Eleven men have taken the Manchester United hotseat since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. The club has explored every possible angle in a bid to recreate its successes of yesteryear – from welcoming Ferguson’s fellow countryman David Moyes to acquiring the pomp and personality of Jose Mourinho, no avenue has truly borne fruit.
And, when the club ventured to attract young head coach Ruben Amorim, who garnered significant acclaim at the helm of Sporting Club de Portugal for his side’s ingenuity, it quickly became clear that innovation would not be the directive needed for glory.
Rather, some 13 years removed from United’s last Premier League title, the club has decided to move in a familiar direction. Through former midfielder Michael Carrick, United will lean on the sensibilities injected into the team by Sir Alex for more than two decades.
A similar plot emerged when ex-striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought fast-paced counter-attacking football to the club. Though beloved by the Red Devils faithful, Solskjaer’s domestic inexperience and over-reliance on the feel-good factor of having a known entity at the wheel rapidly culminated in his eventual dugout exit.
Carrick carries a unique perspective. After retiring in 2018 following 12 years as a player, the 44-year-old represents the youngest of Ferguson’s old guard.
It’s Carrick, you know ❤️
🇾🇪 We are delighted to announce Michael Carrick will continue as our head coach, having signed a new contract.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 22, 2026
He has previously led the team on an interim basis and overseen three successful seasons as Middlesbrough manager. Despite failing to secure promotion to the Premier League at the Riverside and an eventual forced exodus, his stock remained high.
Is Carrick the Final Ingredient for Silverware?
Manchester United lost just two of 17 games between January and May 2026, beating local rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and eventual league…
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