Michael Carrick replaces Ruben Amorim as interim manager of Manchester United with the sole focus being on Premier League and the bookies have already priced the Red Devils chances of Champions League football next season
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick has been appointed interim manager until the end of the season(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Manchester United have officially announced the appointment of Michael Carrick as their new interim manager as the 44-year-old has agreed to lead the team until the end of the season. The former Middlesbrough head coach will be tasked with guiding United to a respectable finish in the Premier League season with the club already knocked out of the FA Cup to Brighton and League Cup to Grimsby Town.
With just one win in five league outings, United sit 7th in the Premier League table and are just three points behind rivals Liverpool in 4th meaning a top four finish is still within the realms of possibility. Bookies William Hill have priced the club at 11/2 to secure a spot in the Champions League - having missed out last season after losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final - with 17 games remaining starting with the Manchester Derby this weekend.
William Hill's spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “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.”
Carrick spent two and a half years at Middlesbrough, guiding the club to a play-off finish in his first season. However, his subsequent two campaigns were less successful, leading to his dismissal last June. After discussions with United CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox, Carrick has been identified as the ideal candidate to guide the team forward on an interim basis. The club opted for a temporary appointment following the sacking of Ruben Amorim last week. Amorim’s departure, after just 14 months in charge, came in the wake of a turbulent festive period and a well-publicized falling out with Wilcox.
United will now begin an extensive search for a permanent manager, with England boss Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Mauricio Pochettino reportedly among the leading candidates. During his playing career, Carrick won 17 trophies with Manchester United, including five Premier League titles and a Champions League. The club’s FA Cup victory in 2016 ensured that the 34-time England international completed the set of major club honours.
Michael Carrick Special
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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