Carrick Takes the Reins: Manchester United Appoints Michael Carrick as Interim Boss for the Rest of the Season
13 January 2026
Manchester United confirmed today the official appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager to guide the club through the remainder of the season.
The former captain takes the helm until the end of the 2025-2026 campaign, with a backroom team including Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Bienion, Jonny Evans, and Craig Mawson assisting him.
United also thanked Darren Fletcher for his leadership over the past week, with Fletcher continuing to work with the club's Under-18s as he moves to a new phase of his involvement.
A personal milestone for a United legend
Speaking to the club's official site, Carrick said, "Leading Manchester United is a great honour." He added, "I fully understand what it takes to succeed here, and my focus is on helping the players meet the standards this great club expects."
"I know the players well, I have followed the team closely in recent years, and I have complete confidence in their talent, commitment, and ability to achieve success here." Carrick continued. "There's still a lot to fight for this season, and we will unite the squad and deliver performances worthy of the supporters' unwavering backing."
Carrick previously took charge of United as caretaker manager for three matches after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure in late 2021, recording two wins, one draw. He left the club when Ralph Rangnick was appointed as interim manager for the 2021-2022 season, after having been part of the coaching staff under Jose Mourinho and Solskjaer since 2018.
The Englishman played 464 games for United, lifting five major honours including the Premier League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League, the Europa League, and the FIFA Club World Cup. He later served as Middlesbrough's manager for two and a half years from October 2022.
The decision comes amid United's recent results: a 2-2 draw with Burnley last week and a 2-1 FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton, as the team prepares for a derby clash on Saturday.
Heading into the weekend, the "Red Devils" sit seventh in the Premier League table, 11 points behind Manchester City and five places adrift of the reigning champions.
Outlook and expectations
With Carrick at the helm, the club will look to stabilise form, galvanise the dressing room, and restore the rhythm that has been missing at times this season. The newcomers and veterans alike know there is work to do, but the collective will to push United back toward the top of the table remains strong.
And if you’re wondering whether Carrick can conjure up the magic: if United start turning results around, the only thing louder than the chant will be the sound of the calendar turning to transfer-window season. Punchline: Carrick’s playbook reportedly includes "keep the ball moving and the jokes moving faster." Punchline: If results improve, the press conferences will finally be shorter than the transfer window.
He previously led United for three matches in 2021 after Solskjaer’s departure, a run that included two wins and a draw. He then left when Rangnick took over, having been part of the setup since 2018 under Mourinho and Solskjaer.
As a player, Carrick appeared 464 times for United, lifting five major trophies across the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cups, Champions League, Europa League, and Club World Cup. His managerial stint at Middlesbrough began in October 2022 and lasted two and a half years.
The decision to appoint Carrick comes after a mixed run, including a 2-2 draw with Burnley and a painful FA Cup exit, as United prepare for a derby against a formidably positioned opponent. The club’s seventh-place standing in the Premier League remains a hurdle as they chase consistency and momentum into the closing stages of the campaign.
In short, Carrick steps into a hot seat with a clear mandate: steady the ship, elevate standards, and give the fans something to smile about on matchdays.
Punchline 1: If Carrick can steady United’s form, the only thing louder than the chants will be the calendar turning to transfer-window chaos.
Punchline 2: They say football is a game of inches; Carrick just measured the goal with a smile and the press with a mic.
