Hull City manager wants Manchester United job

Michael Carrick could hardly have asked for a better audition when he returned to Manchester United in January.

The former midfielder transformed United’s season, taking them from seventh to third and securing Champions League football.

No Premier League club collected more points between his appointment and the end of last season.

Yet football rarely allows yesterday’s success to shelter a manager from tomorrow’s storm.

Carrick’s position is beginning to feel slightly shakier after a poor opening to 2026/27.

United have won only two of their first six matches across all competitions, against Ipswich Town and Sabah FK.

Back-to-back defeats have now increased the pressure.

United lost the Manchester derby before surrendering a 2-0 lead to suffer a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion.

The warning signs were there from opening day.

United were schooled 2-0 by newly-promoted Hull City, with Sergej Jakirovic’s side punishing Carrick’s team from two set-piece situations at the MKM Stadium.

Now, the same manager who inflicted that early blow has openly discussed the possibility of one day sitting in the Old Trafford dugout.

Sergej Jakirovic has Manchester United ambition

Jakirovic was speaking to RTL Danas when he was asked whether he would ever consider returning to former club Dinamo Zagreb.

However, the Hull boss made his ambitions clear, with Net.hr quoting him as saying: “Me? So where am I, I’m looking towards Manchester United.”

Jakirovic added that people should “never say never” about Dinamo, but explained that his sights are set even higher.

“I’m looking more towards getting to the biggest clubs because I think you should dream,” he said.

The comments are particularly intriguing given Hull’s victory over United just weeks ago.

Sergej Jakirovic has enjoyed an impressive rise through management, previously winning a domestic double with Dinamo Zagreb before eventually arriving in England.

Carrick remains the man entrusted with United’s future, but results have changed the mood quickly.

After such a remarkable beginning to his reign, the challenge now is ensuring a difficult start does not become something more serious.