Manchester United will choose Michael Carrick as his new head coach: he will sign in the next 48 hours

Manchester United is once again at a historic crossroads as the club prepares to welcome a new leader to the dugout following the abrupt departure of Ruben Amorim earlier this month. The chosen candidate to stabilize the ship is a familiar face and a club legend: Michael Carrick. The 44-year-old strategist is set to take over as interim manager until the end of the current season, with an official announcement expected in the coming hours. While Darren Fletcher has been holding the reins as a caretaker, the United board is keen to finalize Carrick’s arrival to ensure the team has a clear tactical direction for the remainder of the Premier League campaign.

According to the world-renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Carrick was spotted at Carrington—United’s training base—this Tuesday, finalizing the details of his contract. This return marks a sentimental and strategic homecoming for a man who served the "Red Devils" as a player from 2006 to 2018. While the current agreement is focused on an interim basis, sources within the club suggest that if Carrick can ignite a significant turnaround in the team's performance, the possibility of a permanent multi-year contract for the 2026-27 season is very much on the table.

This will not be Carrick’s first time stepping into the fire at Old Trafford. Following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer years ago, Carrick served a brief but impressive one-month stint as interim manager, remaining undefeated during his tenure. However, it was his subsequent move to Middlesbrough that truly established his reputation as one of England’s brightest managerial minds.

When Carrick took over "Boro," the club was flirting with relegation to the third tier. In a stunning transformation, he implemented a fluid, possession-based style that propelled the team into the promotion play-offs. This "Middlesbrough Miracle" proved that Carrick possesses the tactical maturity and the leadership qualities necessary to manage high-pressure environments. Now, he returns to Manchester not just as a former player, but as a proven coach capable of demanding excellence from a squad that has recently lacked a clear identity.

Carrick’s prestige at Old Trafford is beyond reproach. During his twelve-year playing career with the "Red Devils," he won five Premier League titles and the 2008 UEFA Champions League, becoming a symbol of the club's golden era. His deep understanding of the club’s internal culture and his immense respect within the dressing room were decisive factors in the board’s decision. United’s hierarchy believes that Carrick can bridge the gap between the fans and the players, restoring the "United Way" of attacking football that seemed to vanish during the final weeks of Amorim’s tenure.

Tactically, the transition from Amorim’s rigid three-at-the-back system to a more flexible approach under Carrick is expected to benefit creative players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. Carrick’s philosophy often emphasizes central control and quick vertical transitions—elements that are sorely needed in a team that has struggled for consistency throughout the first half of the season.

On the sporting front, Manchester United currently sits in seventh place in the Premier League table. Despite the internal chaos, they remain just three points away from fourth place, meaning that a Champions League spot is still within reach. However, the overall campaign has been marred by inconsistency and heart-wrenching eliminations from both domestic cups.

The tipping point was a devastating FA Cup defeat against Brighton, a result that accelerated the board’s decision to move on from Amorim. The loss exposed a lack of spirit and tactical cohesion that Darren Fletcher has been working hard to repair. Fletcher’s message to the squad has been clear: "Dig deep." He has challenged the players to recover the trust of an increasingly frustrated fan base, setting the stage for Carrick to take over a team that is wounded but still alive in the race for Europe.

The schedule offers no honeymoon period for the returning hero. This coming Saturday, Manchester United will face Manchester City in a high-voltage derby that could dictate the momentum for the rest of the season. The match serves as a "final exam" for the current squad and a daunting debut for Carrick.

Winning the derby wouldn't just mean three points; it would be a statement of intent that the Michael Carrick era is ready to return Manchester United to its rightful place among the elite. As the lights go up at Old Trafford, the "Red Devils" will be looking to their old midfield general to lead them out of the shadows and back into the spotlight.