Manchester United are poised to turn to a familiar face as they seek stability following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Michael Carrick, the former United midfielder, is the frontrunner to take caretaker charge and was seen arriving at the club's Carrington training base on Tuesday morning.
From the Riverside to Carrington: Carrick's Managerial CV
Carrick's only senior managerial experience to date came at Championship side Middlesbrough, a tenure that lasted two-and-a-half years before his dismissal in June 2025. His spell on Teesside provides the clearest indication of what United can expect. He took over a side languishing in 21st place under Chris Wilder in 2022 and engineered a remarkable turnaround to secure a play-off place that same season, finishing fourth. However, his time ultimately ended in disappointment.
Tactical Philosophy and Man-Management Strengths
According to Teesside Live journalist Craig Johns, Carrick implemented a distinct style at Middlesbrough. "Carrick played a possession-based style of football," Johns explained, "which focused on playing out from the back." He typically used a 4-2-3-1 formation, granting freedom to his left-sided forward and encouraging his left-back to overlap.
Johns highlighted Carrick's significant strength in improving players and managing personalities. "He improved numerous players... his calm and warming demeanour saw players quickly regain their confidence," he noted, praising Carrick as an "excellent man manager" who is fundamentally a coach who loves development work on the training pitch.
Identified Weaknesses and the United Context
The major criticism of Carrick's reign centred on in-game management. "Particularly concerning was the amount of times Boro led in games only to throw it away in second halves," said Johns, who described Carrick as being "reactive rather than proactive" to opposition changes during matches.
Despite this, Johns believes the appointment could suit United's current needs. Carrick's understanding of the club's culture and his respected status as a legend could unite the fanbase. His arm-around-the-shoulder approach might provide a confidence boost following Amorim's tenure, mirroring the uplift he achieved when first arriving at Middlesbrough. As Johns concluded, this was Carrick's first head coach role, and the intense pressure of a relegation battle at Boro may have limited his capacity for reflective in-game adjustments.
