Michael Carrick has been appointed as Manchester United's interim manager until the end of the season with the club 7th in the table but just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool
Michael Carrick took his first training session as Manchester United interim head coach on Wednesday
Michael Carrick took his first training session as Manchester United interim head coach on Wednesday(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Manchester United have formally confirmed Michael Carrick's appointment as interim manager, with the 44 year old set to take charge until the end of the campaign. The ex-Middlesbrough boss faces the challenge of steering United towards a respectable Premier League finish, following early cup exits to Brighton in the FA Cup and Grimsby Town in the League Cup.
Currently languishing in 7th place with only one victory from their last five matches, United trail fourth-placed rivals Liverpool by just three points, meaning Champions League qualification remains achievable. Bookmakers William Hill have set odds of 11/2 for the club to clinch a top-four berth across the remaining 17 fixtures, beginning with this weekend's Manchester derby.
Lee Phelps, spokesperson for William Hill, commented: "Michael Carrick is the latest former Manchester United player to step into the dugout at Old Trafford to try and steady the ship, and we make him 11/2 to lead his side to a top-four finish.
"It looks likely to be a baptism of fire for Carrick though, with a Manchester derby, league leaders Arsenal and a clash with a tough-to-beat Fulham side upcoming in his first three games and we are 11/1 that United lose all of those games, while it's 15/8 that they concede six or more goals.
"The Premier League giants are 7/2 to finish the season in the bottom half of the table under Carrick, but the former United midfielder could be given time, and we price him at 11/10 to be in the Old Trafford hotseat come the beginning of next season.", reports the Mirror.
Carrick's two-and-a-half-year spell at Middlesbrough saw him lead the club to the play-offs in his debut campaign. His following two seasons proved less fruitful, resulting in his departure last June.
Following talks with United chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox, Carrick has emerged as the preferred choice to steer the team on a caretaker basis. The club chose an interim solution after parting ways with Ruben Amorim last week.
Amorim's exit, following merely 14 months at the helm, came after a difficult festive spell and a highly publicised dispute with Wilcox.
United will now embark on a comprehensive hunt for a permanent boss, with England manager Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Mauricio Pochettino understood to be amongst the frontrunners. Throughout his playing days, Carrick claimed 17 honours with Manchester United, including five league titles and a Champions League crown.
The club's FA Cup triumph in 2016 meant the 34-cap England international secured every major domestic trophy.
Michael Carrick Specials
Man Utd To Concede 6+ Goals (Combined) In Their First 3 Games (Man City (H), Arsenal (A), Fulham (H) - 15/8
Man Utd To Score 6+ Goals (Combined) In Their First 3 Games (Man City (H), Arsenal (A), Fulham (H) - 5/2
Man Utd To Finish Bottom Half - 7/2
Man Utd To Finish Top 4 - 11/2
Man Utd To Lose Their First 3 Games (Man City (H), Arsenal (A), Fulham (H) - 11/1
Michael Carrick To Leave Man Utd Before 24th May - 20/1
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