Man Utd appoint Carrick as manager to end of the season
Manchester United have named Michael Carrick as interim manager until the close of the season on Tuesday, charging him with steering the Red Devils towards a return to the Champions League.
"Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honour," Carrick said. At 44 years old, he secured 12 major honours during his 12-year stint as a player with United.
The ex-midfielder previously enjoyed an unbeaten run across three matches as caretaker at Old Trafford back in 2021.
Carrick then assumed his debut full-time managerial position at Championship side Middlesbrough starting in October 2022, but departed in June of the previous year following a 10th-place finish in the league.
His initial challenge ahead is a tough one, getting the squad ready to take on crosstown opponents Manchester City in the Premier League this Sunday.
Currently sitting seventh in the standings, United remain in contention for Champions League spots, marking their first appearance there in three years.
The team trails fourth-placed Liverpool by three points and sits just one point off Brentford, who occupy fifth.
Securing a top-four position would lock in Champions League entry, while fifth place should also suffice given the impressive showings by English clubs in Europe.
"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, which we know that this group is more than capable of producing," Carrick added.
"There is still a lot to fight for this season, we are ready to pull everyone together and give the fans the performances that their loyal support deserves."
United parted ways with Ruben Amorim just last week, after a poor 14-month tenure at the club for the Portuguese coach.
Expectations for a quick turnaround faded quickly, as interim manager Darren Fletcher managed only a 2-2 stalemate with struggling Burnley in the Premier League alongside a 2-1 loss to Brighton in the FA Cup.
Safe pair of hands
With elimination from both cup tournaments early on, coupled with no European fixtures, United face just 40 games this term, the fewest since the 1914/1915 season.
Carrick's background at United, spanning his playing days and coaching roles, reportedly swayed the board towards viewing him as the reliable choice for the upcoming period.
Following time at West Ham and Tottenham, he joined United, claiming five Premier League crowns and the Champions League across 12 seasons.
Upon retiring as a player in 2018, Carrick integrated into United's coaching team, assisting Jose Mourinho and later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
After Solskjaer's exit five years back, he stepped up temporarily for the senior squad, delivering solid outcomes against Chelsea, Arsenal, and Villarreal.
That said, his Middlesbrough spell did not meet expectations in the end.
Boasting one of the largest budgets in the Championship, the side made the play-offs during his opening campaign, but fell to Coventry across two semi-final legs.
Middlesbrough ended up eighth and 10th in Carrick's pair of complete seasons, leading to his dismissal at the term's conclusion for not earning promotion to the top flight.