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Manchester United set to name interim boss this week, with Michael Carrick emerging ahead of Solskjaer after INEOS talks
Jan 12 2026 10:16 · By onefootball.com · 31 Reads
Manchester United are leaning towards the appointment of Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season.
United are assessing candidates for the caretaker position, following the decision to sack Ruben Amorim last week.
There's an acceptance that the club's preferred permanent candidates will not be easy to attain mid-season. Among those under consideration, as the club target Premier League experience, are Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and England manager Thomas Tuchel.
A permanent appointment is now expected to wait until the summer, though a decision is due imminently on the interim period.
Darren Fletcher has overseen the club's last two fixtures, as the Red Devils drew at Burnley in the Premier League in midweek, before their FA Cup exit at home to Brighton on Sunday.
That defeat means Manchester United have been eliminated from their opening tie in both the FA Cup and League Cup in the same season for the first time in 44 years.
A more experienced coach is being lined up for the run-in, with Carrick understood to be ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the running.
Carrick has held positive talks with Manchester United owners INEOS about a return to the club. The 44-year-old spent over a decade with the club as a player and had various roles on the coaching staff between 2018 and 2021. His experience includes a previous spell as caretaker manager.
After leaving Manchester United , Carrick took charge at Middlesbrough and spent three seasons in the North East. He departed that role in June after a disappointing 10th-place finish in the Championship last season.
According to Fabrizio Romano , Manchester United are expected to announce an interim coach this week.
Solskjaer has also made his interest in the role clear. The Norwegian was previously the club's head coach between December 2018 and October 2021. He has been out of work since being sacked at Turkish Süper Lig side Besiktas earlier this season.