Carrick to Carry Manchester United: Is Ole Gunnar Solskjær a Better Option?

Michael Carrick’s return to Manchester United as interim head coach has reopened a familiar debate about what the club actually needs. Ruben Amorim walked away in early January when United were seventh in the Premier League table, and already drifting from the Champions League. This was definitely not where a club like Manchester United should be.

United chose to look inward by turning to Michael Carrick whose has a lot of ties to the club.

As a player, the former England international spent 12 years at United, made 464 appearances, and won 12 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.

He was intelligent on the pitch, knew how to find himself in the right position and was good at passes which made him the heartbeat of some of United’s most successful sides.

He took those qualities into coaching where he served as a first team coach under José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, and briefly took caretaker charge in November 2021, when he oversaw three unbeaten matches.

And now, Carrick has stepped into his first real job as a manager at the club.

Why Carrick?

The decision to appoint Carrick was after some consideration with Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who was also in talks for the job. The Norwegian, like Carrick, also has a history with Manchester United. He spent 11 years as a player at Old Trafford and is popular for scoring decisive goals, including a stoppage-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final.

As a manager, Solskjær oversaw 168 games, 91 wins, and a second-place Premier League finish in the 2020–21 season. But he didn't win any major trophy.

People still debate his record today. As a caretaker in 2019, he started well with 14 wins in 19 games, including nine straight away victories. But when he took on the job full time, that form faded off.

The Red Devils later suffered huge defeats, including a 6-1 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur and a 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool. Those results exposed him, and those who criticised him said his team couldn't handle pressure.

Stint at Middlesbrough

The caretaker job is different. As a caretaker in 2021, Carrick made big calls, including benching Cristiano Ronaldo against Chelsea. This was a clear message that the team comes first, no matter the name.

The same was the case when he was at Middlesbrough (2022-2025). The 44-year-old lifted the club from struggling in mid-table into pushing for play-off in 2023. Later seasons, though, he was finishing at mid-table. This is how Carrick’s career as a coach has been so far.

With United’s current situation, the pressure is higher. They’re 17 points off league leaders Arsenal, out of all domestic cups, and Carrick’s first game is the Manchester derby.

As interim boss, he must chase short-term results, but he must also not lose sight of long-term squad development. Perhaps Solskjær would have offered a more emotional, attack-minded approach, sources say Carrick was chosen for his understanding of the club, and plans. These are qualities you need to save a struggling side like United.

The club’s decision to hire Carrick, and not Solskjær, makes you to wonder what the plan is. Solskjær gave the team some of the best Premier League finishes since Ferguson, but his side struggled to adapt and were exposed in the big games.

Carrick is still untested over a full season. He could be able to stabilise the team in the short-term. Both know the club, but they have different styles: Solskjær motivates with emotion and attack, Carrick focuses on structure and process. It looks to be seen how United perform under the former England international.