Michael Carrick frontrunner at United
- Michael Carrick is not a summer frontrunner at Manchester United; the club appointed him head coach on January 13 through the end of 2025-26. - United beat Brentford 2-1 on April 27, leaving Carrick’s side third on 61 points and two points from sealing Champions League qualification. - Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim after his January exit and has lifted United from sixth to third. (reuters.com )
Michael Carrick is already Manchester United’s head coach, not a candidate waiting for a summer decision. The club appointed him on January 13 through the end of the 2025-26 season. (manutd.com) That means the live question around Carrick is no longer whether he gets the job this week, but whether United extend him beyond this season. Sky Sports reported on April 13 that a permanent decision is expected this summer. (skysports.com) The latest result strengthened his case. United beat Brentford 2-1 at Old Trafford on April 27, with goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko. (manutd.com) That win kept United third in the Premier League on 61 points after 34 matches. They are three points ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa, and 11 clear of sixth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion. (manutd.com) (reuters.com) Because England has a top-five Champions League place this season, United need two more points to make qualification certain. Carrick said after Brentford that the club should still aim to finish “high up the league.” (manutd.com) (reuters.com) Carrick took over in January after Ruben Amorim left the club. Reuters said United were sixth when Carrick stepped in, and Sky Sports said Amorim’s spell lasted 14 months. (reuters.com) (skysports.com) United’s own announcement framed Carrick as a short-term appointment for the run-in, with Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binnion, Jonny Evans and Craig Mawson in his staff. Jason Wilcox said then that Carrick was ready to lead the group “for the remainder of the season.” (manutd.com) Carrick has not publicly pushed for a guarantee. In Sky Sports interviews this month, he said the pressure of managing United feels familiar after years at the club and declined to be drawn on the long-term decision. (skysports.com 1) (skysports.com 2) The next marker is Sunday, May 3, when fourth-placed Liverpool visit Old Trafford. A win there would clinch Champions League football and add another result to the case Carrick is building on the job he already has. (premierleague.com) (manutd.com)
