Manchester United are once again facing questions about their direction after a difficult start to the 2026/27 season, and one name that could attract attention if the club eventually decides to make a change is Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler.
Hürzeler is only 33 years old, but his relatively young age has not stopped him from making a name for himself in the Premier League. Since arriving at Brighton, he has shown that he is capable of building a competitive side while also developing players and maintaining a clear tactical identity.
The possibility of Hürzeler taking charge at Old Trafford is currently more of a discussion than an established Manchester United plan. However, with pressure growing around Michael Carrick following United’s inconsistent opening to the campaign, supporters are naturally beginning to debate who could potentially take over if the situation changes.
Carrick enjoyed an impressive end to last season, guiding United to third place and securing Champions League football. That achievement earned him the permanent job, but the current campaign has been much more complicated.
United suffered defeats against Manchester City and Brighton, while their 1-1 draw against Fulham on Sunday left them with just five points from their first five Premier League matches.
The pressure increased further after United surrendered a two-goal lead against Brighton in the Carabao Cup before eventually losing 3-2. Carrick has continued to insist that his focus remains on improving the team rather than worrying about speculation surrounding his position.
That does not necessarily mean Manchester United are preparing to replace him. But football changes quickly, particularly at a club where expectations are extremely high.
Why Hürzeler could attract attention
Hürzeler’s work at Brighton provides an interesting case.
The German-American coach took over Brighton at just 31 and immediately made an impression. In his first Premier League campaign, Brighton finished eighth, while the club followed that with another top-eight finish in 2025/26 and a return to European competition. Brighton’s own analysis of the 2025/26 season credited Hürzeler’s team with a strong pressing game and noted that they topped the Premier League for high turnovers.
His Brighton side have also developed a recognisable style.
They are aggressive without the ball, willing to press high up the pitch and attempt to win possession close to the opposition goal. With the ball, they have become increasingly dangerous from wide areas, with Brighton recording 192 completed crosses in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
There is also evidence of consistency rather than a single successful season. Hürzeler’s Brighton recorded 16 Premier League wins in 2024/25 and 14 in 2025/26, while the club finished in the top eight in both campaigns.
That progression is likely to be one of the reasons his name could interest clubs looking for a younger coach with Premier League experience.
But would Manchester United be the right environment?
That is where the discussion becomes much more complicated.
Managing Brighton and managing Manchester United are completely different challenges.
At Brighton, Hürzeler has been able to work within a structure that has developed over several years. Manchester United would come with enormous expectations, constant media attention and pressure to challenge for major trophies.
The Old Trafford job would also require Hürzeler to manage established international players while simultaneously dealing with the demands of Champions League football and domestic competitions.
There would be questions about whether his pressing style could be implemented immediately, whether the existing squad suits his tactical ideas and how much control he would have over recruitment.
Those questions would need to be answered before any serious decision could be made.
What happens to Carrick?
For now, Carrick remains Manchester United’s manager.
His position should also be viewed in the context of what he achieved last season. United’s third-place finish and Champions League qualification represented a significant improvement, meaning the current difficult start does not erase everything that happened previously.
At the same time, the early-season performances have created genuine concerns.
United have struggled for intensity in some matches, and Reuters reported that the team ranked last in the Premier League for several key running metrics after the opening weeks of the season.
That puts the focus firmly on Carrick and his coaching staff to find solutions.
If results and performances improve, the conversation surrounding his future could quickly disappear. If they do not, however, Manchester United’s board may eventually have to consider whether a different voice is required.
And that is where names such as Hürzeler could enter the conversation.
Would Hürzeler fit Manchester United?
There are certainly arguments to discuss.
He is young, tactically progressive and already has Premier League experience. He has also demonstrated an ability to improve a team over multiple seasons rather than relying on one short run of good form.
But Manchester United would represent the biggest managerial challenge of his career by some distance.
Whether Hürzeler could transfer what he has built at Brighton to a club of United’s size is something that cannot be known in advance.
For now, his name belongs in the realm of discussion rather than confirmed Manchester United transfer or managerial plans.
The immediate issue remains Carrick and whether he can turn United’s difficult start around.
But if the Manchester United board eventually decides that a change is necessary, would Fabian Hürzeler be a name worth considering?
That is the question supporters will undoubtedly continue debating.
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