EXCLUSIVE: Middlesbrough reporter Craig Johns provides an insight into Michael Carrick's tenure at the club and what Manchester United fans could expect with his arrival
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is the favourite to take the caretaker reins at Old Trafford(Image: Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Manchester United are preparing to enter yet another new era as the club searches for a permanent replacement for Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese gaffer was given the boot after just 14 months at the helm and Darren Fletcher has been given the interim manager responsibilities for the time being.
Michael Carrick is currently the favourite to take the caretaker role at United, with club chiefs hoping to have a new boss in place when players return to training on Wednesday. What can United fans expect from their former star midfielder should he be the man to get the nod?
His most recent managerial job with Middlesbrough will give fans a decent idea of what's to come from the Englishman, should he be appointed. Carrick was sacked by Middlesbrough in June 2025 after two-and-a-half years in charge.
The ex-England international had guided the club to the Championship play-offs in 2022/2023 but ultimately, his time was up. Teesside Live reporter Craig Johns is someone who can provide an accurate summary of Carrick's time at Riverside Stadium.
Speaking to the MEN, Johns revealed what it was like when Carrick came on board at TS3. "Boro had a decent squad for the division but sat 21st after a poor start to the campaign under a disillusioned Chris Wilder," explained Johns. "The players were very short on confidence at that time. With that in mind, hiring Carrick felt like a risk.
"There was respect and appreciation for who he is and the playing career he enjoyed. But there was, it’s fair to say, concern that it was a big risk to hire a young coach for his first job when the club were in that position.
"Nevertheless, Boro fans, like most, will get behind anyone once they’re in post. Away at Wigan, as it became clear he would be getting the job, they were already singing his name."
So the early concerns aside, how did Carrick's side actually play football? Amorim stubbornly stuck to his 3-4-3 at Old Trafford, a bold system in modern day football, but Fletcher has reverted back to a flat back four. What could we see from Carrick, should he take on the role?
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick could be in the hot seat at Old Trafford(Image: Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
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"Carrick played a possession-based style of football," continued Johns. "Which focused on playing out from the back and progressing through the pitch. Generally, it was a 4-2-3-1 formation with the number ten being a link player and the left-sided forward given freedom to roam and float inside, which created space down the left flank for the left-back to get forward. In turn, on the right, the right-sided defender would typically sit and create a back three to guard against transitions.
"When the quality was there, they were playing with confidence and there was space to exploit, it was a really attractive brand that delivered results and plenty of goals. But at times it was a little too slow and predictable and, towards the end, teams found it too easy to get men behind the ball, limit the space to exploit and frustrate Boro."
One of Carrick's strongest areas, according to Johns, was improving individual quality.
"As for improving players, it was generally one of the better aspects of his time at the club," he said. "He improved numerous players and, certainly in that first season after arriving, his calm and warming demeanor saw players quickly regain their confidence and go on an excellent run from 21st to finishing fourth and making the play-offs.
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick played an attractive brand of football at Middlesbrough(Image: Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
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Another strong point of Carrick's was being an "excellent man manager", says Johns, lauding the 44-year-old's ability to manage personalities as well as develop skills.
"Fundamentally, he’s a coach," said Johns. "He loves being out on the training pitch and working with the players on development. Most players regarded him as an excellent man manager."
But the negative side of Carrick's tenure - in-game management - contributed to his downfall. "Particularly concerning was the amount of times Boro led in games only to throw it away in second halves," said Johns. "In-game management was seen as a particular weakness.
"All too often, the opposition would make changes and Carrick wouldn’t react quickly enough to the momentum switch as it unfolded. He was reactive rather than proactive, and often too late. They dropped so many points from winning positions."
Despite the in-game management aspect, there are plenty of positives to take from Carrick's time at Middlesbrough for United fans - particularly his ability to manage players, which will be important at a star-studded club like United.
Another element that could help Carrick is his understanding of United as a club, the culture and knowing what fans want, as Johns concludes. "For what Manchester United want in this moment, I actually think it’s an appointment that could work," he said. "Their players would seemingly suit his preferred style, and he’s already worked with quite a few of them and, it appeared, had their respect.
"If he can deliver the same kind of uplift he did when first arriving at Boro, it’ll be exactly what Manchester United need until the end of the season. An arm-around-the-shoulder approach to boost confidence after what appeared a rather cold head coach in Ruben Amorim could be exactly the same as following Wilder at Boro.
"Being a Manchester United legend, you’d imagine he’ll unite everyone in and out of the club, and will understand the ethos and the ‘United way’, which Amorim just didn’t do.
"On top of that, all the criticisms I’ve given of him for his time at Boro, I think it’s only fair to nuance that by reminding, this was his first head coach role. When in the middle of the fire, you maybe don’t get a chance to be as reflective as is maybe needed to recognise the mistakes you’re making."