Manchester United's managerial situation has taken an interesting turn as club legend Roy Keane has voiced his support for Michael Carrick to take over the reins at Old Trafford. This comes after Manchester United sacked their head coach Ruben Amorim in January 2026, and appointed Darren Fletcher as interim head coach, before Carrick took over. Carrick, a former Manchester United player and coach, has seemingly impressed Keane with his initial performance as interim head coach.

Keane's endorsement marks a significant shift in his stance towards Carrick. After previously casting doubts on Carrick's long-term future at the club, Keane now says he hopes United will give Carrick the permanent job. Speaking on the Stick To Football podcast, Keane stated, "I hope they give it [the permanent job] to him. I hope they give it to him in the summer". This represents a U-turn from Keane, who earlier claimed he wouldn't give Carrick the job even if he won all the remaining games of the season.

Carrick's appointment as interim head coach came after a period of instability at the club. The 44-year-old was tasked with guiding the team through the remainder of the season following Amorim's departure. Despite only having limited managerial experience, with his most significant role being in charge of Middlesbrough from October 2022 to June 2025, Carrick has made an immediate impact.

Under Carrick's leadership, Manchester United have shown promising signs, securing key victories against Manchester City and Arsenal. These results have not only boosted the team's morale but have also reignited their chances of securing European qualification. Carrick's tactical approach at Middlesbrough involved a possession-oriented 4-2-3-1 formation, a style that broadly aligns with the setup used during his caretaker period.

Despite his support, Keane remains cautious, suggesting that United could potentially find a "better manager" in the summer. He acknowledged that being a caretaker manager is different from managing United with the long-term goal of winning league titles. Keane's comments reflect the high expectations and pressure that come with managing a club of Manchester United's stature.

Carrick's connection to Manchester United runs deep. Before taking on the interim head coach role, he served as a coach under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Following Solskjær's dismissal in November 2021, Carrick took charge of the team for three games, remaining unbeaten with wins against Villarreal and Arsenal, and a draw against Chelsea.

As of January 2026, Michael Carrick is the current head coach of Manchester United. The club was formed in 1878 and has a rich history, with 25 full-time managers from 1892 to the 2025-26 season. The most successful manager in the club's history is Sir Alex Ferguson.