Manchester United Eye Antonio Conte for Managerial Role Amid Poor Start to Season

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to bring back Antonio Conte as their manager following a disappointing start to the 2026-27 Premier League season under Michael Carrick.

Plans in Motion for a New Manager

The club has started exploring options after an underwhelming beginning to the campaign. Despite hopes that Carrick’s permanent appointment and summer signings would boost the team, losses against Hull City, Manchester City, and Brighton have left United struggling to find consistency.

Conte Emerges as the Top Candidate

According to Calciomercato, former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is seen as the primary candidate should the club decide to make a change. The 57-year-old Italian, currently unemployed since his departure from Napoli last season, has already been contacted by United officials to check on his availability.

There had been talk of Conte possibly returning to manage the Italy national team, but with Roberto Mancini holding that position, a return to the Premier League seems more plausible now.

Current Form and Pressure on Carrick

Despite wins over Ipswich Town and Champions League side Sabah, Manchester United’s overall form has been worrying. Their loss to Brighton was especially damaging, ending a 50-year record of never losing at home when leading 2-0. This collapse has intensified doubts about Carrick's future at Old Trafford.

With an international break ahead, Carrick faces critical weeks to turn around the team's performance and build on the promise shown late last season.

Upcoming Fixtures Could Decide the Future

After the break, United face two key matches within three days. First, they host struggling Tottenham Hotspur, who also have a manager under pressure in Roberto De Zerbi. Failure to win this match could end Carrick’s tenure.

The next challenge is a tough Champions League away game against Atletico Madrid. Without significant improvement in these games, a managerial change featuring Conte may happen quickly.

• Premier League fixture: Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur
• Date and time: 10 October 2026, 19:30