Butt backs Carrick as 'easy choice' for permanent United role
Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has suggested interim manager Michael Carrick is the "easy choice" to become the club's next permanent manager. Butt, a key part of the club's famed Class of '92, believes the current interim boss has put himself in a strong position to land the role on a full-time basis.
According to Butt, the lack of standout external candidates and Carrick's recent success make him the logical choice for the club's new leadership, INEOS. Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt argued that Carrick's steadying influence and the lack of a clear, superior alternative works in his favour. "He's the easy choice," Butt said, highlighting Carrick's understanding of the club and his less confrontational style compared to some of his predecessors.
Carrick, who took over after the dismissal of Erik ten Hag's successor Ruben Amorim earlier this season, has overseen a significant upturn in results and performances. This run of form has reportedly caused the club's new hierarchy to reconsider their initial plan, which was to use Carrick as a caretaker until the season's end. Butt suggested the board would find Carrick a more agreeable and less demanding figure to work with than some of the other names linked with the job, such as Thomas Tuchel or Julian Nagelsmann, who Butt noted are either unavailable or unlikely to move.
However, the appointment would not be without risk. Butt's former teammate, Paul Scholes, expressed a note of caution on the same podcast. While acknowledging Carrick's impressive start, Scholes believes the true test will come with the pressure of a full season. "The big question will be the start of next season, the first ten or 15 games of next year, when you have to win games and put yourself in a position for the Champions League. That's when it becomes a proper job," Scholes said. He suggested the club would know by next November if Carrick was the right long-term choice.
The situation presents a significant decision for the INEOS-led football operations. Opting for Carrick offers continuity and an understanding of the club's culture, a factor often cited as crucial at Old Trafford. However, it would be a major first appointment for the new football structure, placing faith in a relatively inexperienced manager for a long-term project. The coming weeks are likely to see the club's new hierarchy weigh the stability offered by Carrick against the potential of a more established, high-profile name from outside.
