Manchester United appear set to turn to Michael Carrick as their frontrunner for the caretaker manager role, with sources close to the club suggesting discussions have moved forward with the 44-year-old. The club is aiming to have someone in place ahead of players returning to training on Wednesday.
Carrick is no stranger to stepping into the role temporarily. He previously managed United for three games in 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure, securing two wins and a draw before Ralf Rangnick took over as interim boss. His prior experience and deep familiarity with the squad are seen as strong advantages.
While Solskjaer has also held talks with the club about a potential return, Carrick’s established connection with Manchester United’s dressing room appears to give him the edge.
The vacancy follows Ruben Amorim’s exit on 5 January, ending a 14-month stint. Darren Fletcher temporarily oversaw the team, guiding United to a draw at Burnley and a third-round FA Cup loss to Brighton, but is expected to step aside soon.
Carrick’s history at Old Trafford is well-known. Between 2006 and 2018, he made 464 appearances after joining from Tottenham under Sir Alex Ferguson. Immediately after retiring, he joined the coaching staff under Jose Mourinho and stayed through Solskjaer’s tenure. His only permanent managerial experience came at Middlesbrough, where he spent two and a half years, taking the team to the Championship play-offs before narrowly missing out on top-six finishes in consecutive campaigns.
Though he does not carry Solskjaer’s managerial track record, United see Carrick’s understanding of the club culture and player dynamics as key to steadying the team during this transitional period.
