Manchester United have begun the process of appointing an interim manager following the sacking of manager Ruben Amorim, with club legend Michael Carrick emerging as the frontrunner to stabilize the team until the end of the season.
Amorim was sacked earlier this week after a bout of poisoning at Old Trafford led to a deterioration in his performance and behind-the-scenes tensions reached a boiling point.
United’s on-field struggles played a big role, but it was the Portuguese manager’s glowing post-match interview after the 1-1 draw with Leeds United that finally got the club going.
With Amorim gone, United’s leaders are now moving quickly to install a temporary replacement to prevent further change in the Premier League table.
Manchester United meet Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
According to GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs, Manchester United have already made contact with Michael Carrick to discuss the possibility of him returning as caretaker manager.
Negotiations reportedly took place on Tuesday, underscoring United’s urgency to restore stability following Amorim’s departure.
It was previously reported that Carrick would be tempted by the Manchester United job.
But Carrick is not the only option being considered. United are also said to have contacted Ole Gunnar Solskjær and are keen to return, and he is now considered a leading candidate for the role.
Michael Carrick’s journey as a coach and previous time as a caretaker
Michael Carrick retired from professional football in 2018 and quickly moved into coaching, becoming assistant manager at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho and later Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Following Solskjaer’s dismissal, he was handed the role of caretaker manager in November 2021 and oversaw three games.
Carrick remained unbeaten for a short period of time, recording two wins and one draw until his departure following the appointment of manager Ralf Rangnick.
Although short-lived, this stint enhanced his reputation and helped pave the way for his first permanent managerial job at Middlesbrough.
Why is Carrick appealing to the Manchester United hierarchy?
Carrick took over at Middlesbrough when the club were 21st in the Championship and immediately changed the team’s fortunes.
Under his leadership:
- Middlesbrough rose from the bottom half to the Championship play-offs in their first season.
- In 2024, he led the club to the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a memorable first-leg victory over Chelsea.
- His 4-2-3-1 possession-based system was widely praised for its calm build-up and fluid attacking play.
Many feel that Carrick’s tactical approach is a better fit for United’s current squad than Amorim’s strict 3-4-3 system.
After working extensively under Sir Alex Ferguson and later Mourinho and Solskjaer;
Carrick is widely seen as someone who understands the club’s identity, culture and expectations, while also having the qualifications of a modern-day coach needed to rebuild a disintegrated campaign.
