Sports
A no-fuss, loyal, safe option: How Man United chose Carrick as head coach
It was a breakfast meeting involving Sir Alex Ferguson, Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, two days after the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, that set the course for former Man United star Michael Carrick to return to Manchester United as their new head coach, which was confirmed on Tuesday night. The task ahead of him? Steering the team to stability, and some kind of success, between now and the end of the season.
United director of football Wilcox and CEO Berrada called time on Amorim’s 14-month reign in charge of the team — his 38.1% win rate was, by some distance, the worst of any United manager during the Premier League era — on Jan. 5, a day after drawing 1-1 at Leeds United. Having installed Under-18 coach and former Darren Fletcher as interim coach for a two-game period, the two men needed to identify a more experienced candidate to take charge until the summer, ultimately settling on Carrick, who won every major honour, including five Premier Leagues and a Champions League title, during a 12-year, 464-game playing career at United.
Carrick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy, all of whom had previously enjoyed brief spells as United’s interim coach, were shortlisted to return by Wilcox and Berrada, but despite minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe ending Ferguson’s £2 million-a-year ambassador role at Old Trafford in Oct 2024, the club’s most successful-ever manager was invited into the training ground to give his verdict on the manager search.
– Dawson: The inside story of why Man United fired Amorim
– Ogden: Man United must go big with next permanent head coach
– O’Hanlon: Predicting the second half of the Premier League season
“Omar and Jason spoke to Sir Alex,” a source with knowledge of the meeting told ESPN. “They met over breakfast to discuss three guys who had all played under him in the past. Some might criticise that, so you can’t win, but Sir Alex knows Michael, Ole and Ruud better than anyone, so Omar and Jason canvassed his opinion.”
While United sources have declined to say whether Ferguson directly anointed Carrick as his favoured choice — the last time he had such direct input, with “the Chosen One,” David Moyes, it ended in ignominy after just 10 months and 51 games — a source outside the club has told ESPN that the 84-year-old was wholly positive about his former midfielder and fully supports his appointment.
Club sources told ESPN that Wilcox made first contact with Carrick, Solskjaer and Van Nistelrooy last Tuesday, 24 hours after terminating Amorim’s contract, and that all three men were spoken to at length about their plans to resurrect the team’s season. Carrick and Solskjaer met Wilcox and Berrada in face-to-face meetings while Van Nistelrooy held discussions via video meeting; one source familiar with the process telling ESPN that was because the former Netherlands forward already had a pre-existing relationship with Wilcox and Berrada, having initially worked as a coach under Erik ten Hag before taking charge of the team for four games following Ten Hag’s dismissal in Oct 2024.
Despite having half a season to play and with United still aiming for European qualification through a top-four finish in the Premier League, Wilcox and Berrada opted for an interim appointment until the end of the season in order to allow time to recruit a permanent coach in the summer.
‘Someone who knew and understood the club’
The decision to turn to a former United player and coach was rooted in wanting to, according to a source, “bring in someone who knew and understood the club to reduce the risk of a period of adaptation.” Sources connected to the search told ESPN that all three candidates impressed Berrada and Wilcox, but Carrick ultimately emerged as the unanimous choice.
“They all presented very well, all good guys, but Michael stood out,” a United source said. “He is a smart young coach, he isn’t overawed by the club and it was felt that he has the right leadership, authority and adaptability to do the job.”
Carrick’s more hands-on approach to coaching also played in his favour: the 41-year-old shared coaching duties with Kieran McKenna, now Ipswich manager, during his time as Solskjaer’s assistant at United from 2018-2021. During that span, Carrick’s personality and presence also made him a popular and respected figure among the playing squad. But sources have said it was a close-run contest between Carrick and Solskjaer in particular, with the Norwegian being given the demoralising news on Tuesday that he had missed out on a return to the club having managed the team for three seasons, following Jose Mourinho’s departure in December, 2018.
“Ole took the news like a gentleman,” a United source told ESPN. “Jason spoke to both Ole and Ruud on Tuesday morning. All three guys on the list are great guys, but in the end, the club just preferred Michael.”
