Cristiano Ronaldo once said that Michael Carrick could become a great coach. He said this after playing under Carrick during his short time as Manchester United caretaker manager in 2021. Carrick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjær for three matches, and Ronaldo scored three goals in those games. After Carrick’s last match in charge, Ronaldo wrote on social media that Carrick was a top player and could also be a great coach, adding that nothing was impossible for him.
Ronaldo and Carrick had a long history together at Manchester United. They played together for three years and won three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. They were reunited again when Carrick took charge as caretaker. Carrick watched Ronaldo score in a 2–0 win over Villarreal, then left him on the bench against Chelsea, and later saw him score twice in a 3–2 win over Arsenal. That Arsenal game was Carrick’s final match as caretaker.
After leaving Manchester United, Carrick became manager of Middlesbrough in October 2022. At that time, the club was just one point above the relegation zone. He changed the system and guided them into the top four in his first season. Middlesbrough were later knocked out in the playoff semi-finals by Coventry City. Early signs suggested progress, but results became inconsistent later.
In the 2023–24 season, Middlesbrough started with a seven-game winless run. After that, they won six league matches in a row, something the club had done only once in the previous 30 years. Even with strong runs and a good finish, they never went higher than eighth place and finished the season there. They also reached the Carabao Cup semi-finals, helped by Morgan Rogers, who was later sold to Aston Villa.
Carrick’s time at Middlesbrough lasted from October 25, 2022, to June 4, 2025. He managed 136 games, winning 63, drawing 24, and losing 49. His team scored 220 goals and conceded 177. Despite early promise, his overall record did not fully match Ronaldo’s prediction.
Michael Carrick appointed Manchester United manager until the end of the 2025–26 season
Michael Carrick has been appointed as Manchester United manager for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. The club confirmed the decision on Tuesday after Ruben Amorim left his role in the first week of January. Carrick will take charge immediately, and his first match will be the derby against Manchester City on Saturday.
Carrick will manage the team for 17 matches until the end of the season. A decision on a permanent manager will be taken later in the summer. He was considered for the role along with Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who previously managed United from 2018 to 2021. Carrick said it is an honor to lead the club, and he added that his focus is on helping the players reach the standards expected at Manchester United.
He said he knows what it takes to succeed at the club and believes the squad has the quality and dedication to perform well. Carrick also said there is still a lot to play for this season and that the team wants to give fans strong performances in return for their support.
Carrick will be supported by a coaching staff of his choice. His team includes Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion, Jonny Evans, and Craig Mawson. He has worked with several players before and has continued to closely follow the team in recent years.
Carrick spent most of his playing career at Manchester United from 2006 to 2018 and made 316 appearances for the club. He had already served as caretaker manager in 2021 after Solskjær left, overseeing three matches with two wins and one draw. He later became Middlesbrough manager in 2022 and stayed until June 2025. During that period, he managed 136 matches with a win rate of 46.32 percent. He was sacked after Middlesbrough finished 10th in the Championship last season.
FAQs
Q. What has happened to Michael Carrick?
A. Michael Carrick has reached a verbal agreement with Manchester United to become interim head coach until the end of the season.
Q. How good is Michael Carrick as a manager?
A. As Man United caretaker in 2021, he had a 66.7% win rate. At Middlesbrough from October 2022 to June 2025, his win rate was 46.3%.
Q. Why did Cristiano Ronaldo leave Real Madrid?
A. Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid because he wanted a new challenge and later said he felt a lack of support from club president Florentino Pérez.
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