Manchester United have turned to a familiar face in their bid to salvage a turbulent season, appointing former midfielder and captain Michael Carrick as their interim head coach. The 44-year-old has been handed the reins until the summer with a clear and immediate objective: to secure a top-four finish and Champions League football for next season.
Carrick's Immediate Challenge: A Daunting Start
Carrick, who enjoyed a trophy-laden playing career at Old Trafford, was confirmed in the post on Tuesday, 13th January 2026. He saw off competition from fellow club legends Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy for the role. The appointment follows the dismissal of Ruben Amorim last week after a disappointing 14-month tenure.
The new boss inherits a team sitting seventh in the Premier League, but encouragingly just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. However, his return to the dugout begins with a formidable challenge: a Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford this Saturday, followed by a trip to league leaders Arsenal the following weekend.
A Belief in the Squad's Quality
Despite the tough opening fixtures and a season devoid of trophies so far, Carrick expressed strong belief in the players at his disposal. "I know what it takes to succeed here," said Carrick, referencing his 464 appearances for the club. "My focus is now on helping the players to reach the standards that we expect... which we know that this group is more than capable of producing."
He added: "I have total belief in their talents, dedication and ability to be successful here. There is still a lot to fight for this season."
New Backroom Team Assembled
Director of football Jason Wilcox, who led the search for an interim coach, stated that Carrick was the "unanimous choice" due to his understanding of the club. Wilcox and Carrick have since collaborated on assembling a coaching team, bringing in Steve Holland – Gareth Southgate's long-time England assistant – and Jonathan Woodgate, who played with Wilcox at Leeds and worked with Carrick at Middlesbrough.
The setup is completed by former United defender Jonny Evans, under-21s coach Travis Binnion and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson, who all worked under Darren Fletcher during his brief two-game spell as interim boss last week.
Fletcher, who oversaw a draw at Burnley and an FA Cup exit to Brighton, has now returned to his role as under-18s lead coach after turning down a place on Carrick's staff. The club praised his "vital role" in developing future first-team talent.
Carrick, who was undefeated in a previous three-game caretaker stint in 2021 and later managed Middlesbrough, took his first training session on Wednesday after meeting the squad at the Carrington training ground.
