Manchester United are on the verge of appointing an interim manager to steer the club for the remainder of the season, with former players Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer emerging as the leading candidates.
The Frontrunners for the Hot Seat
The club has moved swiftly following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim last Monday, conducting formal interviews with several contenders. Michael Carrick, the former United captain, was interviewed on Thursday and is understood to have made a strong impression. Carrick has prior experience in the role, having overseen a three-game unbeaten stint as caretaker in 2021 before a three-year spell managing Middlesbrough.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club's legendary 1999 Champions League final match-winner, was interviewed on Saturday. He knows the interim role well, having initially taken over following Jose Mourinho's sacking in December 2018. His success in that spell, which included securing a permanent deal and guiding United to a second-place Premier League finish and a Europa League final, makes him a serious contender. He most recently managed Turkish side Besiktas for seven months.
Other Contenders and Fletcher's Setback
The shortlist also includes former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and current Under-18 coach Darren Fletcher. Van Nistelrooy is known to United's football director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada from his time as an assistant to Erik ten Hag, and he briefly took charge for four matches after the Dutchman's departure.
However, Darren Fletcher's prospects may have been damaged by United's 2-1 FA Cup exit to Brighton on Sunday. The Scot, who also had a spell as the club's technical director, had overseen two matches in temporary charge—a 2-2 draw with Burnley and the cup defeat. After the loss, Fletcher stated he had "zero indications" about his future, saying only that he was due to report to the Carrington training ground on Monday morning.
Looking Ahead to a Permanent Appointment
United's strategy is clear: install a trusted interim figure now to guide the team through the rest of the campaign, before making a permanent appointment in the summer. The decision on who will take the reins for the coming months is expected imminently as the club seeks stability after a turbulent period.
The focus for the new interim boss will be to steady the ship and improve performances, with the long-term future of the managerial position set to be addressed at the season's end.
