Man Utd confirm Carrick as caretaker manager

football | January 14 2026

Manchester United have appointed former player Michael Carrick as their caretaker head coach until the end of the season

Carrick will be assisted by former England number two Steve Holland, with Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion also part of his staff.

Former United midfielder Carrick, 44, had a three-game stint as United's temporary boss after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal in 2021. He will be back in the Old Trafford dugout for Saturday's Premier League derby against Manchester City.

United sacked Ruben Amorim on 5 January after 14 months in charge, and Darren Fletcher took charge as caretaker boss for two matches.

"It's an unbelieveble feeling to come back through the doors and be part of the club again. It's a big responsibility, a massive pleasure and a privilege to be here, but we want to do a good job - this place deserves that," Carrick told the in-house Inside Carrington podcast.

Carrick added he "might have to play certain ways" in order to win games but insisted he wants his side to show "a really exciting type of football, be positive and express and bring excitement".

"I want to be off my seat, I want to be enjoying watching the boys play and results obviously need to come with that," he said.

Carrick held face-to-face talks with United officials last Thursday and is understood to have impressed chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox with his vision for the team. He is set to play a 4-2-3-1 formation - a move away from the three-at-the-back set-up employed by Amorim.

Norwegian Solskjaer, who has played for and managed United, also held talks with the club about the vacancy. But Carrick has been chosen as he is more of a hands-on coach than Solskjaer.

Fletcher, who took charge of the games against Burnley and Brighton immediately after Amorim's exit, will return to the under-18s. United view him as a key part of their coaching staff moving forward but it was mutually agreed a return to the under-18s is best to continue his development.