Michael Carrick to be Manchester United interim manager until end of 2025–26

Goal reports Manchester United have reached an agreement with Michael Carrick to take over as the club’s interim manager through to the end of the 2025–26 campaign.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been in contention but will not be returning, and The Athletic says a deal “in principle” has been thrashed out that includes the staff Carrick wants, with contract details being finalised. United have held face-to-face meetings led by chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has signed off on Carrick as a short-term solution after the club sacked Ruben Amorim on January 5. Darren Fletcher has been overseeing first-team affairs on a caretaker basis.

Carrick should be in charge for the derby with Manchester City on Saturday and faces a run of tough fixtures including a trip to Arsenal on January 25. He previously filled in as United boss in 2021 (three games: two wins and a draw), has managed Middlesbrough to the Championship play-offs, made 464 appearances for United as a player and won five Premier League titles and the Champions League. Contract completion is expected in time for the derby, and he will be allowed to stake a claim for the permanent role while long-term plans are deferred until the summer; as things stand, United sit seventh in the table, three points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool and guaranteed Champions League qualification.

Key Topics

Sports, Michael Carrick, Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruben Amorim, Sir Jim Ratcliffe