this weekend as the frontrunner to become Manchester United’s next manager,” Carragher wrote in his column for the Telegraph.

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“I don’t think he ranks high among the candidates. That’s good news for Aston Villa, but frustrating for one of the best and still most underrated managers in Europe.”

For Carragher, only Pep Guardiola ranks higher than Emery when it comes to managers working in the Premier League. However, the Liverpool legend suggested Emery required too much power at Old Trafford and would not fit in with the Red Devils’ new-look hierarchy.

“Emery is one of the few symbols of a bygone era when managers wanted and expected to have complete control over their clubs’ football operations,” Carragher added. “After his success at Villa, it was an easy decision for the leadership to allow Emery to continue with minimal interference.

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“Every time Emery’s name is mentioned in connection with a ‘bigger’ job, Villa fans insist he will never show the same love and power in one of the traditional Champions League sides, and they have a point. Sporting directors have proven to be adept at making themselves the most important man in the room.”

“Mr Emery’s appointment is effectively a means of strengthening the role of oversight and diminishing the role of directors. It is therefore likely to be a source of friction in the future.”

Carrick has already beaten Emery as manager in 2021, when he took charge of United on an interim basis for the first time. But the Villa manager got his revenge in 2024, knocking Carrick’s Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup.

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