Manchester United will need to make a decision over the head coach role at the end of the season.
When Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim, Ineos bought themselves time by installing Michael Carrick as head coach until the end of the season.
United are closely assessing potential contenders for the job, and one name is standing out as the strongest option – Carrick himself.
Carrick has led United to four successive wins and there is growing fan clamour for him to land the job on a full-time basis.
The big argument against this is that Carrick lacks experience, with only a spell as Middlesbrough manager on his CV. United should be targeting a ‘big name manager’, claimed one journalist on the Sunday Supplement.
But every great manager has to start somewhere. Sir Alex Ferguson journeyed from East Stirlingshire to St Mirren to Aberdeen, before landing the United job in 1986.
Below, we take a look at 10 even more inexperienced managers who were given an early chance at top clubs and seized their opportunity, demonstrating that backing Carrick could be the right move…
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Johan Cruyff – Ajax/Barcelona
Legendary Dutch player Johan Cruyff moved straight from a successful playing career into a stellar managerial role.
Cruyff won two Dutch Cups with Ajax along with the European Cup Winners’ Cup, before making the jump to another of his former clubs, Barcelona.
At Barcelona he won four La Liga titles and one European Cup. He won another Cup Winners’ Cup too – although did lose another to Ferguson’s United.
Pep Guardiola – Barcelona
Pep Guardiola launched his successful managerial career as a novice at Barcelona. He led them to three La Liga titles and two European Cups, winning both finals against United.
Guardiola went to enjoy more success with Bayern Munich and Manchester City, after making his name at the club where he spent the majority of his playing career.
Zinedine Zidane – Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane was a big name player who took on the high-pressure job at Real Madrid, replacing Rafael Benitez.
In his first managerial role, Zidane immediately turned Real’s fortunes around, winning the La Liga title and the Champions League on three separate occasions.
He even returned to Real for a second spell, winning the La Liga title again.
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Xavi – Barcelona
Barcelona asked Xavi to follow the Pep Guardiola path in 2021, appointing him as manager after only a short spell coaching in Qatar.
Xavi led Barcelona to win the La Liga title in 2022/23, once again proving that managers can succeed without having to hone their skills for years elsewhere.
Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
Arsenal’s patience with Mikel Arteta may pay off, with the Gunners leading the Premier League and on course to win the title this year.
Arteta’s only experience was as one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants at City. Arsenal ignored calls to hire a ‘big name’ and chose the Spaniard instead. He has a FA Cup win already and is looking to add more, after a few barren years in-between.
Kenny Dalglish – Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish’s first spell as Liverpool manager was a success in the mid-80s, where he transitioned straight into a coaching role without paying his dues elsewhere.
His familiarity with the club enabled him to make a quick and successful start, winning three titles and two FA Cups.
Hansi Flick – Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s decision to appoint Hansi Flick as manager in 2019 came despite his lack of experience, and it did not stop his success.
Flick’s transition from assistant to manager saw him win two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League, before he went on to win the title in his first year as Barcelona boss.
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Roberto Mancini – Fiorentina
Italian club Fiorentina were in financial crisis in the early 2000s when they turned to former Serie A striker Roberto Mancini.
Mancini marked his first job in management with a Coppa Italia victory, before later resigning as the club’s off-pitch mess took hold. It marked the beginning of a successful managerial career that saw him lead Italy to a Euro 2020 win.
Vincent Kompany – Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich’s appointment of Vincent Kompany in 2024 was treated with huge scrutiny in Germany, due to his very modest managerial record.
Kompany had only coached Anderlecht and Burnley, presiding over the team’s relegation from the Premier League.
He has repaid their faith with one Bundesliga title already and is on course to add a second this season.
Lionel Scaloni – Argentina
It is not just club football where inexperience doesn’t have to be a barrier.
Yes it helps when you have Lionel Messi on your team, but Lionel Scaloni can boast that he won the World Cup with Argentina in his first major managerial job.
He is aiming to win another in 2026, and whatever happens, he has already proved that his nation’s FA did not need to go chasing after a ‘big name’ to deliver success.
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