Scholes Foresees Tottenham Move for Carrick After Man Utd Interim Stint
Paul Scholes has claimed it "wouldn't surprise" him to see Michael Carrick become Tottenham manager once his interim role at Manchester United concludes this season. The former United midfielder made these comments during a podcast discussion, highlighting Carrick's impressive start but questioning his long-term suitability for the Old Trafford hot seat.
Carrick's Remarkable Start at Manchester United
Michael Carrick has enjoyed a phenomenal beginning to his second interim spell in charge of Manchester United, stepping in after Ruben Amorim's turbulent reign earlier this month. Facing the daunting challenge of taking on the Premier League's top two in his first matches, Carrick has passed with flying colours – overseeing stunning victories against both Manchester City and Arsenal.
The manner of United's defeat of league leaders Arsenal proved particularly impressive, with the visitors forced to come from behind after Lisandro Martinez's own goal at the Emirates Stadium. This means Carrick remains unbeaten across his two temporary spells managing the Red Devils, having steered the club to two wins and a draw following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in late 2021.
Scholes Questions Permanent United Role for Carrick
Despite Carrick's strong start, Scholes insists United should be looking at more experienced managers if they wish to return to their former glory. "It couldn't have been better timing, players coming back from the Africa Cup of Nations," Scholes said of Carrick's beginning on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. "It's been perfect for him but he's still got to do the job."
Scholes, who played alongside Carrick for seven seasons at United, elaborated on the challenges of transitioning from interim to permanent manager: "He's come into the job now and it's been that bad for a year that it couldn't really get any worse so the pressure isn't really on you while you're interim manager. Once you take that job full-time, at the start of the season next year, all of a sudden you've got to be winning games straightaway."
The Tottenham Possibility Emerges
Scholes suggested Carrick's next managerial position could be at Tottenham, where Thomas Frank currently finds himself under intense pressure after a difficult debut season. This prediction comes despite Carrick's only other permanent managerial role being with Championship side Middlesbrough, where he was relieved of his duties last summer.
"It could be like a Tottenham manager from this," Scholes stated. "It wouldn't surprise me." When asked if Carrick might consider staying at United in a coaching capacity under the next permanent manager, Scholes responded: "No, I think that would be weird. He's had three years at Middlesbrough being a manager and I don't think he'd want to do that."
Butt Echoes Scholes' Assessment
Scholes' podcast colleague Nicky Butt echoed these sentiments, claiming Carrick will understand his position is temporary regardless of results. The former United and England midfielder said: "I think Michael is that bright and intelligent, he'll understand the job that he's got. He knows he's got a contract until the end of the season to get the club moving forward in the right direction for the next manager."
Butt added: "His next job, if he wants to stay in football as a manager for another club, would be a good job if he does well here." This perspective reinforces the growing speculation that Carrick's future may lie away from Old Trafford despite his current success.
Looking Ahead for Carrick and United
The 44-year-old interim manager will undoubtedly be eager to extend his outstanding record when United return to Premier League action against Fulham. While Carrick's tenure remains in its early stages, the manner in which he has transformed the team's fortunes has sparked debate about whether he deserves consideration for the permanent position.
However, Scholes maintains that United require proven managerial experience to compete at the highest level, suggesting Carrick would struggle against candidates like Thomas Tuchel in a summer appointment process. "If Michael has got to go up against, say, Thomas Tuchel in the summer then there's only one winner if you're looking at coaching big clubs and winning big prizes," Scholes argued.
As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on Carrick's performance and whether his interim success translates into genuine consideration for either the United job or potential opportunities elsewhere in the Premier League.