Carrick, who has spent time on the golf course and working as a TV analyst since leaving his post as manager of EFL Championship side Middlesbrough at the end of the 2024-25 season, will take charge of training for the first time on at Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s Manchester derby against Manchester City at Old Trafford. The former England midfielder will be assisted by coaches Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion, as well as Steve Holland, who worked as Gareth Southgate’s number two with England between 2016 and 2024.
Holland was hired by United after Carrick and Wilcox discussed the need for a coach with experience of working at the highest level. The 55-year-old is known to be demanding and abrasive — one source said he can be “cold and aloof” — but Southgate regarded Holland as a crucial element of his reign as England manager.
“Gareth was the long-term guy, somebody who the players could identify with, but Steve was the tougher figure,” a source close to Southgate told ESPN. “Steve spent a long time at Chelsea, working with Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte, and he has a hard edge because of that. He made Gareth realise that you have to win today as well as plan for tomorrow.”
While neither Carrick nor Wilcox have worked with Holland previously, a United source said that the club’s England players were “delighted” when told of his addition to the coaching staff. But while United have overhauled their coaching team, the responsibility for results will fall on Carrick’s shoulders.
Despite an outward appearance for being quiet and under-stated, Carrick has a tough streak and he has shown it in the past at United. During his three-game stint as interim coach following Solskjaer’s dismissal in 2021, Carrick was bold enough to drop both Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo from the team.
Fernandes was dropped for a Champions League game against Villarreal in his first game in charge – a 2-0 win – and Ronaldo was demoted to the substitutes’ bench for a 1-1 draw at Chelsea. Carrick’s third game was a 3-2 Old Trafford win against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and although incoming interim manager Ralf Rangnick wanted him to remain on the staff, Carrick rejected the offer, a source familiar with these conversations told ESPN, out of loyalty to Solskjaer.
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There is little fuss with Carrick. When he signed for United as a player from Tottenham in the summer of 2006, six months after legendary captain Roy Keane’s acrimonious departure, he readily accepted the challenge of taking Keane’s number 16 shirt when other players might shy away from the pressure. And during Louis van Gaal’s two-year reign as manager between 2014-16, Carrick and Wayne Rooney met with the former Ajax and Barcelona coach to relay squad concerns about his over-bearing style of management and repetitive training methods.
“The players had had enough of Van Gaal’s tactics, so Michael and Wayne told him to ease off and give them more freedom,” a source with knowledge of that meeting said. “Van Gaal listened and respected them for fronting him up, but while he relented briefly, it didn’t last long.”
But by dropping Fernandes and Ronaldo and then confronting Van Gaal, Carrick displayed his steely side and it was one that he will need to show if he is to revive United and guide the team to Champions League qualification.
If he succeeds, supporters and pundits may clamour for Carrick to be given the job on a permanent basis, but no promises have been made. However, the task in front of him is daunting. United have won just one of their last seven games in all competitions and his first two fixtures are City at home and Arsenal away.
For somebody who once confessed to being a car obsessive, admitting that he would swap his football career for that of a Formula One driver, Carrick might believe he has been given the keys to a Ferrari after taking the United job.
Right now, the tires are flat and the wrong oil is in the engine, but Carrick is in the drivers’ seat now, and he has four months to get everything in working order and finally heading in the right direction.
MLS and the Saudi Pro League are both “possible options” for Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah this summer, while Manchester United are eyeing Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades
TRENDING RUMORS
– A summer departure for Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is appearing “increasingly likely,” according to BBC Sport. The Egypt international signed a new two-year deal last year, but in December hinted that he could leave Liverpool midseason and suggested the club has “thrown him under the bus” as he was repeatedly dropped from the starting XI. Salah remained at Liverpool once the January transfer deadline had passed, and he has started every game since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite that, an exit could be on the cards this summer, with the BBC reporting that the Saudi Pro League and MLS are “possible options” for the 33-year-old. Salah has scored two goals in nine club appearances in 2026.
– Manchester United are showing keen interest in Nottingham Forest defender Murillo, according to TEAMtalk. The Red Devils have reportedly scouted the Brazilian “extensively,” making him an option for the summer. A transfer fee upwards of £60m has been quoted following some impressive performances for Forest. He is the third player from the City Ground that United have been linked with, in addition to England midfielders Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.
