Why Middlesbrough sacked ex-Man Utd man Michael Carrick as former Tottenham star set to return to Old Trafford
Michael Carrick was sacked by Middlesbrough in the summer but he is poised to return to the dugout as Man Utd interim boss
Manchester United are set to name Michael Carrick as their interim manager until the end of the season ahead of this weekend’s derby with Manchester City.
Darren Fletcher has been in temporary charge at United for the last two games, overseeing a 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley and a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Red Devils have held talks with Carrick and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Norwegian had been considered the favourite but in a twist to talks, Carrick is now leading the way.
An appointment is expected before Wednesday morning, to give Carrick enough time to prepare for the Manchester derby.
Carrick has been out of management since the summer after being sacked by Championship side Middlesbrough. The former West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder spent two-and-a-half years in charge of Boro.
He managed 136 games, winning 63, drawing 24 and losing 49. In his three seasons at the club, the Riverside Stadium club finished fourth, eighth and 10th. They finished four points outside the play-offs last season with Carrick sacked after Boro lost four of their last six games which cost them a top-six spot.
Former Everton and Sunderland player Don Hutchinson believes that chairman and owner Steve Gibson did not actually want to sack Carrick but was almost left with his hands tied because of the run of results.
He said in an interview with Teeside Live when discussing a potential return to Boro for Carrick: "No, I think Michael would be a good fit again. I think his relationship with Steve Gibson, the chairman and owner, is a strong one.
"I don't think Steve Gibson really wanted to sack him, but he sort of had to because of the run of results. I think the two of them are professional enough to make it work again.
"A very steady guy, Michael, I know him really well, still mates with him today. Very steady on and off the pitch.
"Probably, he would have learned a lot from the poor form that he was in that got him the sack, and maybe if he's going in there again, he might do one or two things a little bit differently. So I think that'd be a very good fit."
When announcing Carrick’s departure in the summer, Boro did not go into any details as to why he’d been sacked. A club statement read: “Middlesbrough Football Club has today parted company with head coach Michael Carrick.
“Michael's assistants Jonathan Woodgate and Graeme Carrick have also departed the club.
“We'd like to thank Michael, Jonathan, and Graeme for all their hard work and unwavering commitment. We wish them all the very best for the future. The club will be making no further comment at this stage.”
Middlesbrough has been Carrick’s only permanent job in senior management. He did have a three-game spell in charge at United after Solskjaer was sacked in November 2021, winning two games and drawing the other.