Unai Emery: Man Utd should have Aston Villa boss top of their list for head coach job, says Jamie Carragher

12 March 2026, 23:08 | Updated: 13 March 2026, 15:55

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery would be the "perfect coach" to revive Manchester United, according to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.

Carragher believes Emery should go to Old Trafford on Sunday for Villa's game against United - live on Sky Sports - as the "frontrunner" to take over this summer. Instead, Michael Carrick, who has never had a permanent Premier League job, seems to be in that position.

"I suspect he does not rank high among the candidates," Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column. "That is good news for Aston Villa, but it must be frustrating for one of the best, and still most underrated, coaches in Europe.

"For Emery not to be under serious consideration says plenty about modern football. By any metric, he would be the perfect coach to revive United.

"Emery is a manager who wins trophies, has a clear football vision, a track record of revitalising clubs in need of a mini-revolution to break into the Champions League, and who demands respect while leading with authority."

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