By When Rúben Amorim could no longer deliver a promising future for Manchester United and was sacked, many United fans across the continent celebrated the decision, describing it as an overdue action by the club’s board. After his departure, Michael Carrick, a former Manchester United player and coach, was appointed interim head coach, overseeing the team’s performances until the end of the season.
Prior to his appointment, Darren Fletcher, another former United player, managed the club for two games but failed to secure maximum points in either, losing to Brighton and drawing with Burnley. However, following Carrick’s resumption as manager, the team has taken on a new form and is fast becoming a threat to English sides.
Background
Michael Carrick was born on 28 July 1981 in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. As a player, he operated as a defensive midfielder. He began his career at West Ham United, during which he had loan spells at Swindon Town and Birmingham City between 1999 and 2000. He later played for Tottenham Hotspur between 2004 and 2006, where he made 64 appearances and scored two goals. He then signed for Manchester United in 2006 and remained there until 2018, making 464 appearances and scoring 24 goals. Overall, he recorded 524 appearances and 27 goals in his club career, winning five Premier League titles, an FA Cup, three League Cups, a UEFA Champions League, a UEFA Europa League, and a FIFA Club World Cup. He also earned 34 caps for his national team.
Managerial Experience and Future Possibilities
Upon retiring from professional football, Carrick was offered a position on José Mourinho’s coaching staff, which he accepted. After Mourinho’s exit, he was retained under Ole Gunnar Solskjær as part of the coaching crew.
On 21 November 2021, following Solskjær’s departure, Carrick was named caretaker manager. His first match in charge was a UEFA Champions League tie in which he defeated Spanish side, Villarreal, with a 2-0 victory, booking a spot in the round of 16. He followed this with a 2-2 draw against Chelsea. His final game was a 3–2 victory over Arsenal, a feat he repeated on 25 January 2026. Carrick stepped down as first-team coach shortly after the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as interim manager.
On 24 October 2022, Carrick was appointed head coach of Championship side Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough lost their first game 2–1 away to Preston North End on 29 October. Carrick won 16 of his first 23 matches as the club climbed the table. Middlesbrough eventually finished fourth despite being in a relegation battle when he arrived. In his second season, they ended the 2023–24 campaign in eighth position. On 3 June 2024, Carrick signed a new three-year contract. A year later, the club announced the termination of his contract after finishing tenth-place in the league.
On January 13, 2026, Carrick was appointed again as Man United Interim head coach for the rest of the season. His first test was against Manchester City, a game many expected him to lose. However, to the surprise of football fans, he led United to a 2–0 victory in the Manchester derby. He then defeated Arsenal 3–2 away from Old Trafford. His winning run continued with victories over Fulham (3–2) and Tottenham (2–0) before a 2–2 draw against bottom-side West Ham United halted the momentum. He returned to winning ways on Monday, 23 February, securing a second-half lead courtesy of a goal and an assist from Šeško and Mbeumo respectively.
Tactical Change in the Team
Two tactical changes have been evident in Carrick’s games so far. The first is the adaptation of the team’s playing style to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, as opposed to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1. The 4-2-3-1 has long been regarded as Carrick’s stronghold, having implemented it at Middlesbrough during his time there. At Manchester United, the formation appears to be effective, as the team is yet to lose a match — scoring 12 goals and conceding just five in the Premier League. So far, only Manchester United and Manchester City have recorded the highest points tally (13), followed by Arsenal (11), in the last five matches.
Another noticeable change has been the introduction of Šeško from the bench. Before Carrick’s arrival, he was the team’s regular starting striker. Although this did not reflect positively on his goal record due to a drought, he still enjoyed consistent playing time under Amorim. However, Carrick seems to have found a more efficient way to use him. In six Premier League games under Carrick, Šeško has featured five times — all as a substitute — and has scored three goals, each a match-winner for United. In contrast, he scored only five goals in 19 appearances in all competitions before Carrick’s arrival. Mbeumo and Cunha have rotated in the central role while contributing significantly to the team’s success.
Is Carrick the New Key?
Recently, Carrick has dominated media discussions, with many praising the transformation he has brought to United. Arguably, the team is now considered one of the emerging threats in the Premier League, having defeated two title contenders. There is also the possibility of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next season if this form is maintained.
While many have commended his work, others believe he is still too inexperienced to take the job on a permanent basis. There are also reports that Zinedine Zidane is moving closer to reaching an agreement with Manchester United.
Under Carrick, United have emerged from their poor run of form and are now playing with the confidence expected of a club of their stature. Is Carrick truly the key to unlocking United’s best form, or is this a temporary surge designed to create belief? Perhaps time will tell, as United continue their campaign with a home fixture against Crystal Palace on Sunday, 1 March.
Image credit: Reuters
