Man Utd are close to finalising the appointment of an interim head coach and Michael Carrick is now the leading contender.
Michael Carrick has impressed Manchester United officials in talks over the interim head coach job(Image: )
Michael Carrick has emerged as the leading contender to become Manchester United head coach for the remainder of the season after the former midfielder impressed the club’s powerbrokers during face-to-face talks.
United have been leading the search for a replacement for Ruben Amorim and have held discussions with Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, while caretaker Darren Fletcher has also been under consideration.
But it is Carrick who looks set to win the race and he could be appointed within the next 48 hours, with United keen to give the new man time to prepare for the derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are set for more talks on Monday as they aim to finalise an appointment.
Amorim was sacked a week ago and Berrada and Wilcox quickly resolved to appoint an interim head coach until the end of the season, while putting Fletcher in charge for games against Burnley and Brighton.
Carrick met Berrada and Wilcox last Thursday and Solskjaer held talks with the duo on Saturday. The Norwegian, who managed United for three years between November 2018 and November 2021, quickly emerged as the favourite and has been back in the north west since being sacked by Besiktas in August. That seven-month spell in Turkey is his only job since leaving Old Trafford.
It was Carrick who stepped in when Solskjaer was dismissed, leading United for three games before stepping down from a coaching role when Ralf Rangnick was appointed until the end of the season. The 44-year-old former United man oversaw a Champions League win in Villarreal and an Old Trafford success against Arsenal, along with a draw with Chelsea.
He has since had a 136-game stint in charge at Middlesbrough before leaving his role at the Riverside Stadium at the end of the 2024/25 season. He is understood to have impressed during his conversations with Berrada and Wilcox as he laid out his plans for the remainder of the campaign.
Fletcher has carried himself well during his spell in charge of the first team, but a draw with Burnley and a defeat to Brighton will have hurt his chances of landing the job until the end of the season. He revealed after the FA Cup defeat to Brighton that he had been told to report to Carrington on Monday morning.
“I have to report tomorrow morning to Carrington. That’s all I know. So I’ll find out whatever I need to find out tomorrow morning,” he said. “I’ve had zero indication.”