Manchester United agree in principle to appoint Michael Carrick as interim head coach

Manchester United have reached an agreement in principle to appoint Michael Carrick as interim head coach, with the former midfielder set to lead the team until the end of the current season. The appointment is subject to the completion of final contractual details, but a formal announcement is expected in the coming days.

If the process is finalised on schedule, Carrick will take charge of his first match this weekend, when United face Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford. The club have been without a permanent manager since Ruben Amorim was dismissed earlier this month following a run of disappointing performances.

The search for an interim solution has been overseen by director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. Any move required final approval from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family before negotiations could progress. Talks have now reached an advanced stage, with Carrick emerging as the preferred option.

Carrick became the leading candidate after holding direct discussions with senior club figures, alongside former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Ultimately, United decided to move forward with Carrick, who is understood to have strong support both within the dressing room and among the club’s football leadership.

At 44, Carrick already has experience in a caretaker role at Old Trafford. He stepped in for three matches at the end of 2021, overseeing victories against Villarreal and Arsenal, as well as a draw away to Chelsea. He left the club shortly after Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim manager for the remainder of the 2021-2022 season.

Since departing United, Carrick has built his managerial profile with Middlesbrough in the Championship. Appointed in October 2022 with the club sitting 21st in the table, he led a dramatic turnaround that saw them finish fourth and reach the play-offs by the end of the season. Although Middlesbrough were eliminated by Coventry City in the semi-finals, Carrick’s impact was widely praised.

In subsequent campaigns, Middlesbrough finished eighth and tenth, before Carrick was dismissed at the end of the 2024-2025 season. Despite that outcome, he remains well regarded for implementing a clear playing identity and for his work with younger players.

As a player, Carrick enjoyed a highly decorated career at Manchester United, making 464 appearances over 12 seasons. His honours include five Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Europa League and multiple domestic cups. After retiring in 2018, he joined the coaching staff under Jose Mourinho and later worked closely with Solskjaer.

Darren Fletcher has been overseeing first-team duties since Amorim’s departure but is expected to return to his previous role once Carrick is confirmed. United currently sit seventh in the Premier League, with Carrick’s immediate task focused on restoring stability while the club continues its search for a long-term head coach.