Manchester United reach agreement with Carrick as interim head coach

Manchester United have reached an agreement in principle to appoint Michael Carrick as interim head coach until the end of the season following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

The former United midfielder will take charge of the first team with immediate effect, replacing Darren Fletcher, who had been overseeing duties on a temporary basis.

Fletcher, previously the club’s Under-18s manager, led the side in two matches, recording a 2-2 Premier League draw at Burnley before an FA Cup exit to Brighton.

Carrick is expected to remain in the role until the summer as the club assesses long-term managerial options.

Carrick returns to Old Trafford

This marks Carrick’s second spell in charge of United, having previously served as caretaker manager in late 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked.

During that brief period, Carrick oversaw three matches before Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim boss.

The 44-year-old, a five-time Premier League winner as a player, was considered alongside Solskjaer for the current interim role, with United ultimately opting for Carrick’s profile and recent managerial experience.

After leaving Old Trafford in 2022, Carrick spent three seasons as manager of Middlesbrough.

He led the club to fourth, eighth and tenth-place finishes in the Championship, winning just under half of his 136 games in charge before being dismissed at the end of last season.

Immediate challenges and season context

Carrick will oversee United for the remaining 17 matches of the campaign, starting with Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

The club are already out of the FA Cup and League Cup and failed to qualify for European competition, leaving them with just 40 matches across all competitions this season.

That figure represents United’s lowest number of games in a single campaign since the 1914-15 season.

Carrick’s appointment has received public backing from Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside him at United.

The Portuguese forward wrote on X: “Michael Carrick was a class act as a player and he can become a great coach as well.

“Nothing is impossible for this guy. Personally, I’m proud to have played with him by my side as well as with him as a manager on our bench.”

United hope Carrick can stabilise results and restore confidence during a difficult transitional period.