Manchester United’s poor start to the new season has raised questions about Michael Carrick’s future. The Englishman initially arrived at Old Trafford in January as caretaker manager following the dismissal of former head coach Ruben Amorim.
Carrick had an instant impact, securing four wins in his first four games, and went on to register 12 wins in his 17 games in charge last season. That earned him the full-time job at the Theatre of Dreams and raised expectations among fans.
INEOS invested over £150 million in midfield over the summer, but the Red Devils have struggled to replicate last season’s form so far. United have managed just one win in five games in the Premier League and currently sit twelfth in the league table.
The situation has added to speculation regarding Carrick’s future. One candidate who could tempt United is Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler.
Hurzeler’s managerial career
Hurzeler started his managerial career as the player-head coach of German club FC Pipinsried in 2016, before leaving in 2020 to move to FC St. Pauli as assistant to Timo Schultz. After Schultz was dismissed in December 2022, Hurzeler was initially appointed as interim manager before securing the full-time job two weeks later.
He eventually helped the Hamburg club to earn promotion to the Bundesliga at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. The German manager was subsequently picked up by the Seagulls that summer, becoming the youngest manager in Premier League history.
Hurzeler has gone from strength to strength since then, and masterminded Brighton’s 3-2 win over United in the EFL Cup third round earlier this month. The Seagulls also defeated reigning champions Arsenal 3-0 last weekend, further adding to the German’s already rising stock.
Fabian Hurzeler: Managerial Career Stats
| Club | From | To | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Pipinsried | 1 July 2016 | 30 June 2020 | 103 | 38 | 28 | 37 | 36.9% |
| FC St. Pauli | 6 December 2022 | 15 June 2024 | 55 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 65.5% |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 15 June 2024 | Present | 96 | 43 | 27 | 26 | 44.8% |
| Total | - | - | 254 | 117 | 67 | 70 | 46.1% |
Source: Wikipedia.
Hurzeler’s consistent performances in charge at the Amex have already earned him admirers across the league. If United are considering him as an option, however, it appears that prising him away will not be a walk in the park.
Brighton have already made Hurzeler decision
According to Football Insider, Brighton have no desire to allow Hurzeler to leave any time soon. The report states: “Brighton have no intention of allowing Fabian Hurzeler to leave in the near future, sources have told Football Insider.”
The report insists that while the Seagulls tied the German manager down to a new deal until 2029 in May this year, it has done little to deter his suitors. It adds: “Agreeing a new contract for the boss was designed by Brighton to deter any of his potential suitors, but that has not stopped the likes of Man United and Tottenham from looking.”
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke added: “It would take a lot for them to let him go any time soon, because Brighton do not want to lose Fabian Hurzeler. He’s done a great job down on the south coast, he’s really made big strides at Brighton and helped the club make some real progress.”
“Hurzeler is attracting a lot of attention because of what he’s done at Brighton with his aggressive style of football and an attacking style as well, so no surprise that maybe other clubs are looking at him. But Brighton are quite relaxed on this one and he was rewarded for his progress with the new contract in May to keep him at the club until 2029.”
Final Thoughts
United fans can have a sense of déjà vu following the club’s recent struggles this season, especially given how Erik ten Hag and Amorim’s reigns ended. However, perhaps it is time to be patient with Carrick instead and offer him the resources to get the Red Devils back to the top.
The Peoples Person Reliability Assessment
Overall credibility: 5/10
Why?
✅ Hurzeler is under contract until 2029
⚠️ Football Insider is not the most reliable outlet for United news.
⚠️ United’s interest in Hurzeler has not been reported by any top-tier outlets
TPP view
We believe that Brighton are unlikely to consider any offers for Hurzeler. However, it is also too soon to speculate about whether United are eyeing potential Carrick replacements.
Featured image Gareth Copley via Getty Images
