Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have emerged as the leading candidates to serve as Manchester United’s caretaker manager until the season concludes. Both former players have prior managerial experience with the club and are scheduled for discussions with the club’s leadership regarding the position.
There is potential for both men to collaborate, as Carrick played a crucial role in Solskjaer’s coaching staff when he took over after Jose Mourinho’s departure in 2018. Meanwhile, Darren Fletcher, who currently leads United’s Under-18s team and has also been considered for the caretaker role, will continue as interim manager until a definitive appointment is made. Fletcher is set to oversee his first match on Wednesday, where United will face Burnley in the Premier League.
In addition to Carrick and Solskjaer, former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is also believed to be in the running for the job. The search for a permanent replacement for sacked manager Amorim is planned for the summer, following a tumultuous 14-month tenure.
A player within the squad suggested to BBC Sport that it’s possible the caretaker role could be split among several candidates, or that Fletcher might continue on in the role for the remainder of the season, contingent on the outcomes of the upcoming matches.
Solskjaer’s initial appointment as caretaker manager in 2018 came after Mourinho’s exit and led to Solskjaer securing the full-time position for three years before he was dismissed in November 2021. Following Solskjaer’s dismissal, Carrick briefly took over as temporary manager before exiting the club in December of the same year.
Carrick has been without a managerial role since his departure from Championship club Middlesbrough last June, while Solskjaer’s most recent position was with Turkish club Besiktas, from which he was released in August.
With the managerial landscape shifting at Old Trafford, names such as Oliver Glasner, the current manager of Crystal Palace, and Roberto de Zerbi, formerly of Brighton and now at Marseille, are already being discussed as early contenders for the permanent position. Glasner, who led Crystal Palace to an FA Cup victory last season, was noncommittal regarding links to United during his recent press conference, stating, “I am Crystal Palace manager, and it makes no sense for you to ask me any more questions about it.”
As Manchester United navigates this pivotal moment, the club’s fan base remains hopeful that a steady hand will guide the team through the rest of the season.