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Darren Fletcher turns down first-team Manchester United role under Michael Carrick
Jan 13 2026 11:16 · By Tyrone Marshall · 33 Reads
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Michael Carrick will take charge at Manchester United with former England No.2 Steve Holland joining as his assistant. The pair will take training for the first time on Wednesday.
Carrick's appointment as interim head coach will be confirmed later on Tuesday. Holland, 55, Gareth Southgate's key lieutenant during his time as England boss returns to the Premier League for the first time since a lengthy stint at Chelsea . His most recent role saw him dismissed as manager of Japanese outfit Yokohama F Marinos in April.
Jonny Evans, Jonathan Woodgate and Travis Binnion will also be part of Carrick's backroom staff. Former Leeds United , Newcastle and England defender Woodgate was Carrick's No.2 at Middlesbrough, while Evans and Binnion have been assisting Darren Fletcher for the games against Burnley and Brighton last week. Evans was appointed as a first-team coach before the trip to Turf Moor, while Binnion was promoted from his role in the academy and he will stay with the first-team set-up for the rest of the season.
However Fletcher, who oversaw a draw at Burnley and defeat at Brighton during his two games in charge, will return to the Under-18s.
Fletcher, 41, was aware his interim spell was only going to be two games and he was never a serious candidate for the role until the end of the season, as United were seeking experience for the rest of the campaign.
The Scot was offered the chance to stay on the first-team staff under Carrick, but he has opted to return to his role as head coach of the Under-18s for the rest of the season.
Carrick emerged as a frontrunner for the job after impressing chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox in face-to-face talks last Thursday. His first game in charge will be the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Saturday.
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