Manchester United Weighs Options for Caretaker Manager Role

Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have emerged as the leading candidates to assume the role of caretaker manager at Manchester United until the end of the 2025-26 season. Both former players have previously held coaching positions at Old Trafford, with Carrick briefly serving as caretaker following Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021. Face-to-face talks with United’s leadership are expected soon as the club searches for stability after Ruben Amorim’s sacking earlier this week.

Darren Fletcher, United’s current under-18s coach, has been serving as interim manager, overseeing a 2-2 draw against Burnley on Wednesday in the Premier League. He will remain in charge for Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Brighton while the club finalizes caretaker plans.

Former United captain Gary Neville highlighted the club’s reliance on familiar figures from the club’s history. “It is almost like a cycle, like a movie we have all seen before and Groundhog Day… Ole is someone who absolutely loves the club, he knows the job… Michael Carrick, Ruud van Nistelrooy—these are really fantastic people. They love the club intensely and get it, but they will come under a lot of pressure in the next four or five months if results don’t go their way,” Neville told Sky Sports.

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Could Carrick and Solskjaer Work Together?

There is speculation that United could appoint both Carrick and Solskjaer in some shared caretaker arrangement. Carrick was a key member of Solskjaer’s coaching team during the Norwegian’s first tenure as United manager, which began after Jose Mourinho’s departure in 2018. This partnership could provide continuity and tactical insight while easing pressure on either individual.

Other potential candidates include former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, though club insiders have not confirmed if he is actively being considered. United plans to name a permanent successor for Amorim in the summer, leaving this caretaker role as a short-term but highly influential appointment.

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Solskjaer’s Managerial Experience

Of the two frontrunners, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has significantly more managerial experience, having managed 332 more games than Carrick. After retiring from playing, Solskjaer took charge of Molde FK, leading them to consecutive Norwegian league titles in 2011 and 2012. He then moved to Cardiff City in 2014 but was sacked after nine months following relegation from the Premier League.

Solskjaer returned to Molde before being appointed caretaker manager at Manchester United in December 2018. His role was made permanent in March 2019, during which time he led United to a Europa League final and a second-place finish in the 2020-21 Premier League season—the club’s joint-best finish since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.

Solskjaer’s subsequent tenure included a stint at Turkish club Besiktas, starting January 2025, where he managed 29 games before being dismissed in August following Europa and Conference League play-off exits. Despite not winning a trophy since leaving Molde, he maintains a strong career win ratio of 53.1%.

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Michael Carrick’s Coaching Record

Carrick has a more modest managerial resume. Following his playing retirement at Manchester United, he immediately joined Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff in 2018. Carrick remained as first-team coach under Solskjaer, contributing to United’s coaching structure during the Norwegian’s 168-game reign.

After Solskjaer’s dismissal in November 2021, Carrick served as caretaker manager for three matches, winning two and drawing one. His first permanent managerial role came with Middlesbrough, guiding them to a play-off finish in the 2022-23 Championship before losing to Coventry in the semi-finals. Subsequent campaigns fell short of top-six finishes, leading to his dismissal in June 2025. Carrick’s managerial win rate stands at 46.8%.

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Next Steps for Manchester United

United’s recruitment process for the caretaker role paused during the Burnley match but has resumed. One insider suggested that Fletcher could remain in charge if results in the next two games are positive, or that a shared caretaker arrangement with Carrick and Solskjaer is possible.

Other names linked to a permanent appointment include Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace manager, and Roberto de Zerbi, now at Marseille. Both are early contenders for the summer replacement for Amorim.

For now, United’s leadership appears focused on experience, club familiarity, and tactical acumen, with Carrick and Solskjaer representing continuity and knowledge of the Old Trafford environment.