Manchester United have officially confirmed the appointment of former midfielder Michael Carrick as their interim head coach until the conclusion of the current season.
Carrington Arrival and Backroom Team Confirmed
The 44-year-old arrived at the club's Carrington training base on Tuesday morning to begin his new role. This followed meetings with club executives on Monday, where he verbally agreed to the temporary position and the composition of his coaching staff.
Carrick's backroom team will be assisted by Steve Holland, the former England assistant manager, and Jonathan Woodgate, his ex-colleague from Middlesbrough. Existing staff members Travis Binnion, the Under-21s coach, and former defender Jonny Evans will continue in their roles. Darren Fletcher, who served as caretaker last week, is anticipated to return to his duties with the Under-18s.
A Familiar Face in the Hot Seat
Carrick is a familiar figure at Old Trafford, having spent twelve years there as a player. He later served as a first-team coach under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. This is not his first stint as a caretaker, having taken charge for three games following Solskjaer's dismissal in November 2021.
He was chosen to replace Ruben Amorim, who was dismissed last week after fourteen months in charge. Carrick was reportedly on a family holiday in Barbados with Jonny Evans and Wayne Rooney when the decision to part ways with Amorim was made.
Tough Start and Future Plans
The new interim boss faces an immediate and daunting challenge. His first match in charge will be the Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime. This is swiftly followed by a trip to face Premier League leaders Arsenal the following weekend.
He inherits a squad sitting seventh in the table, with the primary aim of securing European qualification after early exits from both domestic cup competitions. The club has indicated it will assess its options over the coming months before making a permanent appointment. Sources also suggest Manchester United are unlikely to be major players in the January transfer window.
Carrick, who has been out of work since leaving his role at Middlesbrough in June, now steps into one of the most high-pressure jobs in football with the task of steadying the ship at Old Trafford.
