MICHAEL Carrick has been named Manchester United’s new caretaker manager until the end of the season, with the club set to make an official announcement shortly.
Michael Carrick has also agreed to bring in former England assistant manager Steve Holland as his number two.
Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion will also be part of Carrick’s staff.
Former United and England midfielder Carrick agreed a deal on Monday night, with an announcement due on Tuesday once the necessary paperwork has been signed.
United sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months on 5 January and Darren Fletcher took charge as caretaker boss for two matches.
Carrick will be in the dugout for Saturday’s Premier League derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
The 44-year-old had a three-game stint as United’s temporary boss after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021.
Holland worked under Gareth Southgate when England finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup and were runners-up at Euro 2021 and 2024.
He spent several years with Chelsea, where he had major success under a number of managers.
The 55-year-old was sacked as manager of Japanese club Yokohama F Marinos in April after only four months in charge.
Woodgate worked under Carrick at Middlesbrough and was a team-mate of United director of football Jason Wilcox at Leeds.
Woodgate managed Boro between 2019 and 2020 and had a short spell as Bournemouth manager in 2021.
Former United defender Evans will return to Old Trafford. Binnion is already part of the club’s coaching staff.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the development, revealing that an agreement had been in place since yesterday and has now been fully concluded, including arrangements for Carrick’s backroom staff.
“Michael Carrick signs in as new Manchester United caretaker manager until the end of the season. Verbal agreement since yesterday, now sorted in all details + backroom staff also. #MUFC official announcement to follow next,” Romano wrote.
Carrick, a former United midfielder and coach, returns to the dugout at Old Trafford at a crucial moment as the club looks to stabilise its campaign and push for a strong finish to the season.
Much has been written in recent weeks about Manchester United’s so-called DNA and whether or not it matters as the club look to appoint a seventh permanent successor to Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils have struggled to replicate the trademark attacking flair of Ferguson’s title-winning teams in recent years, but what style of play will new interim boss Michael Carrick employ?
His Middlesbrough team won admirers for their possession-based, attacking football, leading the way in terms of goals scored, shots on target and successful passes among the ever-present Championship clubs during his two-and-a-half year Riverside reign.
One of the key questions that will surely be put to the Manchester United hierarchy once Michael Carrick is confirmed is why wait until the summer to make a permanent appointment?
One of the assumptions being made is that the pool of managers at their disposal could significantly increase in the summer, after the World Cup.
The likes of England boss Thomas Tuchel, who was linked with replacing Erik ten Hag at United before the Dutchman led them to the 2024 FA Cup, is among those managers whose contracts are due to run out in the summer:
Thomas Tuchel – England
Julian Nagelsmann – Germany
Didier Deschamps – France
Lionel Scaloni – Argentina
Roberto Martinez – Portugal
Mauricio Pochettino – USA
Carlo Ancelotti – Brazil
Oliver Glasner – Crystal Palace
Andoni Iraola – Bournemouth
Marco Silva – Fulham