Michael Carrick Appointed Manchester United Interim Coach
Michael Carrick is set to become Manchester United's interim coach until the end of the season.
Manchester United has turned to club legend Michael Carrick as its interim head coach in a bid to revive its faltering season. Carrick arrived at the club’s Carrington training ground Tuesday morning and is set to sign a contract until the end of the season, according to sources familiar with the development.
Carrick, a five-time Premier League and Champions League winner during his playing career, steps in following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, who was dismissed last week after 14 months in charge. Former England assistant Steve Holland will join Carrick as part of the coaching team.
The 42-year-old midfielder previously had a brief unbeaten spell as United’s interim coach in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure. Apart from that, his only managerial experience was at Middlesbrough in the Championship from 2022-25, where he narrowly missed out on promotion.
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United’s immediate focus under Carrick will be securing Champions League qualification. The club is struggling in domestic competitions, having lost to Brighton in the FA Cup and fourth-tier Grimsby in the League Cup, and currently sits seventh in the Premier League, facing the prospect of a second consecutive trophyless season.
Carrick’s first assignments will be challenging, starting with a home clash against second-place Manchester City on Saturday, followed by a trip to first-place Arsenal. Other candidates considered for the interim role included Solskjaer, Darren Fletcher, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Fletcher returning to his youth coaching role after overseeing two matches since Amorim’s exit.
The Red Devils hope Carrick can stabilize the team as they search for a permanent manager, marking the club’s seventh full-time managerial appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Carrick’s deep understanding of United’s culture and his rapport with players are seen as crucial assets during this transitional period.
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