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He will be in charge until the of the season - at least.
It’s official: Man United have announced Michael Carrick as their new head coach, at least for now, and it has been confirmed he will be in post for the Manchester derby this weekend.
Quite the baptism of fire.
Yes, only a week on from his predecessor, Ruben Amorim, being sacked by the club, and after just two games with Darren Fletcher as caretaker manager, Michael Carrick is the new interim United boss for the remainder of the season.
While it is believed that this is only a temporary appointment – with INEOS said to be continuing their search for a full-time replacement – should things go well, it wouldn’t be the first time an interim has stayed on to get the top job.
Having been pictured arriving at the Carrington training complex on Tuesday morning, 13 January it quickly went from Carrick being considered a frontrunner alongside former interim turned full-time manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, to odds-on favourite and then all but confirmed very quickly.
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The 44-year-old retired Man United midfielder, who has already served both as an assistant coach and as an interim for three games following Solskjær’s exit back in 2021.
In the time since then, not only did he go on to enjoy a mildly successful stint at Middlesbrough FC for two and a half years, which ended last June after he failed to secure a playoff spot.
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Despite not gaining promotion or winning any silverware, he was often praised for his style of football and has followed the so-called ‘United Way’ in giving youth a chance.
As for his predecessor and old teammate, Fletcher was reportedly offered a role as part of his coaching staff, but has stated his preference to drop back down to look after the under-18s squad.
🚨 | Darren Fletcher was offered a place in Michael Carrick's #mufc coaching staff, but he declined as he wants to continue working with the U18s. [@lauriewhitwell] https://t.co/7hIuKyyiRJ
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) January 13, 2026
Following **United**‘s exit from the FA Cup against Brighton, Carrick will now be in charge of just 17 games for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign, which will be their shortest on record since before WWI.
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With the Red Devils currently sitting in seventh place and just a few points off top four (having spurned multiple opportunities to leapfrog other contenders in recent weeks), financially, they simply cannot afford to spend another year without European football.
That being said, Carrick’s first two games in charge will be against a resurgent Man City and fellow title rivals Arsenal before the end of the month; he is also said to be bringing in ex-England assistant manager Steve Holland into the fray.
As if the prospect of another newly reshuffled backroom wasn’t already interesting enough, another club icon and England legend has also expressed his interest in becoming part of it.
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Featured Images — Matt Janzer (via WikiCommons)/MUFC/Sky Sports (screenshot via YouTube)
Sport
Manc born and bred rugby star Raffi Quirke is leaving Sale Sharks Danny Jones Danny Jones Raffi Quirke leaving Sale Sharks at the end of the season
Manchester-born and bred rugby union star Raffi Quirke is leaving his boyhood club, Sale Sharks, this season.
The end of an era, but the beginning of a big new chapter for the youngster.
Still just 24, Raffi Quirke from Chorlton has been with Sale since he was a kid, coming through the youth system at Broughton Park before making his proper Sharks debut back in February 2021.
Just a few short years later, and Quirke – the number nine who became Sharks Academy graduate number 333 – has gone on to become a promising first team squad member with a bright future ahead of him. However, the next part of his career won’t be at the CorpAcq Stadium.
Since playing his first senior game as a 19-year-old, he’s gone on to make 31 starts from 80 appearances for the club, as well as earning a couple of caps for England.
Despite being more of an option off the bench during the current campaign, Quirke has shown great resilience in bouncing back from numerous injuries, including everything from a broken jaw and broken wrist to ruptured ligaments, among other problems.
Speaking about his pending departure, Raffi said: “This has been the hardest decision of my life so far because Sale is the club that I grew up supporting and dreaming of playing for.
“Playing here since I was 15 has been an amazing experience and a privilege that has shaped me as a player and a person, and I will be forever grateful to Alex [Sanderson], the owners, the coaches, the players and the supporters for truly believing in me.
“It goes without saying that I will give everything I have for the rest of the season to bring success to Sale.” He has also gone on to share a lengthier farewell statement.
"This has been the hardest decision of my life so far…"
Read Raffi's full message via the link below 👇
🔗 https://t.co/PsgufI9L0O pic.twitter.com/6T36ilB9Yo
— Sale Sharks 🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) January 13, 2026
Put simply, the still-developing scrum-half wants to search out new opportunities, adding: “I feel, for my rugby and personal development, that my story just needs a new challenge and a new setting.”
As for Sanderson, the Director of Rugby commented, “I’ve really enjoyed working with Raffi, and as a homegrown player who grew up supporting the club, we all would have loved for him to continue his career with us.
“He feels like he wants to try a new environment and a new challenge, and we respect his decision. He’ll leave with our blessing and thanks for everything that he’s given to the club while he’s been here.”
Are you sad to see him go, Sharks Family?
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Featured Images — FAB Rugby (screenshot via YouTube)/Sale Sharks Rugby
Sport
Macclesfield FC announce signing of National League player from local rivals Danny Jones Danny Jones Elliot Osborne joins Macclesfield Town FC
After their magical FA Cup victory this past weekend, Macclesfield FC have followed up the good news by announcing the signing of a player not only from the division above, but one leaving an old rival club here in the North West.
What a time to be a fan of The Silkmen.
Yes, just a couple of days after knocking out the holders, Crystal Palace, and progressing to the next round, Macclesfield were jokingly being linked with all manner of talent, from Messi to Bruno Fernandes, but they have still managed to secure a new player in the middle of the park from the National League.
Dropping down a level to the sixth tier of English football, the now ex-Altrincham FC midfielder Elliot Osborne has been officially unveiled, swapping red stripes for blue and white.
Confirmed on 12 January, the 29-year-old Port Vale academy graduate is no stranger to the region, having previously represented the likes of Nantwich Town, Tranmere Rovers, Southport and two loan spells at Stockport County.
Born in Stoke-on-Trent and spending several years up and down the EFL, as well as various non-league teams, he joined Alty FC back in 2022 and went on to make nearly two centuries’ worth of appearances.
However, despite playing a key role for The Robins – competing in the 2023/24 playoffs and even helping former employers beat his new ones at Macclesfield in an FA Trophy penalty shoot-out just last season – the captain was released from the local club by mutual consent this month.
Commenting on his arrival, the club said in a statement: “The combative, hard-working midfielder adds great experience to the Silkmen midfield ranks.
“Please join us in giving Elliot a warm welcome to the Leasing.com Stadium, and we wish him every success during his time with the Silkmen.”
🗣️ "I want to try go up these leagues with Macc."
Hear from new midfielder Elliot Osborne on his move to the https://t.co/fL99QEEJ4D Stadium.
Full interview 👉 https://t.co/Mkl7S0iL2S
Sponsored by @GazelleRisk pic.twitter.com/ClnKYUSQdP
— Macclesfield FC (C) (@thesilkmen) January 12, 2026
It remains to be seen how much more business the formerly Robbie Savaged backed and managed side will do in the remainder of the January transfer window.
Despite having limited resources, currently placed 14th in the National League North, it’s fair to say there’s been so fresh interest in the project following their ‘David and Goliath’ story.
The aforementioned ‘cup-set’ against Palace has quickly gone down as one of the competition’s most memorable and magical ties in recent memory, and Osborne will no doubt be looking forward to seeing how far they can go in the knockout tournament.
You can watch his first interview in full down below.
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Featured Images — Silkmen TV (screenshot via YouTube)/Macclesfield FC (via X)
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