Manchester United are poised to name an interim head coach to guide the team for the remainder of the season, with a permanent appointment slated for the start of the 2026/27 campaign. Former Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez has emerged as a leading candidate for the full-time role, but his acceptance hinges on the club presenting a compelling project that matches his tactical vision.
Interim Appointment Imminent Before Derby Clash
The Old Trafford hierarchy is expected to confirm a temporary boss imminently, ahead of next Saturday's crucial Manchester derby at home. This follows the recent dismissal of Ruben Amorim and a brief caretaker spell under Darren Fletcher, who oversaw Premier League and FA Cup fixtures against Burnley and Brighton.
While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was initially considered a frontrunner for the interim position, it is now believed that Michael Carrick has moved ahead as the favourite to take the reins until the summer. This stopgap measure will allow chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox to focus on the critical long-term decision.
Xavi's Conditions for United Job Outlined
Xavi, who left Barcelona in 2024 after winning La Liga and the Supercopa, is one of the most high-profile coaches currently without a club. His former Spain and Barcelona teammate, Gaizka Mendieta, has detailed what it would take to lure the iconic midfielder to Manchester.
In an interview with BOYLE Sports, Mendieta stated that Xavi would understand the weight of expectation at a club like United. However, he emphasised that the project itself would be the decisive factor. "He wouldn't join just because it's United, but because there's a project behind it," Mendieta explained. "It needs to be a project that aligns with his idea of the football that he wants to put in place. He would need to be given the tools he needs to play his type of football."
Project Appeal Over Prestige
These sentiments echo Xavi's own comments from last year, when he expressed interest in managing in the Premier League. "I'd love to work in the Premier League because I love the passion there," he said, while also highlighting his preference for a long-term project. "Like, 'You have four years to work and make a project.'"
This indicates that United's pitch must be built on sporting philosophy and long-term planning, rather than relying solely on the club's historic prestige. Mendieta believes Xavi would be excited by a clear and coherent plan that allows him to implement his distinctive style of play, a non-negotiable condition for any potential agreement.
The coming weeks will see United's short-term future stabilised with an interim appointment, but the real intrigue lies in the summer, as the club's executives attempt to craft a vision persuasive enough to attract a manager of Xavi's calibre and conviction.
