Ex-Leeds United and Aston Villa boss David O’Leary has sent a clear-cut message to Michael Carrick about the permanent Manchester United head coach role.
Manchester United are reportedly set to open talks with Michael Carrick over the 44-year-old Red Devils legend remaining at Old Trafford beyond his interim reign.
According to Sky Sports, ‘formal discussions’ between the Red Devils and United legend Carrick will be held ahead of the club’s final match of the 2025-26 season.
Carrick emerged as one of the favourites to succeed Ruben Amorim on a permanent basis after his impactful reign as interim head coach in the current campaign.
READ MORE: Gary Lineker’s verdict on whether Marcus Rashford could play again for Man Utd under Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are set for ‘formal talks’ over the Man Utd job / What is your reaction?
David O’Leary was not convinced that Michael Carrick was the way forward for Man Utd before his success this season
The Red Devils have been linked with several different managers in recent months amid Ineos’ hunt for the long-term replacement of Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner have been among the names that have been attached to the Red Devils since Amorim was sacked.
However, Michael Carrick has impressed in the Old Trafford hot seat this season, including leading Man Utd back to the Champions League for the 2026-27 campaign.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football, David O’Leary has warned Carrick that the permanent Manchester United manager role is a whole different animal to handle.
“What I was kind of [doing was] making a conclusion on the Michael Carrick thing,” he said.
“One thing after that, taking the team, when they said, ‘This is your office and this is… you’re the manager of this football club,’ it’s a completely different one completely.
“It’s down to you and you know I never… I say [to] Michael, I don’t think they were ever going to you know give him the job because I think they had to; he’s going to come in and do the job for us and [we’re] going to go over and get somebody.”
🎤 What do you want to hear from Michael Carrick in his end of season speech to fans after the final home game?
David O’Leary on the challenge for Michael Carrick as Man Utd’s permanent manager
Amorim was axed as Man Utd manager back in January and Carrick has taken the Red Devils from seventh place to third place in the Premier League table this season.
O’Leary added that Carrick’s biggest test at the Red Devils would be handling the intensity of Man Utd’s different fixtures across competitions in the 2026-27 season.
“But now that situation’s changed big time,” he continued.
“But I’d say to Michael now that, for all he thinks he’s the manager of Man United, when you get it officially and when you got told that and then you’ve got to play midweek games and you got to make all these other decisions, it’s a bigger thing.
“And Man United, they don’t come much bigger than that.”
Carrick has won 10 Premier League fixtures and picked up three draws and two defeats in his 15-match interim reign at Old Trafford this season so far.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
