Former United player Michael Carrick will become manager of England’s famous football club after agreeing terms.
Published January 13, 2026
Manchester United have agreed in principle a deal that will see former Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick take charge of the Premier League team on an interim basis until the end of the season, club officials announced on Tuesday.
Carrick, a former United player, replaces Ruben Amorim, who was sacked earlier this month, and will face an immediate baptism of fire with his first game being Saturday’s derby against second-placed Manchester City at Old Trafford.
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The 44-year-old takes over a side that sit seventh in the Premier League table (a whopping 17 points behind leaders Arsenal) and are on the brink of being eliminated in both domestic cup competitions.
United lost 2-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion and were eliminated from the FA Cup, leaving United facing their shortest season since 1914-15 with 40 games remaining.
This is a return to familiar territory for Carrick, who served as caretaker manager in 2021 following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
British media have reported that both Carrick and Solskjaer are in contention for the caretaker role this time around.
Following Amorim’s turbulent tenure, United appointed Carrick’s former teammate and under-18s coach Darren Fletcher as interim manager, but United failed to register a win in two games, drawing 2-2 with bottom-of-the-table Burnley.
Manchester United pedigree
Carrick brings important pedigree to United, making 464 appearances in all competitions during his playing days, winning five Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy with the club.
His managerial experience includes mixed stints at second-division club Middlesbrough, where he initially worked wonders after joining in October 2022, when the Championship side were languishing in 21st place.
Carrick quickly turned things around, leading the team to a fourth-place finish and a place in the play-offs in his first season, and a place in the League Cup semi-finals the following season.
However, Middlesbrough finished eighth and 10th in the past two seasons and failed to gain promotion, leading to Carrick’s sacking in June last year.
