As Michael Carrick stands on the brink of a dramatic return to Manchester United, a fiery social media episode involving his wife and club legend Roy Keane has been thrust back into the spotlight.
The Social Media Storm
Back in 2014, following a Champions League defeat to Olympiacos overseen by then-coach Carrick, his wife Lisa took to social media platform X to launch a blistering attack on critic Roy Keane. In a since-deleted post, she branded the former United captain a profanity, accusing him of saying "anything to provoke a reaction."
She later replaced the message, writing: "Deleted my tweet... Emotions got the better of me... Just disappointed." The outburst was triggered by Keane's characteristically blunt assessment of Carrick's post-match interview, which he described as "flat" and lacking urgency, mirroring the team's performance.
Carrick's Path to the Interim Role
Fast forward to January 2026, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. Following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, Michael Carrick has emerged as the leading candidate to take over as Manchester United's interim head coach until the season's end.
The former United midfielder and Middlesbrough manager is said to have impressed chief executive Omar Berrada and football director Jason Wilcox in face-to-face talks held last Thursday. The club is reportedly keen to make an appointment swiftly, potentially within hours, to give the new boss time to prepare for the crucial Manchester derby at Old Trafford this Saturday.
Other Contenders and Keane's View
United's search has also included discussions with another former boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who held talks over the weekend. Caretaker manager Darren Fletcher, who oversaw games against Burnley and Brighton, was also considered.
Meanwhile, Roy Keane himself has been linked with a return to management but ruled himself out of the United job for now, stating his current happiness is paramount. On Sky Sports, he instead backed Newcastle's Eddie Howe as a potential permanent successor in the summer, praising his calmness and track record.
This leaves Carrick, once the subject of Keane's ire, now poised to step into the Old Trafford hotseat, with a past family controversy adding an intriguing layer to his impending appointment.