– Real Madrid are set to join Liverpool in the battle to sign Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, Mundo Deportivo reports. Los Blancos reportedly have the Germany centre-back down as a top target for the summer, when he enters his final year under contract with Dortmund. Liverpool have been linked with Schlotterbeck, with Ibrahima Konaté approaching the final few months of his contract at Anfield, while Virgil van Dijk‘s deal is due to expire at the end of next season. The Reds have already agreed a deal to sign Jérémy Jacquet from Stade Rennais to help strengthen the defensive department in the summer, but it’s unclear whether Schlotterbeck will join him at this stage.
– Atlético Madrid, Juventus and Newcastle United are all showing interest in signing Darwin Núñez this summer, according to Football Insider. The former Liverpool striker has been left out of Al Hilal‘s Saudi Pro League squad after they registered the signing of Karim Benzema, leading to talk of a possible exit. Atlético are reportedly the most likely to seal a deal out of the clubs named, with Núñez required to take a pay cut if he is to leave Al Hilal.
– AC Milan have added Chelsea loanee Nicolas Jackson to the top of their transfer wish list of strikers for the summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Senegal international is unlikely to remain at Bayern Munich, where he has received just 641 minutes of football so far in his loan spell this season, and will be available on another loan deal with a permanent option included. Milan have made him a target, while they have also shown interest in Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy.
EXPERT TAKE
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OTHER RUMORS
– Liverpool view Real Madrid star Rodrygo as an option to replace Mohamed Salah in the summer, with the Brazil international facing an uncertain future. Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are among those also linked (Ekrem Konur)
– Manchester City believe that they are leading the race to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest this summer, ahead of their city rivals Manchester United (TEAMtalk)
– Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are interested in Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown. (Ekrem Konur)
– Manchester United are concerned about losing Harry Maguire as a free agent in the summer, when his contract expires, at the same time as losing another experienced player in Casemiro. (Daily Mail)
– Juventus are eyeing a possible reunion with Randal Kolo Muani if Tottenham Hotspur do not make his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain permanent. (Tuttosport)
– Sunderland and West Ham United are keen on AC Milan and Mexico striker Santiago Giménez as his future appears uncertain at the Italian club. (AS)
– Manchester City are interested in Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso, having previously missed out on landing the defender. (Football Insider)
– A Newcastle scout was in attendance to watch Parma vs. Cagliari in Serie A, keeping tabs on 20-year-old defender Marco Palestra, who is on loan at Cagliari from Atalanta. (Nicolo Schira)
– Jesse Lingard‘s move to Corinthians edges closer to completion, with he two parties agreeing on a one-year deal with an option of another year, subject to a medical (Fabrizio Romano)
KANDY: Pakistan’s shortcomings were laid bare during their lacklustre T20 World Cup campaign which ended Saturday when the team failed to reach the semi-finals.
From the captain Salman Agha, who was criticised for not being a T20 player, to slow batting rates and the use of all-rounders not up to the job, Pakistan were shown to be behind the times in the rapid-fire format.
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes there is a huge gulf in standard between Pakistan and the top sides such as India, West Indies, South Africa and England.
“Other teams have evolved to the demands of Twenty20 cricket, but neither our team nor our players meet those standards,” Akmal told AFP.
“It is like other teams are playing on the moon and we are on earth. We only beat smaller teams but lose to top teams.”
Pakistan had high hopes for the T20 World Cup after sweeping Australia 3-0 in a pre-tournament series.
They boasted a quintet of spinners that should have been suited to the turning pitches in Sri Lanka where they played all their matches.
But they received a rude awakening in their first match against the Netherlands when only they squeezed home by three wickets in the final over thanks to Faheem Ashraf’s 11-ball 29.
‘Failed to handle pressure’
Like most of his predecessors at World Cups, Agha blundered in the pressure-cooker match against India, which only went ahead after the Pakistan government U-turned on a boycott just days before the encounter.
Agha won the toss and asked India to bat. The decision backfired badly as Pakistan conceded 175 and were hammered by 61 runs.
Agha inexplicably held back his mystery spinner and chief weapon Usman Tariq to the 11th over, by which time opener Ishan Kishan had scored his match-shaping 77 and India were well on their way to a winning total.
“How on earth did you bowl at a venue which was suited to batting first,” questioned former Pakistan player Basit Ali.
“After India scored 175 our batters failed to handle the pressure of a chase.”
Agha also held back Tariq’s second over against England, after he took a wicket in his first, allowing captain Harry Brook to build a sparkling match-winning century.
“It was weak captaincy from Agha,” said Akmal, who also took aim at the head coach Mike Hesson and the selectors.
“We were also not helped by head coach Mike Hesson, who has an obsession for bit-and-pieces all-rounders who were neither complete bowlers, nor good batters.”
Pakistan’s insistence in sticking with the out-of-sorts Babar Azam did nothing to help their shaky batting.
The star batsman’s slow scoring at number four interrupted the side’s rhythm.
He was dropped for the final match against Sri Lanka on Saturday where Pakistan finally posted a total in excess of 200, but it proved too little too late as New Zealand progressed on net run rate.
“We are all fans of Azam but he disappointed us by not adapting to the demands of T20 cricket,” said one Pakistan fan, Saud Baloch, who resigned from his job in the United Arab Emirates to go to the World Cup.
“The whole Pakistan fandom is not only disappointed but angry.
“But we know nothing will change and we will continue to mourn such defeats in future.”
Randy Orton and Rhea Ripley were the last ones standing in the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches to earn the right to challenge for WWE titles at WrestleMania 42 in April.
Orton beat Cody Rhodes, Logan Paul, Trick Williams, Je’Von Evans and LA Knight, with some helpful interferences by WWE Undisputed champion Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins, who returned from injury. In the women’s Elimination Chamber match, Ripley was victorious over Tiffany Stratton, Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Raquel Rodriguez and Kiana James. Ripley will now compete in her seventh consecutive WrestleMania. With the win, Orton will challenge the winner of Friday’s title match between McIntyre and Rhodes on “SmackDown,” while Ripley will go toe-to-toe with WWE women’s champion Jade Cargill.
Also on the card, CM Punk beat Finn Bálor — again — to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. And Punk’s wife, AJ Lee, will also leave Chicago’s United Center with a title in hand after submitting Becky Lynch in a match for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
Here are the biggest takeaways from WWE Elimination Chamber in Chicago.
Ripley’s win was deserving, but not surprising
0:54
Rhea Ripley books her ticket to WrestleMania by winning chamber match
Rhea Ripley wins the 2026 women’s Elimination Chamber match to earn a title match against Jade Cargill at WrestleMania.
A predictable Rhea Ripley win isn’t the worst outcome, but it didn’t help the match.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Ripley won the women’s Elimination Chamber. Seriously, was there any other choice? The outcome was made even more obvious when Ripley dropped the women’s tag titles on “SmackDown” the night before.
While predictable, this was the only way to go for Ripley. She’s arguably the biggest star on the entire roster, and not having her challenge for a world title at WrestleMania wouldn’t feel right. Still, it would have been nice if the WWE found a way to cast doubt on the outcome by building one of the other women as a viable option to win.
The end justified the means. Hopefully, WWE will make the outcome less obvious at next year’s Elimination Chamber. Chamber matches should provide an element of drama for fans rather than clearing a hurdle to the obvious.
Welcome back to the top of the hill, AJ Lee
1:08
AJ Lee wins first title in WWE in 11 years
AJ Lee forces Becky Lynch to tap out to the “Black Widow” to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.
Lee is now a champion, but can she help carry the women’s division?
Lee won her first singles match since ending her decade-long retirement last year. While it has been great to see Lee back in a WWE ring, taking part in a women’s division she helped push to new heights, she is now tasked with carrying a title that was held by an incredible in-ring performer in Lynch. The new car scent of Lee’s return from retirement is officially gone, and she’ll be judged by her work moving forward.
Lee’s match with Lynch was solid, but it was clear that she was knocking off some rust throughout the match. For her part, Lynch has been great in putting Lee over, and her ring generalship has been exceptional. But Lee will now be without Lynch heading into WrestleMania season. It will be interesting to see how WWE handles her next feud. She’s now 3-0 against Lynch in a mixed tag match, Survivor Series: WarGames and now singles competition. We’ll see who Lee faces in her first title defense and if she works with some of the younger talent on the roster.
Is Finn Bálor’s villain run coming to an end?
0:35
CM Punk retains title, cements match against Roman Reigns at Mania
CM Punk defeats Finn Balor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship, cementing his matchup against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.
