'Win rate of 70%'... Man United's top brass to reject Michael Carrick, naming Andoni Iraola as 'No. 1' candidate for next manager. "Seems like the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer trauma is at play."

*This content was translated by AI.

Andoni Iraola (43), the manager, has emerged as a leading candidate to compete with interim manager Michael Carrick (45) for the permanent managerial position at Manchester United.

The UK's 'Telegraph' reported on the 30th (Korean time) that "Man United's top brass highly evaluate Iraola's capabilities and are considering him as Carrick's strongest rival."

If Man United secures a spot in the next season's UEFA Champions League (UCL), there is a high chance that Carrick will be promoted to permanent manager. Carrick took charge after the dismissal of manager Ruben Amorim in January and led the team from 7th to 3rd place with nine wins in 13 league matches. Man United can confirm their UCL qualification in the match against Liverpool on the 3rd.

Nevertheless, Man United is maintaining a cautious stance. This reflects their determination not to repeat the mistake of hastily appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as permanent manager in 2019 under public pressure. The media stated, "Man United plans to postpone the final decision until UCL qualification is confirmed and carefully review multiple candidates. The club has determined that Iraola's aggressive tactics and leadership, demonstrated at Bournemouth, align with the club's new operational direction."

Manager Iraola will leave Bournemouth at the end of this season. His successor will be Marco Rose. It is not only Man United that is eyeing Manager Iraola. Crystal Palace and Chelsea are also reportedly including him in their list of new manager candidates.

The media explained, "Iraola prefers life in London, giving Palace, which parted ways with manager Oliver Glasner, an advantage in the recruitment race. Rumors of his return to his former club, Spain's Athletic Bilbao, have circulated, but Bilbao has already signed a pre-contract with manager Edin Terzić, making the possibility low."

Man United is seeking a manager with experience in the English Premier League (EPL), but there is a lack of clear alternatives. Major candidates such as Thomas Tuchel, manager of the England national team; Luis Enrique, manager of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG); and Roberto De Zerbi, manager of Tottenham, have already signed or extended contracts with other Koo Dan-i-na (CEO) teams. Mauricio Pochettino, manager of the US national team, and Julian Nagelsmann, manager of the German national team, have also been ruled out of the candidate pool.

Manager Carrick recently held an informal meeting with Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Man United. The media reported that "Carrick stated he would not rush the club regarding his future, saying, 'Everything will become clear when the time comes.' Manager Iraola is also prioritizing staying in England and is calmly waiting for offers from other clubs."

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*This content was translated by AI.