Michael Carrick Appointed Interim Head Coach at Manchester United

Michael Carrick has officially accepted the position of interim head coach at Manchester United, with Steve Holland, the former assistant manager for the England national team, set to serve as his deputy.

Joining Carrick’s coaching staff will be Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, and Travis Binnion, further bolstering the team’s leadership.

Carrick, a former midfielder for both Manchester United and the England national team, reached an agreement on Monday night, with a formal announcement anticipated on Tuesday, pending the completion of necessary documentation.

This development comes after the club parted ways with Ruben Amorim, who was in charge for 14 months. Darren Fletcher temporarily managed the team for two matches following Amorim’s dismissal on January 5.

The 44-year-old Carrick is set to make his managerial debut on Saturday during the Premier League derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford. He previously had a brief stint as United’s temporary head coach after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was relieved of his duties in 2021.

Steve Holland brings a wealth of experience, having worked with Gareth Southgate at England and enjoyed significant success during his tenure at Chelsea under multiple managers. He was recently dismissed as the manager of Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan after just four months.

Woodgate has collaborated with Carrick at Middlesbrough, while Evans, a former United defender, will return to Old Trafford. Binnion is already part of the club’s coaching staff.

Carrick engaged in direct discussions with United officials last Thursday and reportedly impressed chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox with his vision for the team.

The new head coach is expected to implement a 4-2-3-1 formation, a shift away from the three-at-the-back setup utilized by Amorim.

While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has both played for and managed the team, also held discussions regarding the vacancy, Carrick was favored for the role due to his more hands-on coaching approach.

Darren Fletcher, who managed the team in the matches against Burnley and Brighton immediately following Amorim’s exit, will return to his role with the Under-18s.