Manchester United have appointed Michael Carrick as head coach until the end of the season.
Carrick emerged as the frontrunner for the role after the club held talks with former midfielder Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Ruben Amorim’s departure on January 5.
Sky Sports News understands that those at the club are impressed with Carrick’s plans for the remainder of the season.
United, who lost 2-1 to Brighton in the FA Cup on Sunday under caretaker manager Darren Fletcher, have only one focus on the Premier League. The loss accelerated plans to name an interim head coach.
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Carrick’s first game in charge of the club will be Saturday’s Manchester derby, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Gareth Southgate’s former England assistant coach Steve Holland will become Carrick’s number two, while former Boro assistant and Leeds player Jonathan Woodgate, current Under-21 coach Travis Binion and Jonny Evans, who returned to the club during Darren Fletcher’s interim period, will also be part of the backroom team.
Saturday, January 17th 11am
12:30pm kickoff
“We are ready to unite everyone.”
“It is an honor to take on the responsibility of leading Manchester United,” said Carrick. “I know what it takes to be successful here. My focus now is to help our players reach the standards we expect at this great club, and I know this team is more than capable.”
“I have already worked with some of the players and have naturally continued to follow the team closely in recent years and have full faith in their talent, dedication and ability to succeed here.
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Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett says Manchester United’s transfer business will not be affected by Ruben Amorim’s sacking, but believes the club are unlikely to spend money in January.
“There is still much to compete for this season. We are ready to bring everyone together and give the performance that our fans’ loyal support deserves.”
Director of Football Jason Wilcox said: “Michael is a great coach and knows exactly what it takes to win at Manchester United.
“He is ready to lead our talented and determined group of players for the remainder of the season as we continue to build the club towards regular and sustained success.”
“Carrick was unanimously chosen.”
Michael Carrick appointed Manchester United manager until the end of the season
United did not want to be in the position of changing their head coach midway through the season, but the results and actions meant they needed to act quickly to give themselves the best chance of achieving their goals for the season.
Wilcox has begun the process of identifying a head coach until the end of the season to allow time for a thorough process to determine a permanent coach.
United wanted to bring in someone who knew and understood the club to reduce the risk of an adjustment period, and after discussions with three candidates, Carrick was the unanimous choice.
Wilcox and Carrick agreed to work together to identify and select the right coaching profile to support him and approach Holland and Woodgate. Although neither of us had ever worked in the Netherlands, we felt that his skill set and experience would be helpful. Carrick works closely with Woodgate, an accomplished coach, and has a strong relationship with him.
Meanwhile, everyone at United agrees that Fletcher, who has made a positive impression on the hierarchy, will return to the Under-18s to further his development and support his desire to keep a good coach in a key position.
Carrick returns to Manchester United
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Carrick made 464 appearances for the club during his 12 years at Old Trafford, but after retiring in 2018 he remained at Old Trafford as part of Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff.
Following Mourinho’s sacking in December of the same year, Carrick was appointed caretaker manager, before joining Solskjær’s backroom staff on an interim basis.
Both were briefly linked as potential replacements for Ruben Amorim, but both remained at the club permanently when Solskjær was handed the role in March 2019.
The Norwegian was sacked in November 2021 and Carrick returned to his role as caretaker manager, completing a three-game unbeaten run as manager with wins against Villarreal and Arsenal and a point against Chelsea.
Carrick resigned his position and left the club upon the arrival of Ralph Rangnick, before becoming Middlesbrough manager in October 2022.
At the time of his appointment, Boro were in 21st place, one point above the relegation zone, but although they rose to fourth place, they lost to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals that year, narrowly missing out on promotion.
Carrick then led the team to eighth and 10th place finishes in the following two seasons before leaving in June 2025.
What is Carrick’s style?
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Sky Sports’ David Reid looks at how Manchester United could line up under manager Michael Carrick and analyzes his style of play during his time at Middlesbrough.
Carrick primarily played in a 4-2-3-1 formation during his time at Middlesbrough, although he occasionally reverted to Sir Alex Ferguson’s 4-4-2 on six occasions. This is more than the five times he opted for a three-back system.
Under him, Middlesbrough led the league in high turnover and fast breaks, while also ranking among the top teams in build-up attack and direct attack.
Considering this, Carrick is likely to introduce a 4-2-3-1 with an attacking press, combining a patient possession-based build-up with frequent switches to long passes and quick transitions.
Manchester United’s next 5 games
January 17: Man City (H) – Premier League, kick-off 12:30pm, live on Sky Sports January 25: Arsenal (A) – Premier League, kick-off 4:30pm, live on Sky Sports February 1: Fulham (H) – Premier League, kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports February 7: Tottenham (H) – Premier League, kick-off 12:30pm, live on Sky Sports February 10: West Ham (A) – Premier League, kick-off 8:15pm
