Manchester United has confirmed the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager until the conclusion of the season. The club has tasked the former midfielder with leading the team to a Champions League qualification spot.
Carrick, 44, expressed that the responsibility of leading the club is an “honour.” During his 12-year playing career at Manchester United, he won 12 major trophies. This appointment marks his return to a coaching role at Old Trafford, following a successful three-game unbeaten run as caretaker manager in 2021.
His most recent managerial position was with Middlesbrough in the second-tier Championship, a role he took on in October 2022 and departed from in June of last year after the club finished 10th.
Carrick’s immediate challenge will be preparing the team for a Premier League match against local rivals Manchester City on Sunday. United currently sits seventh in the league table, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, in the race for Champions League qualification.
“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,” Carrick stated.
The appointment follows the dismissal of Ruben Amorim last week, whose 14-month tenure ended after a period of poor results, including a 2-2 draw with Burnley and a 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Brighton under caretaker Darren Fletcher.
Carrick’s extensive experience with the club, both as a decorated player and a former assistant coach under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is understood to be a key factor in the board’s decision to entrust him with the role for the remainder of the season.
