Paul Scholes has named Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler as a strong candidate to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager, praising the 33-year-old’s Premier League experience and recent achievements. Scholes, speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, described Hürzeler as “the real deal” but acknowledged the unique pressures of managing a club like Manchester United.
Carrick took over as United’s interim manager in January, guiding the team to a third-place finish last season. However, the start to the current campaign has been grim, with United sitting 13th in the Premier League after six matches, accumulating only six points. The club also suffered early exits from the League Cup and recently lost a Champions League match to Atletico Madrid. These results have intensified speculation about Carrick’s future.
The debate over who should take the reins has included names like Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte, and Julian Nagelsmann, all currently without a club. Yet Scholes focused on Hürzeler, who remains in charge at Brighton, a club that has impressed in the Premier League in recent seasons. “He’s done great. He looks the real deal,” Scholes said. “But again, Man United is different. The scrutiny is on you every single week. If Brighton didn’t win a game for the next 10 games, nobody would really be that bothered.”
Scholes contrasted Hürzeler’s recent Premier League work with Carrick’s managerial record. “The one thing that someone like Hürzeler has got over Michael is that he’s done a body of work in the Premier League. Michael did okay in Middlesbrough with what he had. I think Middlesbrough were probably expecting more with the budget they had.”
Carrick’s position has become increasingly precarious amid the club’s poor form, but Scholes also expressed sympathy for the former United midfielder. “There’s a bit of me when you look at Michael because I know him; Michael’s a nice lad. Is there a bit of him that’s thinking, ‘Get me out of here. Get me out of here, I’ll take a few quid.’”
Despite Scholes’s public endorsement, no formal approach for Hürzeler has been confirmed by Manchester United or Brighton. The 33-year-old German coach has raised his profile through his work at Brighton, where he has managed to impress in a challenging Premier League environment. His tactical approach and ability to work with young players have drawn attention from across English football.
United’s struggle this season has put pressure on the club’s board to consider a permanent appointment sooner rather than later. The team’s early Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid and League Cup elimination have added to the urgency. Meanwhile, Carrick remains at the helm but may be weighing his options amid the mounting difficulties.
Scholes’s comments add a new dimension to the ongoing conversation about United’s managerial future, shining a light on a younger coach already tested in the Premier League. It remains to be seen whether United will pursue Hürzeler or turn to more familiar names with established records in top-flight management.
According to Yahoo Sports.
