Carrick targets set-piece coach Georgson after Ruben Amorim's exit

Michael Carrick is moving to fill a coaching gap that has remained at Manchester United since Ruben Amorim’s exit in January, according to reports published on May 19. Manchester Evening News said Carrick wants to appoint a specialist set-piece coach as part of a wider staffing review at Old Trafford. The Express named Andreas Georgson as a likely candidate for the role. The move comes as United prepare further backroom decisions after agreeing to keep Carrick in charge on a permanent basis, according to multiple British reports. ### Why is Carrick looking at this role now? January is the key date in the timeline. The vacancy dates back to Amorim’s departure, when his assistant Carlos Fernandes also left, leaving Carrick without a dedicated set-piece specialist for the second half of the season, the Express reported. Manchester Evening News said Carrick has been working without that role in place and now wants to address it before the summer transfer window and preseason planning gather pace. (msn.com) May 19 became the latest marker because United are also expected to make other staffing announcements this week after Carrick’s permanent appointment was agreed, according to Manchester Evening News reporting summarized in the briefing and reflected in other coverage. That puts the set-piece hire inside a broader review of Carrick’s support staff rather than as a standalone change. (msn.com) ### Why is Andreas Georgson the name being linked? Andreas Georgson has already worked inside Manchester United’s coaching setup. The Express said Georgson previously held set-piece responsibilities at the club before leaving for Tottenham last summer, making him a familiar option if Carrick wants a quick appointment. The Athletic also reported on May 15 that a return for Georgson was a possibility as part of Carrick’s staff. (nytimes.com) Georgson’s résumé is built around specialist dead-ball work. Southampton said when it hired him in August 2023 that he arrived after previous roles at Malmö FF and Brentford, where he had worked as head of set pieces and individual development. Public profiles and secondary reports also link him to a set-piece role at Arsenal before his later moves. ### What problem is United trying to solve? (express.co.uk) Set pieces are one of the clearest areas where clubs now use dedicated specialists, and United’s reported move fits that trend. The reports do not cite fresh club comments on performance targets, but they do frame the hire as part of Carrick’s effort to restore standards in his permanent setup after taking over midseason. (southamptonfc.com) Carrick’s staffing choices also matter because his wider coaching group appears to be settling. The Athletic reported that Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans were set to remain in Carrick’s staff, with Georgson discussed as a potential addition. That would give United a more complete structure heading into the summer. ### What has been confirmed, and what is still report-driven? (msn.com) Manchester United have not publicly announced a set-piece appointment as of May 19 in the material reviewed. The existence of the vacancy and Georgson’s candidacy are being reported by Manchester Evening News, the Express and The Athletic rather than confirmed by the club. (nytimes.com) This week is the immediate next checkpoint. Manchester Evening News said more United announcements could follow Carrick’s permanent agreement, and any formal addition to the coaching staff would likely come through the club’s usual staffing updates before preseason and the opening of the summer window. (msn.com)