Manchester United to confirm Michael Carrick as interim manager

Manchester United expect to confirm Michael Carrick as the interim manager on Tuesday, with finance to be at the 44-year-old’s disposal to strengthen the squad should a target for the long term become available.

The announcement of Carrick’s appointment is scheduled for Tuesday and Darren Fletcher, who has taken charge of two games since Ruben Amorim’s sacking, will be given the opportunity to be part of the coaching team.

Carrick has also identified Jonathan Woodgate as another potential member of his staff, having appointed him as first-team coach when Middlesbrough’s manager in the Championship from 2022-25. In his only No 1 role Carrick oversaw 136 matches, winning 63 and losing 49.

Carrick, who pulled ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjær during the interview process, will lead United for the first time on Wednesday when the players return to training after two days off.

With midfield one of the positions United want to strengthen, Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves is a target. The Portuguese would cost about £20m and should his acquisition become viable there are funds available for his purchase or for any other player on the club’s transfer wishlist.

Carrick had a three-game caretaker spell at United in November and December 2021 after the sacking as the manager of Solskjær, for whom he was a first-team coach.

Carrick was unbeaten, overseeing a 2-0 Champions League group game win at Villarreal, a 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Premier League and a 3-2 league victory against Arsenal at Old Trafford. Carrick departed when Ralf Rangnick became the interim manager until the end of the season.

As a midfielder at United, from 2006-18, Carrick was part of a glittering period, winning 10 major honours, so he can expect comprehensive backing from the fanbase.

His immediate task will be to lift the mood of the players and the wider club after Sunday’s 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat by Brighton at Old Trafford. That meant United were eliminated from that competition and the League Cup at the first opportunity for a first time since 1981-82, and so will play only 40 games – their lowest number in a complete campaign since 1914-15.

Carrick’s first match is Saturday’s lunchtime visit of Manchester City for the derby, after which comes a trip to Arsenal. Carrick will have 17 league games as the interim, and will target taking United to Champions League qualification. They are seventh, three points behind Liverpool in the fourth position that guarantees a berth.