Michael Carrick Appointed Manchester United Head Coach Until Season’s End

Manchester United has officially appointed former player Michael Carrick as their head coach until the conclusion of the current season, as confirmed on Tuesday.

Carrick is set to conduct his first training session on Wednesday in preparation for the Manchester derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

At 44 years old, Carrick secured the position over candidates Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy. He will be supported by former England assistant coach Steve Holland, along with Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion, and Jonny Evans.

Darren Fletcher, who served as caretaker for the last two matches, has opted to return to his role leading the under-18 team.

The announcement of Carrick’s appointment followed a face-to-face meeting with CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox last Thursday, accompanied by additional discussions on Monday.

Carrick replaces Ruben Amorim, who was dismissed last week after a tenure of 14 months.

“It is an honor to have the responsibility of leading Manchester United,” Carrick expressed in a news release. “I understand what it takes to succeed here; my focus is now on assisting the players in achieving the standards we expect at this prestigious club, which we know this group is fully capable of delivering.”

Carrick previously held the managerial role on an interim basis during the 2021-22 season, overseeing three matches after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was removed. During that stint, he secured victories against Villarreal and Arsenal, along with a draw against Chelsea, where he made the bold choice to bench Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Having worked with many of the players already and continuing to monitor the team closely over recent years, I have complete confidence in their talent, dedication, and potential for success here,” Carrick further stated. “There remains much to fight for this season, and we are prepared to unite everyone and deliver the performances our loyal supporters deserve.”

Carrick stepped back from the coaching staff when Ralf Rangnick took over as interim manager in December 2022, later becoming the manager of Middlesbrough in October 2022. After leading them to the playoffs in 2023 and the semifinals of the Carabao Cup in 2024, he was dismissed in June 2025 when Middlesbrough finished 10th in the Championship.

As a player, Carrick made 464 appearances for Manchester United from 2006 to 2018, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2008 as well as five Premier League titles. He joined the coaching staff at Old Trafford immediately following his retirement in 2018, serving under both Jose Mourinho and Solskjaer.

Sources have indicated that Carrick garnered the position partly due to his reputation as a hands-on coach. “Michael is an excellent coach and comprehends what it takes to win at Manchester United,” Wilcox commented. “He is prepared to lead our talented and determined group of players for the remainder of the season, as we strive to build the club towards regular and sustainable success.”

Carrick’s first match in his new role will be against Manchester City this weekend, followed by a challenging away game against Premier League leaders Arsenal on January 25. He takes over with Manchester United currently positioned seventh in the table, just three points shy of the top four.