The Punk vs. Bálor match served two purposes. The obvious one was to get Punk a homecoming match in Chicago before he defends his championship against Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 42. Punk winning wasn’t a surprise, but it was great to see his nod to the Michael Jordan era Chicago Bulls starting lineup ceremony, complete with The Alan Parsons Project’s “Sirius” and announcer Ray Clay.
The match itself was a solid affair as Punk and Bálor battled to a stalemate until Punk hit his second GTS of the night to get the win and celebrate in the ring with his wife, AJ Lee, afterward.
The second purpose may have been to turn Bálor into a babyface and pull him out of Judgment Day. Bálor has been teasing a split from the group over the past few weeks and demanded that he win or lose his match with Punk completely on his own, without help from Dominik Mysterio or JD McDonagh. Bálor lost on his own, and in a move unfitting of a heel, he shook Punk’s hand afterward. This will almost certainly set up his split from the group and we could be heading to a new era of Finn Bálor in WWE.
The Randy Orton-Cody Rhodes saga may not be over
0:44
Randy Orton wins the chamber, sets up match vs. Drew McIntyre at Mania
Randy Orton wins the Elimination Chamber match to seal a match against Drew McIntyre for the WWE championship at WrestleMania.
Orton is heading back to WrestleMania in a stunner.
Rhodes felt like an absolute shoo-in to win the men’s Elimination Chamber match and head back to the main event of WrestleMania against his rival, Drew McIntyre. Instead, McIntyre inserted himself into the match, attacking Rhodes when it was down to him and Randy Orton as the last two competitors. Apprearing to assist Rhodes, Orton hit McIntrye with an RKO. But just when Rhodes thought the coast was clear, following a successful Cross Rhodes on McIntryre, he ate an RKO from Orton. Three seconds later, and Orton is heading to WrestleMania in pursuit of his 15th world championship.
Who he’ll face is still up in the air because “SmackDown” general manager Nick Aldis — who is fed up with McIntyre’s constant interference in matches — announced that McIntyre will defend his Undisputed Championship this Friday against Rhodes.
Rhodes vs. Orton would be a fresh matchup for WrestleMania. It could get really interesting, given their history dating back to their time in the Legacy stable over a decade ago, where Orton served as Rhodes’ mentor. It’s the right move if they decide to have Rhodes beat McIntyre for the Undisputed Championship on Friday. But where would that leave McIntyre for WrestleMania?
Welcome back, Seth Rollins
0:46
Seth Rollins revealed as masked man, helps eliminate Logan Paul in the chamber
Seth Rollins is revealed as the masked man after he helps to eliminate Logan Paul in the Elimination Chamber.
After weeks of teasers, it was finally revealed that the masked man is none other than Seth “Freaking” Rollins.
The former leader of The Vision got his revenge when he curb-stomped Logan Paul, after a little bait and switch with another masked man. Rollins’ interference seemingly cost Paul a win in the Elimination Chamber match. Rollins pulled the mask off to reveal himself, and now we have to figure out where this is going.
Unfortunately, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed have been sidelined by injuries, which certainly disrupted whatever the original plan was. Rollins and Paul faced off at WrestleMania 39, which Rollins won. A retread of that match three years later doesn’t seem like the way to go, but WWE doesn’t have many options for Rollins at this point.
Hopefully, this is the end of the overran masked men angles.
Danhausen is the newest WWE superstar
0:43
Danhausen makes WWE debut coming out of mystery crate
The mystery crate is revealed to be the debut of Danhausen at Elimination Chamber.
Danhausen was revealed to be in the box that has been part of “Raw” and “SmackDown” storylines in recent weeks.
The reveal of the eccentric goth character was met with confusion from fans. On the surface, he doesn’t look very special with his small frame and unusual face paint. But you have to see Danhausen’s antics to comprehend why he became a fan favorite on the independent wrestling scene. His theatrical sense of humor is an acquired taste, and WWE will be tasked with connecting him with their fans. Nothing about Danhausen is straightforward, and everything is tongue-in-cheek. He’s called himself “Conan O’Brien possessed by a demon” in interviews, and that is a pretty accurate description of the wrestler who is known to break out the Pee-wee Herman dance in the middle of a match. You may not understand him now, but Danhausen is in the perfect place to accentuate his character. Give it time, people.
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