Carrick Appointed Interim Head Coach of Manchester United

Michael Carrick has reached an agreement to serve as Manchester United’s interim head coach, with an official announcement expected on Tuesday upon finalizing the necessary paperwork. The 44-year-old emerged as the preferred candidate over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the interview process and has swiftly begun to assemble a coaching staff that combines international experience with strong ties to the club, as he gears up for the Manchester derby this Saturday.

Joining Carrick in his new role will be assistant coach Holland, a highly respected figure in coaching who has worked alongside Southgate during England’s successful campaigns in the Euro 2020 and 2024 finals, as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. Holland also boasts considerable Premier League experience from his tenure at Chelsea and most recently managed Yokohama F Marinos in Japan.

Woodgate will also be part of Carrick’s team, bringing a playing career that included stints at Leeds and Real Madrid. Having previously collaborated with Carrick at Middlesbrough and managed Bournemouth in 2021, Woodgate shares a connection with United’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, from their time as teammates at Leeds.

The reshuffle will also see former United defender Jonny Evans return to the coaching staff, while Travis Binnion will be promoted from within the club to complete the new team.

Carrick secured this position after impressing chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Wilcox during discussions last Thursday. His vision for the team and reputation as a hands-on coach were pivotal in his selection over Solskjaer.

Fans can anticipate a significant shift in the tactical approach, as Carrick plans to abandon the three-at-the-back system utilized by recently dismissed coach Ruben Amorim in favor of a 4-2-3-1 formation. Amorim maintained his preferred system throughout his 14-month tenure, leading the team to 25 victories and 23 defeats over 63 matches before his departure, which was confirmed following a 1-1 draw with Leeds.

Just a day before his dismissal, Amorim stated, “I’m going to be the manager of this team, not just the coach. I was really clear on that, and that is going to finish in 18 months, and then everyone is going to move on.”

With Carrick and his team stepping in, Darren Fletcher will relinquish his first-team responsibilities. Fletcher had taken charge as caretaker manager for matches against Burnley and Brighton but will now return to his previous role with the Under-18s.

While Fletcher remains integral to the club’s future plans, it was mutually decided that his continued coaching development would be best served by returning to the academy setup. Carrick’s second stint in the United dugout, following a brief caretaker role in 2021, will commence with a crucial Premier League match against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

Currently, United finds themselves in a challenging position, having failed to secure a victory in their last four matches, with consecutive draws against Wolves, Leeds, and Burnley in the Premier League, followed by an FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton. This recent performance leaves them competing solely in the Premier League, where they sit seventh, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.