MANCHESTER UNITED bosses are considering the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as the club’s next permanent manager, according to reports.
Michael Carrick was installed as head coach at Old Trafford until the end of the season on Tuesday, replacing Darren Fletcher on first-team duties, but is NOT expected to be in the running for the job full-time come the summer.
With the legendary Red Devils midfielder now in the hotseat, backed by former England and Chelsea assistant Steve Holland, club bosses will turn their attention towards identifying the successor to Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese manager was sacked after a stunning outburst against club chiefs following the 1-1 draw with Leeds.
It is understood United chiefs are keen to appoint a manager with Premier League experience.
And one such candidate under consideration is Marseille chief De Zerbi.
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The Italian spent almost two seasons with Brighton, winning 38 out of his 89 games in charge and guiding the Seagulls into the semi-finals of the FA Cup – where they lost to United – and finishing seventh in the league to qualify for Europe for the first time in their history.
SunSport understands the 46-year-old was previously interviewed by United in May 2024 when new minority owners, Ineos, who had not long assumed football operations from the Glazers, were considering replacements for Erik ten Hag.
But according to the Daily Mail, De Zerbi retains a number of admirers at United.
He took current club Marseille to second in Ligue 1 last season, and they currently sit third in the table behind Paris Saint-Germain and Lens.
De Zerbi’s deal runs until 2027 but it is claimed he would be interested in returning to the Premier League.
Other candidates reportedly include Xabi Alonso, Thomas Tuchel, Luis Enrique and Oliver Glasner.
But United icon Rio Ferdinand has thrown his weight behind the appointment of De Zerbi.
Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the ex-defender said: “Someone who’s free right now; not free [but] someone who’s gettable.
“More than someone like [Thomas] Tuchel, because Tuchel would be one of my biggest picks as well, is De Zerbi.
“I’m telling you. Any formation he wants to play, the guy is a proper coach who gets players working and playing.”
However, given De Zerbi’s history of a fiery temperament, whether United bosses Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada would look to appoint such a personality again given how the Amorim fiasco ended remains to be seen.
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SunSport exclusively revealed how Amorim was left furious over Wilcox’s “managerial” approach to his director of football role before the infamous Friday meeting where Amorim “blew up”.
Amorim mentioned the word ‘manager’ four times in response to three different questions at Elland Road.
SunSport revealed Wilcox questioned Amorim’s tactics and told him he did not have the same pedigree as other named coaches.
Amorim effectively publicised the damning feedback at his final press conference as United head coach.
United have failed to win any of their last four matches despite facing two sides in the relegation zone and another who are teetering above it.
The most recent defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round means United will play just 40 games in all competitions this season.
It is the fewest games the Red Devils will play in a single campaign since the 1914/15 season, the final season of football before the league was suspended due to World War One.
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