Manchester United have reached a broad agreement with former midfielder Michael Carrick to serve as the club's interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The appointment follows the departure of Ruben Amorim and is pending finalization of contracts for Carrick and his backroom staff.
Appointment Details
The club proposed a two-year deal with an option to extend by 12 months. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe approved the move after an executive committee meeting, following a recommendation from CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. Co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Joel Glazer, and Avram Glazer were reportedly at the Carrington training complex to support Carrick ahead of his first match.
Carrick was selected for the role following interviews conducted by Berrada and Wilcox. His primary objective is to secure a European qualification spot in the Premier League, with 17 matches remaining.
Manchester United's appointment of Carrick in a short-term capacity allows Wilcox to conduct a recruitment process for a permanent manager over the coming months.
Backroom Staff
Carrick has named four individuals to his backroom staff:
- Steve Holland: Former assistant to Gareth Southgate with England and manager of Yokohama F Marinos
- Jonathan Woodgate: Previously coached with Carrick at Middlesbrough and managed Middlesbrough and Bournemouth
- Travis Binnion: Promoted from his position as under-21s lead coach
- Jonny Evans: Will remain on staff, working with Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher, who briefly led the first team, will return his focus to the under-18s after declining a first-team role under Carrick.
Career Overview
Carrick, 44, previously served as interim manager for Manchester United in two stints, with 10 wins, three draws, and two losses in charge. He managed Manchester United for three games in November 2021 following Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s departure.
He later served as head coach for Middlesbrough from October 2022 to June 2025, leading them from 21st to 4th place in his first season, reaching the Championship playoffs, before finishing eighth and tenth in subsequent seasons.
His playing career at Old Trafford spanned 12 years, during which he won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, the FA Cup, and three League Cups after joining from Tottenham in 2006.
Club Performance and Upcoming Fixtures
Manchester United is currently seventh in the Premier League, three points from the top four and one point behind fifth-placed Brentford. A top-four finish would secure a return to the Champions League, with a top-five finish also likely to be sufficient.
The club's early exit from both domestic cup competitions and lack of European football means they are scheduled to play 40 matches this season, which is their lowest number since the 1914/1915 campaign.
Carrick's first game in charge is expected to be on Saturday at Old Trafford against local rivals Manchester City.
Previous Discussions
Discussions had also occurred with former player and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær regarding a potential return to the club.
Player Support
Multiple players publicly expressed support for Carrick taking the permanent role, including Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro.