Manchester United legend Jaap Stam has urged the club to forget about Michael Carrick and appoint Roberto De Zerbi in his place.
Stam believes the former Brighton manager would be a good fit for the Red Devils, and De Zerbi may also favor a move to Old Trafford.
Stam urges Manchester United to remove Michael Carrick from Roberto De Zerbi
He said (via the Mirror):
“How he plays in the team is that he plays possession-based football, so he is very good with the ball. He also puts players in certain positions and makes it very difficult for the opponent to press.”
“As you know, he comes forward and attacks, he scores a lot of goals and sometimes he concedes, but as a manager you know that.
“But I think he’s also a good manager. I think he’s also good with his players, giving them confidence and giving them the attention they need. Not just the starting lineup, but other players in the team.”
“And that’s what you need at such a big club. So if they don’t get Carrick and get him, I’ll be very happy.”
Roberto de Zerbi made a name for himself in European football
De Zerbi’s reputation has skyrocketed since his Premier League days, when he led Brighton to European qualification for the first time in their history.
Currently at Marseille, his high-risk, high-reward style continues to attract attention across the continent.
Stam highlighted the Italian’s great personality and ability to manage a team, the leadership skills needed to manage a club like Man United.
| club | match | W | D | L | ø-goal | PPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| marseille | 68 | 39 | 8 | twenty one | 2.35:1.38 | 1.84 |
| brighton | 89 | 38 | 20 | 31 | 1.81:1.56 | 1.51 |
of Roberto de Zerbi.
He is highly regarded and loved by both current and former players. In fact, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister rates him above Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slott.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, he said of De Zerbi: “He’s a crazy guy but I love him. I think he’s the best manager I’ve ever met.”
Host Gary Lineker asked, “Really? Wow! Slot and Crop are in it.”
Mac Allister replied: “Slot and I have talked about De Zerbi a few times, because he really likes the idea. And then there are coaches like (Gabriel) Heinze in Argentina. So I have a very good coach.”
Michael Carrick is making a strong case for permanent role
While Stam has his eyes set on other things, Carrick is doing everything right on the pitch.
Since taking over, he has abolished the rigid tactical systems of his predecessors and restored a sense of harmony to the dressing room.
Under his guidance, United have a 100% win rate and are back in contention for the top four.
| jig | result | result |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United vs Manchester City | 2–0 | win |
| Arsenal vs Manchester United | 2-3 | win |
| Manchester United vs Fulham | 3–2 | win |
With a crucial home game against Tottenham looming, calls for Carrick to stay are growing, but the debate between the ‘clubman’ and established European tacticians like De Zerbi remains a central issue in United’s hierarchy.

