Michael Carrick has been named as Manchester United’s interim boss for the rest of the season.
Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both held face-to-face talks with the United hierarchy, who also spoke to former Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, over the role to replace Ruben Amorim on a temporary basis, but the job has gone to the former.
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Carrick worked under Solskjaer at Old Trafford but has beaten him to the jobCredit: Getty
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Carrick made 484 appearances as a player for United, what can he do as interim boss?Credit: Getty
Amorim was sacked less than 24 hours after his shock attack on the Red Devils’ board following a 1-1 draw at Leeds.
It brought an end to a 14-month stint at Old Trafford for the Portuguese – whose overall tenure cost United in the region of £30m.
Darren Fletcher was elevated from the Under-18s in the immediate short-term to steer the club through recent games.
The Scottish ex-United midfielder oversaw a 2-2 draw with Burnley and then an FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.
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United have moved quickly to appoint Carrick until the end of the season and a permanent hire will be made in the summer.
Negotiations went on late into Monday evening as a deal was thrashed out.
talkSPORT understands that legendary former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson recommended to the club that they go for Carrick over Solskjaer.
“Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honour,” Carrick said.
“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.
“I have worked with a number of the players already and have obviously continued to watch the team closely in recent years, I have total belief in their talents, dedication and ability to be successful here.
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It’s understood the move for Carrick received Ferguson’s blessingCredit: Getty
“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.”
The Red Devils announced the news on Tuesday, wanting to give the 44-year-old as much time as possible to prepare for Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford – which is live on talkSPORT.
Who is in Michael Carrick’s backroom staff?
Jonathan Woodgate will join Carrick in the United dugout having previously worked together at Middlesbrough.
Former United defender Jonny Evans, who only retired from playing last summer, is also going to be part of the team alongside United youth coach Travis Binnion and goalkeeping coach Craig Mawson.
Former England and Chelsea assistant Steve Holland also joins up with Carrick.
Holland worked under Gareth Southgate with the Three Lions before going on to be appointed as Yokohama F. Marinos boss.
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Carrick’s former United teammate Evans is on his coaching staffCredit: Getty
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As is former Leeds defender Woodgate, who worked as Carrick’s assistant at BoroCredit: Getty
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Fletcher will return to his previous position with the U18s, howeverCredit: Getty
Fletcher was offered a role in the backroom team, but is understood to have turned that down to return to the Under-18s.
Michael Carrick’s coaching career
Carrick won ten major trophies at Man United, including five Premier Leagues and the Champions League, in an illustrious 12 years at Old Trafford.
Shortly after retiring, he was handed a coaching position on Jose Mourinho‘s staff at the club.
Solskjaer was then appointed and Carrick was named interim again after the Norwegian’s sacking in November 2021, taking the team for three matches before Ralf Rangnick came in.
The former midfielder then enjoyed a strong spell at Championship Middlesbrough.
He took them from a point above the relegation zone in his first season to the play-offs, losing to Coventry in the semi-final.
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Carrick left Middlesbrough in the summer but is now in charge of one of the biggest clubs in the world
Carrick’s tenure ended in the summer following a tenth place Championship finish having also missed out on play-offs the previous campaign.
This is a big jump for Carrick but he’s been backed as a good short-term solution for United by former teammate Ben Foster.
“I think he’s perfect for what they need right now,” Foster told talkSPORT.
“Whether it’s long-term, I think that remains to be seen. The next four months of the season will tells us all we need to know.
“For now, he’s just nice and calm, he never gets too excited, never gets too carried away.
“He’s the kind of person where you never know what he’s thinking…and I think that carries a weight of respect.
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As a player, Carrick won ten major honours at Man United, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League
“I think him going into that dressing room, the lads will look up to him a bit.”
Who could be the next permanent Man United manager?
United are in no rush to make a permanent appointment now Carrick is in situ until the end of the season.
There will be more options on the market with several big names out of contract and a likely exodus post-World Cup.
Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola will both be free agents at the end of the season.
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Glasner is among the favourites for the job.
The bookies have also made Thomas Tuchel one of the frontrunners, with his England contract set to expire after the World Cup.
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talkSPORT understands Van Nistelrooy was the other candidate alongside Carrick and SolskjaerCredit: AFP
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The appointment of Carrick now gives co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe months to find a permanent successor to Amorim