Revealed: Why Man Utd picked Michael Carrick over Ole Solskjaer

Robin Bairner

14 Jan 2026 10:56 GMT
4 min read

Michael Carrick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Man Utd, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Michael Carrick ‘played a blinder’ to be named Manchester United interim manager ahead of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to a strong source.

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For a long period, the job appeared to be destined to land in the lap of the Norwegian, who has been out of work since being sacked by Besiktas earlier this season.

However, United elected to make a dramatic U-turn, with Carrick claiming the role.

© IMAGO - Michael Carrick on the Man Utd bench with Cristiano Ronaldo

Carrick’s blinder to get Man Utd job

According to Sky Sports senior reporter Rob Dorsett, Carrick excelled in talks with the Red Devils.

He said: “I was told when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer met with Jason Wilcox he understandably, to a large extent said: 'If I do a good job and get you Champions League football, what is the reward? I'd like something written into my contract that says if I achieve that, then there is a substantive contract at the end of it.'

“No such requests from Michael Carrick significantly, he has played a blinder here and managed the situation very, very well - he knows the best way for him to get the job long term at Man Utd is to get Champions League football, to win matches and get the crowd behind him and he has the perfect opportunity to do that with 17 games of the Premier League remaining.”

Will Carrick get the job permanently?

Although Carrick has not made any demands of Man Utd if he does a good job, there is an outside chance that he will be given the post permanently - but it is just this.

Dorsett added: “As things stand right now, I do not think he is a realistic contender for the job long term and Man Utd have learned a lesson from appointing Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag before him that they need someone who is one of the elite of world coaching, someone who is a big name who has the personality to cope with the size of club Man Utd is and the unique challenges it poses.

“You are talking about Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner - big names who Man Utd think would be able to cope with the size of the job this is. When Amorin was sacked last week, we learned that he had told confidants he was surprised how much nose there was around the Man Utd role and how big the job was.

“So I do not think Man Utd will make the same mistake again and appoint an up-and-coming coach, they want someone who has been there and done it. But Carrick is the man in possession, he has an opportunity.”

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