Rio Ferdinand names his top choice to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)

Rio Ferdinand says Mauricio Pochettino is the candidate who ‘jumps off the list’ to replace Michael Carrick at Manchester United.

Carrick, 45, looks set to be sacked following United’s disastrous start to the 2026/27 campaign.

Manchester United are 18th in the Premier League going into the November international break, just one point off bottom spot.

Old Trafford bosses are currently reviewing Carrick’s position but a change in the dugout appears to be the most likely outcome.

Eddie Howe, Fabian Hurzeler, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte have all been linked with Manchester United over the past couple of months.

Pochettino has also emerged as a candidate to replace Carrick and Ferdinand has put his support behind the Argentine.

Pochettino, 54, signed an extension to his contract as USA coach after last summer’s World Cup but the deal is believed to contain a release clause.

USA boss Mauricio Pochettino (Picture: Getty)

‘People are talking about Mauricio Pochettino and it looks like he’s at the front of the queue right now,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘We spent some time with him and his team in the summer, they’re really good guys and competent at what they do.

‘I look at Pochettino and one of his biggest assets is that human element of his management and building confidence with his players. That’s a big part of Manchester United at the moment because we’ve got far too many broken individuals.

Man Utd are set to sack Michael Carrick (Picture: PA)

‘How that gets rebuilt, is that coaching, results or somebody coming in and putting an arm around their shoulder? It’s going to be all of that.

‘I look at that group of names and think Pochettino is the one that jumps off the list as someone who has more of the things we’re looking for to save and build a group of players.

‘I think he’s got more than the others from what I’ve seen and my interactions with him over time.

‘There’s not many names jumping off the page when you look at it. People will say, “what has Pochettino won?”, but you can say the same about Eddie Howe.

‘The standards have dropped massively so let’s be realistic about where we are. There’s a process to get back there. We need to stabilise and get back in the Champions League again.’

Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol before his prominence rose during a short but impressive spell in charge of Southampton.