In a surprising twist at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick is poised to take the managerial reins at Manchester United for a second time. The former midfielder has reportedly beaten fellow club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the role of interim boss until the end of the current season.
Carrick's Road Back to Old Trafford
Following discussions over the weekend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now out of contention for the interim position. This development has opened the door for Carrick's return to top-level management after his departure from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2025. His appointment marks a significant homecoming, not just to Manchester United, but to the stadium where he previously served as a first-team coach and enjoyed a brief but memorable spell as caretaker manager in late 2021.
A Flashback to a Promising First Stint
Carrick's first experience in the hotseat came under challenging circumstances. On November 21, 2021, he was appointed caretaker manager following the dismissal of his former boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Having worked as a coach under both Jose Mourinho and Solskjaer, he was thrust into the spotlight.
His tenure began in dream fashion with a crucial 2-0 away victory against Villarreal in the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock late on, with Jadon Sancho sealing the win deep into stoppage time to secure progression to the knockout stages.
Carrick's first Premier League match in charge saw him travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Jadon Sancho was again on the scoresheet, giving United a first-half lead. A second-half penalty from Jorginho ensured the points were shared, leaving United in eighth position in the table.
The Dramatic Old Trafford Finale
Ahead of his third game, a home clash with Arsenal, it was announced that Ralf Rangnick would be taking over as interim manager. However, the formalities were not completed in time, leaving Carrick in charge for one final match at Old Trafford.
It proved to be his most impressive result. Arsenal took an early lead through Emile Smith Rowe, but Bruno Fernandes equalised just before half-time. Cristiano Ronaldo then put United ahead after the break, only for Martin Odegaard to level the score minutes later. The drama wasn't over, as Ronaldo stepped up once more to score the winner and secure a memorable 3-2 comeback victory.
Reflecting on that intense period, Carrick later said: "I've had to certainly adapt and take on a new challenge and some skillsets maybe out of my comfort zone... I've enjoyed seeing how I've coped with that at times. You don't know until you're in that situation."
After his caretaker role concluded, Carrick took a ten-month break from football before embarking on a successful stint at Middlesbrough. He guided the Championship side to the playoffs and a Carabao Cup semi-final before his departure in June 2025. Now, he returns to Manchester with the task of steadying the ship once again, hoping to replicate the positive impact of his first spell in charge.
