A dream start for Michael Carrick in Manchester United's

Manos Staramopoulos • 18 de enero de 2026

In his debut as Manchester United manager, Carrick led his team to victory over Manchester City 0-2 in the city derby.

Michael Carrick come back in Manchester United as interim manager.

There are certainly not many coaches who would accept to take on the role of "caretaker coach" not once but twice. And yet Michael Carrick, a Manchester United native, accepted it. So after the dismissal of the Portuguese, Ruben Amorim, and for a while the caretaker coach, former midfielder, Darren Fletcher, Carrick took on the difficult task of keeping the English team afloat and, most importantly, leading them to a UEFA Champions League exit by the end of the season. A task that is certainly very difficult but not impossible.

 

Carrick, who has been in charge for more than four years, was the one who took over as interim manager after the dismissal of Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.


The former defensive midfielder's tenure lasted only three games (2 wins, 1 draw). Of course, we must note that at that time the management had no confidence in Carrick since the changes he had made, leaving important stars out of the starting lineup.

 

Now, after repeated mistakes (Ragknig, De Haag and recently Amorim), the Manchester United management has turned to Carrick again after a four-year cyclical situation. The disappointment has returned, but the situation is now much worse.

 

The financial legacy, brand and charm that Sir Alex built over decades have probably been eroded by successive generations of Manchester United leaders. In this case, it is very difficult for Manchester United to find a truly great manager. Even their plans to find a replacement are facing difficulties.

 

In fact, Carrick did not even ask for a long-term contract. “To have the responsibility of leading Manchester United is an honour,” Carrick said. “I know what it takes to succeed here; my focus now is on helping the players reach the standards we demand at this great club, which we know this team is fully capable of delivering,” he added.

 

In the first Manchester derby of 2026, Carrick led United to a significant 2-0 victory over a weak City at Old Trafford (matchday 22). The ‘Red Devils’ were superior and dominated almost completely, especially in the second half. In fact, with their victory they temporarily climbed to 4th place in the standings (35 points). Their players were amazing and got what they deserved with goals from Mbeumo (65') and Dorgu (76').

 

Now whether the 45-year-old Carrick will succeed in leading the team back to the steady cycle of successes or if he will fail, we will find out very soon

.


Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece).

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