Manchester United have reached a verbal agreement with former midfielder Michael Carrick to return to Old Trafford as interim head coach until the end of the season.
Carrick, a former United captain and five-time Premier League winner, is set to take over managerial duties from Darren Fletcher, who had been placed in temporary charge following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Fletcher, who stepped up from his role as the club’s Under-18s manager, oversaw a 2-2 Premier League draw against Burnley before United were eliminated from the FA Cup by Brighton, with former United striker Danny Welbeck scoring the decisive goal.
The appointment marks a familiar return for Carrick, who previously served as caretaker manager in late 2021 after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked. During that spell, he took charge of three matches before Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim manager.
Carrick, 44, has since gained managerial experience away from Old Trafford and is expected to bring stability to the squad for the remainder of the campaign. Former Chelsea and England assistant coach Steve Holland is also set to join Carrick’s backroom staff as part of the interim setup.
United are understood to have held face-to-face discussions with Carrick on Thursday as part of their decision-making process. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the club’s former manager and scorer of the iconic winning goal in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final, was also reportedly interviewed on Saturday.
Carrick is expected to take charge of the team immediately and could be on the touchline for Saturday’s Manchester derby, as United look to steady their season and restore momentum amid a challenging period.
