Manchester United named Michael Carrick as head coach until the end of the season on Tuesday.
Carrick previously managed three games as caretaker in 2021 and remained unbeaten. He replaced Darren Fletcher, who stepped in briefly after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal last week.
Carrick’s appointment continues the long cycle of managerial changes at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, the last time United won the Premier League. In the 13 years since Ferguson’s exit, 11 different coaches have taken charge of Manchester United.
David Moyes became Ferguson’s immediate successor in 2013 but lasted less than a year. Ryan Giggs served as interim before Louis Van Gaal arrived in 2014. Van Gaal managed 103 matches and won the FA Cup, but left in 2016. Jose Mourinho followed, delivering the Europa League and League Cup before departing in 2018.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over in late 2018, first as interim and then full-time. He managed 168 matches across nearly three years, recording a points-per-game ratio of 2.01. Carrick himself had a short interim spell in 2021, winning two and drawing one. Ralf Rangnick then managed for six months before Erik ten Hag arrived in 2022. Ten Hag lasted until October 2024, overseeing 128 matches.
Ruud van Nistelrooy briefly served as caretaker before Ruben Amorim was appointed in November 2024. Amorim’s tenure ended in January 2026 after poor results. Fletcher stepped in for a week before Carrick’s current appointment.
Manchester United fans now hope Carrick can bring stability to a club that has struggled to replicate Ferguson’s dominance. The managerial merry-go-round at MUFC highlights the challenge of finding long-term success after Ferguson’s era.
