Manchester United and former club captain Michael Carrick have reached a verbal agreement for him to become the club’s interim head coach until the end of the 2025–26 season, high‑profile reports confirmed on Tuesday.
Carrick, 44, will take charge following the sacking of Ruben Amorim earlier this month amid a difficult campaign for the Red Devils, with Manchester United seeking stability and experience as they aim to salvage their Premier League season.
The former United midfielder emerged as the leading candidate during discussions on Monday and was pictured arriving at the club’s training ground in Carrington as talks progressed. An official announcement is expected imminently, with Carrick set to take training ahead of Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Carrick’s appointment comes after a brief interim stint by Darren Fletcher, who managed the team for two matches following Amorim’s exit. Fletcher will now return to his role with the club’s Under‑18s.
Under the agreement, Carrick’s backroom staff will include former England assistant coach Steve Holland, as well as ex‑player Jonathan Woodgate, U21s coach Travis Binnion, and Jonny Evans. The club aims to leverage Carrick’s deep understanding of the squad and club culture to boost morale and performance.
United sit seventh in the Premier League, well off the top four, and have already exited both domestic cup competitions, leaving the league as their primary focus for the remainder of the season. Carrick’s first major test will be the derby against Manchester City, followed by a challenging trip to league leaders Arsenal.
Carrick is no stranger to leadership at Old Trafford. The former midfielder made 464 appearances for United, winning five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2008. He previously served briefly as caretaker manager in 2021 and has held various coaching roles at the club since his retirement in 2018.
The verbal agreement is widely seen as a stabilizing move by the club’s hierarchy as they prepare for the remainder of the season and a broader search for a permanent head coach ahead of the summer.
Leave feedback about this