Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Michael Carrick as head coach until the end of the season following the departure of Ruben Amorim on January 5.
Carrick emerged as the leading candidate after the club held talks with the former midfielder and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with United opting for a familiar figure to steady the ship during a turbulent period. Plans to install an interim coach were fast-tracked after Sunday’s 2–1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton, a match overseen by caretaker boss Darren Fletcher.
With United now only competing in the Premier League, Carrick’s immediate focus will be domestic matters, starting with a high-profile Manchester derby on Saturday, which will mark his first game in charge.
Carrick will be supported by a strong backroom team. Former England assistant coach Steve Holland, who previously worked under Gareth Southgate, has been appointed as his assistant. He will be joined by ex-Middlesbrough assistant and former Leeds United defender Jonathan Woodgate, current Under-21s coach Travis Binnion, and Jonny Evans, who rejoined the club during Fletcher’s interim spell.
This is not Carrick’s first stint at the helm at Old Trafford. After José Mourinho’s dismissal in December 2018, he was briefly placed in charge before joining Solskjaer’s coaching staff when the Norwegian was appointed on an interim basis. Both men were later confirmed in their roles permanently in March 2019.
Following Solskjaer’s sacking in November 2021, Carrick again stepped in as caretaker manager, enjoying an unbeaten run of three matches. That spell included impressive victories over Villarreal and Arsenal, as well as a draw away at Chelsea, before he departed when Ralf Rangnick was appointed.
Carrick went on to take charge of Middlesbrough in October 2022, inheriting a side sitting 21st in the Championship, just one point above the relegation zone. He masterminded a remarkable turnaround, guiding Boro to a fourth-place finish before narrowly missing promotion after defeat to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals.
He subsequently led Middlesbrough to eighth- and tenth-place finishes in the following two seasons, before leaving the club in June 2025.
Now back at Old Trafford, Carrick faces the challenge of stabilising United’s season and restoring momentum as the club looks to finish the campaign on a positive note.
