Manchester United have announced the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, reports BritPanorama.
The former Red Devils player will take over from Darren Fletcher, who had assumed a caretaker role following the departure of Ruben Amorim last Monday. Fletcher managed the team during matches against Burnley and Brighton.
Carrick’s first match in charge will be the highly anticipated Manchester derby scheduled for Saturday.
In a statement, Carrick expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honour. I know what it takes to succeed here; my focus is now on helping the players to reach the standards that we expect at this incredible club.” He continued, highlighting his belief in the team’s capability to perform and intent to unite the squad for the remainder of the season.
The club also considered Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the interim role before ultimately selecting Carrick. Previously, Carrick had a brief spell as interim manager after Solskjaer’s departure in November 2021, achieving two wins and a draw in three matches.
Since transitioning into coaching post-retirement, Carrick initially joined Jose Mourinho’s staff in 2018 and remained through Solskjaer’s tenure. His lone permanent managerial position was with Middlesbrough, where he revitalised a struggling team before being dismissed last June.
Carrick’s tenure at Middlesbrough saw a significant turnaround, leading the team to a playoff semi-final before their fortunes waned in subsequent seasons. With Amorim’s tenure ending abruptly after 14 months, Carrick is now tasked with reinvigorating a United side in need of direction.
The upcoming Manchester derby will test whether the new interim manager can quickly instil confidence and performance in the squad, a challenge that many previous United managers have faced amid fierce expectations and scrutiny.
