Michael Carrick has been a roaring success since taking over interim charge at Manchester United
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
10:16, 28 Apr 2026
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and Jonathan Woodgate the assistant head coach
Michael Carrick is in ‘pole position’ to be the Manchester United manager next season with supporters happy with results and players impressed by training sessions laid on by his coaching team.
That’s according to the Manchester Evening News who note the former Middlesbrough manager met co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week for what is described as a ‘casual chat’.
Those talks might become more formal over the coming weeks as United stand on the brink qualifying for the Champions League following last night’s 2-1 win over Brentford.
That was the ninth win in 13 games since he succeeded Ruben Amorim – and built a back-room staff that includes Boro favourite Jonathan Woodgate, alongside experienced No. 2 Steve Holland and Travis Binnion who was promoted to a first-team role from the academy.
Indeed the MEN say Carrick has been delighted with their impact, and if he does land the job on a permanent basis, is keen to keep his staff with him.
“Even though we came together specifically for the role here, we’re all very clear in terms of what it looks like,” Carrick said. “It’s not something that we need to overly discuss, to be honest. I think we’re all on the same page.
“We know it. It’s pretty obvious, you know. I keep saying the same things in some ways every week, but it is what is. We’re right, we’re fine with that, and the coaches are fine with that.
“Sometimes you connect with people and you get on and you work together and you work well. For me, it is all about people, whether that’s players or staff or supporters., family, whatever it is. I think connecting with people is really important to try and get the best out of each other.
“I have to say the staff have been absolutely top-class in different ways, different personalities, different roles. To come together in a coaching office that’s not much bigger than the desk, to be around the desk day in day out when it’s new and it’s fresh takes a lot of effort, but credit to everyone, it’s been all positive since we came together in January.”
Woodgate has both played for and managed Boro in a long association with the club, the last chapter of which saw Carrick bring him back to the Riverside Stadium in October 2022. Carrick then turned to the 46-year-old when he returned to Old Trafford in January.
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