MICHAEL CARRICK has agreed to become Manchester United interim manager until the end of the season.
The ex-Red Devils man will take over from his former team-mate and fellow midfielder Darren Fletcher in the Old Trafford dugout.
Fletcher stepped up from his role as Under-18s boss to lead the team against Burnley and Brighton following Ruben Amorim’s sacking.
He oversaw a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor before United were dumped out of the FA Cup as their former striker Danny Welbeck scored the Seagulls’ winner.
Now Carrick will be at the helm until the summer.
Five-time Premier League winner Carrick, 44, had three matches in caretaker charge of United in late 2021 when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dismissed before Ralf Rangnick came in as interim boss.
Ironically, Carrick pipped Solskjaer to the current role after United spoke to both men.
Carrick then spent three years as Middlesbrough manager, winning just shy of half of his 136 matches.
Boro finished fourth, eighth and tenth under Carrick in the Championship but was sacked at the end of last season.
Carrick will oversee 17 games, starting with the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Saturday – with United out of both the FA Cup and League Cup and failed to qualify for Europe.
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It means their total of 40 matches this season – 38 in the Premier League, one in the FA Cup against Brighton and the shock League Cup exit to Grimsby – is their lowest tally since the 1914-15 campaign.
Carrick has the backing of Cristiano Ronaldo in his temporary role.
The Portuguese legend took to X to publicly endorse his former team-mate.
Ronaldo shared a picture of the pair together after Carrick’s first game as manager in 2021 when his heroics helped seal a win away at Villarreal.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner said: “Michael Carrick was a class act as a player and he can become a great coach as well.
“Nothing is impossible for this guy.
“Personally, I’m proud to have played with him by my side as well as with him as a manager on our bench.”
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MANCHESTER UNITED were dumped out of the FA Cup third round for the first time since 2014 after a miserable 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
It marks the earliest United have exited both cup competitions since 1982 and confirms back-to-back trophyless seasons.
United started well but were caught napping when Brajan Gruda fired home a rebound after just 12 minutes.
Darren Fletcher’s side struggled to respond before Danny Welbeck returned to haunt his former club with a fantastic finish on 64 minutes.
Benjamin Sesko gave United late hope with a back-post header.
But the misery was compounded when debutant Shea Lacey, 18, was SENT OFF moments later.
