It’s now official that former Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick is the leading candidate to become the club’s new interim manager. So, what kind of team and football style can fans expect?
From his appointment, it is clear United are trying to reconnect with their supporters. The club appears focused on bringing back figures linked to the successful years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Darren Fletcher was moved up from the youth setup and given a short spell in charge. He had two games to show what he could do. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was first seen as the favourite to take over, but United now look ready to turn to another familiar face in Carrick.
Carrick made 464 appearances for United between 2006 and 2018 and won 18 trophies. He knows the club well. The idea of restoring “United DNA”, which often means attacking football and control of matches, fits with Carrick’s history at Old Trafford.
However, bringing back a former player is not enough on its own. Fletcher’s short time in charge, which included a draw against Burnley and an FA Cup defeat to Brighton, showed that knowing the club does not automatically fix problems. United need more than a feel good story.
So what would Carrick actually bring?
The most obvious change would be a return to a back four. At Middlesbrough, where he coached for almost three seasons, Carrick mainly used a 4 2 3 1 system. Out of more than 120 league games, that was his starting shape in the large majority. He rarely changed formation during matches and preferred to make straight swaps instead of tactical changes.
This approach brought both praise and criticism. Some liked the clear structure. Others felt he was too rigid.
Carrick’s Middlesbrough sides were known for keeping the ball and playing on the front foot. They ranked highly in the Championship for goals, shots, expected goals, passes and touches in the opposition box. They also averaged strong possession numbers. The aim was to control games and wear teams down.
The football was attractive and confident. For United supporters who have watched disjointed performances, that alone would be a big change.
But there were also shortcomings. Despite strong statistics, Carrick never managed to take Middlesbrough back to the Premier League. His teams were often among the better sides, but not good enough to finish the job.
His strongest impact came in his first season. He took over when Middlesbrough were near the bottom of the table and quickly turned things around. He won 13 of his first 17 games and pushed the club into the promotion race. Over that period, Boro scored more goals than any other Championship side and created the highest expected goals.
That spell showed he can lift confidence quickly and change the direction of a struggling team. That is something United badly need.
Carrick’s football was not only slow passing. His best Middlesbrough team also attacked quickly when space opened up. They were among the league’s best for goals from fast breaks, showing they could mix patience with speed.
Over time, results dipped. Teams began to sit deep against Boro, and they found it harder to break opponents down. Possession stayed high, but chances became fewer. Important players were sold, injuries mounted, and goals dried up. Carrick continued to stick to his style, even when it was no longer working as well.
This lack of flexibility eventually worked against him. Middlesbrough became predictable, and promotion moved further away.
That background matters for United. After recently watching a manager criticised for stubbornness, fans will want someone who can adjust when needed.
As Carrick takes over, he may need to show more flexibility than he did before. He is still early in his coaching career, and there is room for growth.
In the short term, his calm personality, possession based ideas and ability to boost confidence could help steady United. His early Middlesbrough impact suggests he can make a quick difference.
Whether he becomes more than a temporary solution would depend on how well he adapts to the demands of the job.
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